Houston Texans Draft Grade: Ross Blacklock is a great pick
Selecting 40th overall in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Houston Texans did an excellent job in doing by selecting Ross Blacklock of TCU.
When the Toro Times released our final mock draft for the Houston Texans, the player projected at 40th overall was Ross Blacklock of TCU, and this was the best choice the Texans could have made with the defensive tackle being available at this point of the draft, as he was the third defensive tackle selected in the 2020 NFL Draft.
The Texans and head coach Bill O’Brien needed to fill the void left by D.J. Reader, and by drafting Blacklock, all 6’3″, 295 pounds of him will be a very nice addition to fill in where Reader left off on the Houston defensive line.
Take, for example, the following with Blacklock, who missed his sophomore season with an Achilles injury. The rookie defensive tackle will be playing in a 3-4 scheme for the Texans under new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, who himself is a former Texans defensive player, and Blacklock won’t have to be the superstar from the time he walks into the building.
Earlier this offseason, the Texans signed Tim Jernigan through free agency, and that veteran experience will provide lots of knowledge in helping the second-round pick Blacklock.
Player Profile: In two seasons at TCU, Blacklock played well, and it was good enough to make him a second-round selection in the eyes of Bill O’Brien. Before the draft, Dane Brugler ranked Blacklock as his fourth-best defensive lineman, describing Blacklock as “as a versatile lineman who can play anywhere from the nose to the five-technique.”
Player Stats: 2017 (Freshman Year): 12 games played, 14 solo tackles, 27 total tackles, 6.5 TFL, 2.0 sacks. 2019 (Junior Year): 12 games played, 25 solo tackles, 40 total tackles, 9.0 TFL, 3.5 sacks.
Pick Opinion: What isn’t there to like about this pick made by the Texans in Round 2? This is the pick the Texans received in the DeAndre Hopkins trade, along with running back David Johnson. Though losing Hopkins still hurts, having Blacklock at this spot helps the healing, and eventually he’s going to be a dominant defensive tackle in the league.
Draft Pick Grade: A
Texans Draft: Where does Ross Blacklock fit on depth chart?. dark. Next
Final Thoughts: Again, in at least this opinion, this was the best choice the Texans could have made at 40th overall. There were other players who drew great interest as well at the time, but when the names selected was announced, the Texans did an excellent job here, and they found themselves a solid defensive lineman who will be helpful to the Texans defense once Week 1 arrives.