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3 Houston Texans who could make their first Pro Bowl in 2020

By Patrick Morgan

HOUSTON, TX - NOVEMBER 21: Carlos Hyde #23 runs behind the blocking of Tytus Howard #71 of the Houston Texans during the first half of a game against the Indianapolis Colts at NRG Stadium on November 21, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - NOVEMBER 21: Carlos Hyde #23 runs behind the blocking of Tytus Howard #71 of the Houston Texans during the first half of a game against the Indianapolis Colts at NRG Stadium on November 21, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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HOUSTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 04: Quarterback Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills leaps over linebacker Zach Cunningham #41 of the Houston Texans during the AFC Wild Card Playoff game at NRG Stadium on January 04, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 04: Quarterback Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills leaps over linebacker Zach Cunningham #41 of the Houston Texans during the AFC Wild Card Playoff game at NRG Stadium on January 04, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

2. Zach Cunningham

As USA Today’s Mark Lane put it in a June feature on Zach Cunningham, the inside linebacker “was so close” to getting his first Pro Bowl nomination last season. Cunningham was named as an alternate behind Darius Leonard, Tremaine Edwards, and Dont’a Hightower on the AFC’s roster at the position.

In his third pro season, Cunningham compiled 142 tackles — 99 of them solo — to go along with two sacks, two fumble recoveries, and two passes defended. He also had 16 tackles and two pass breakups in Houston’s two postseason appearances last year.

As Lane noted in his piece, though, the stats don’t tell the full story when it comes to Cunningham. According to ProFootballFocus, the former Vanderbilt Commodore led all linebackers in run stops last season with 47 — 10 more than third-place Bobby Wagner from the Seattle Seahawks and eight more than second-place Luke Kuechly of the Carolina Panthers.

Playing alongside savvy veterans Benardrick McKinney and Whitney Mercilus in the Texans linebacking corps, don’t be surprised if Cunningham takes the next step this season and becomes the first Houston defensive player to get named to a Pro Bowl since McKinney, J.J. Watt, and Jadeveon Clowney all got the nod together back in 2018.

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