If the Houston Texans aren’t confident in their cornerback cupboard, then they have options in the 2020 NFL Draft.
According to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, the Texans met with former Oklahoma State Cowboys cornerback A.J. Green at the Senior Bowl in January and the NFL Scouting Combine in February.
That interest may have waned. The Atlanta Falcons, Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens, Los Angeles Chargers, and Minnesota Vikings are listed as teams who have had video conferences with Green. In Wilson’s report, the Las Vegas Raiders and Miami Dolphins are two teams who are interested in the 6-1, 202-pound prospect.
Since the combine, the Texans re-signed starter Bradley Roby, brought back Vernon Hargreaves, and signed safety Eric Murray and defensive back Jaylen Watkins. Murray has experience playing in the nickel, and Watkins similarly has utility in passing down packages.
Houston already has Roby, Hargreaves, Gareon Conley, Lonnie Johnson, Phillip Gaines, and Keion Crossen listed as cornerbacks on the roster. Adding Green might be a redundant move, and one not entirely warranted given the DeSoto High School product is slated to go in the second or third round. The Texans need help at edge rusher, defensive tackle, and even interior offensive line before they need another cornerback.
Adding Green could give the Texans options at wheeling and dealing some of their other cornerbacks during training camp or preseason. However, that may not be the Texans’ strategy in 2020, an upside down offseason where the COVID-19 pandemic’s limiting of access to prospects may influence teams to favor veterans over rookies in roster construction.
Since Green is regarded so highly, and the Texans have seven picks with just two in the top 100 (40th overall in the second round, 90th overall in the third), coach and general manager Bill O’Brien may be willing to listen to trade offers from other teams targeting Green.