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The new approach from coach and general manager Bill O’Brien is to build layers of productive players throughout the 55-man roster.
As a team adds layers of productive players, it also means there will be underrated players who may not get the recognition from the rest of the pro football world.
According to Pro Football Focus, the most underrated Houston Texans player heading into the 2020 season is third-year safety Justin Reid.
Reid made an instant impact on the Texans’ defense coming out of Stanford as a third-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. His eight combined pass breakups and interceptions were tied for 10th among all qualifying safeties, and he was one of the best tackling safeties in the league, missing just five tackles all year on nearly 80 tackling opportunities. Reid followed that up with his second consecutive season with a grade north of 75.0 last season. The safety position is loaded with talent right now across the league, but Reid has already emerged as one of the better young safeties in the NFL and should continue to get more recognition.
Reid gets the recognition from his teammates, who voted him the 2019 Ed Block Courage Award winner for his extra efforts on and off the field, along with the ability to overcome great adversity. In the 2019 offseason, when free agent safety Tashaun Gipson was integrating into the secondary, the former Pro Bowler said that he leaned on Reid as if he were a season veteran, not a player entering his second season.
The former 2018 third-round pick from Stanford may not get the recognition that he would from the rest of the NFL in terms of Pro Bowl voting. After all, inside linebacker Zach Cunningham and defensive tackle D.J. Reader were listed as the team’s Pro Bowl alternates. However, the rest of Houston is well aware of Reid’s prowess, and 2020 may be the year the rest of the league finally catches on.