The Houston Texans signed former Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns safety Eric Murray to a three-year contract in free agency.
With Justin Reid entering his third season, the Texans anticipate having a safety duo with high football IQ on the back end.
“They’re both very smart players, good pros,” coach Bill O’Brien said. “Eric works hard, smart, played a lot of football in this league. He fills a lot of different roles for us. He’s involved in special teams. He’s involved in different parts of the defense. He’s been a real good addition to our team.”
Murray played three seasons with the Chiefs after going in Round 4 of the 2016 NFL Draft. The 5-11, 199-pound safety played nine games for the Browns last season, starting in four of them, and collecting 24 tackles, three tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, and a pass breakup.
The former Minnesota Gopher looks forward to teaming up with Reid and confusing opposing offenses.
“I think we complement each other just by the mental part of the game, just being able to be on the same page so we can fool [offenses] into whatever look we have going on there,” said Murray. “I think in ways that we’re different, he’s more of an enforcer type. I think for me personally, I’m more of a covering type. I can still bring some physicality too, but I think that’s what separates us.”
Murray will be the third different free agent safety to start opposite of Reid. In 2018, Tyrann Mathieu played alongside Reid before departing in free agency, and Tashaun Gipson was the safety opposite of Reid last year.
“I think whatever possibilities we have, I think it’s really limitless,” Murary said. “We’re just learning new stuff and really getting a feel for each other. I feel like once we really click and get our camaraderie down as a group, it’ll be real good.”
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