The Houston Texans are reworking their roster as they seek to turn the corner under the first year of coach Lovie Smith.
In order to make strides in the second year of Smith’s Tampa 2 defense, the Texans will need some cornerback help, especially since they have decided to move on from Terrance Mitchell.
According to Ben Linsey from Pro Football Focus, one free agent cornerback who would fit in well with what Smith is trying to do is the Seattle Seahawks’ D.J. Reed
The Texans are still far from meaningfully competing, but it would be surprising if they ran back their 2021 offseason strategy of volume signing low-ceiling veterans to short-term deals. Reed, 25, stands out as a potential long-term starting option at one of Houston’s bigger needs after two consecutive seasons with 75.0-plus PFF grades in Seattle. His physicality in run support and willingness as a tackler are both big positives when looking at his potential 2022 scheme fit in Lovie Smith’s defense.
Reed generated 78 combined tackles, picked off two passes, batted away 10 others, and recovered a fumble.
Although Reed is 5-9, 193 pounds, not exactly the ideal of a lengthy cornerback, he does make up for it with his physicality, which is ultimately what Smith wants to see out of his defensive backs.
“To me the object of the defense is every snap is to score and take the ball away,” Smith told reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine on March 2. “We put a big emphasis on that, but we won’t try to bring anyone in, add them to our mix if they don’t like to tackle. We ask our corners to tackle. They have ball skills of course, but it still comes down to whether you can play man coverage a lot. That’s a hard guy to find that I’m talking about.”
Reed would meet that objective.