The Houston Texans found a starting cornerback in Bradley Roby, and are keeping him around for the next three seasons. However, Trader Bill may have acquired a perfect complement in the middle of the 2019 season.
According to data released by Pro Football Focus, Gareon Conely had the highest forced incompletion percentage among cornerbacks from 2015-19 with a whopping 22.5% — better than the likes of Marlon Humphrey, Stephon Gilmore, and Casey Hayward, players who NFL fans have heard of.
The former 2017 first-round pick for the Oakland Raiders arrived in Houston shortly before the two sides’ Week 8 game in 2019. Conley collected 27 tackles and 11 pass breakups for Houston, second only to Johnathan Joseph’s 13 for most on the team.
Highest forced incompletion % among CBs 2015-2019
1. Gareon Conley 22.5%
2. Marlon Humphrey 21.8%
3. Stephon Gilmore 20.3%
4. Casey Hayward Jr. 20.1% pic.twitter.com/rf8ZbT0fE5— PFF (@PFF) May 29, 2020
Coach and general manager Bill O’Brien told reporters on April 16 that the club is “really excited” for the former Ohio State product in 2020.
“Gareon Conley, making plays on the ball, really graded highly in his games with us this year,” said O’Brien.
If Conley can continue to lock down opposing receivers at that high of an incompletion rate, it will partner well with Roby’s ability to make plays on the ball. Quarterbacks will have to pick their poison as they seek completions against new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver’s secondary.