There is something about the development of mid-round picks that makes them feel all the more authentic to the organization; as if the greatness blossoming on the gridiron each week is a result of the work that took place in the building and on the practice field.
Deshaun Watson was expected to be great wherever he went. Safety Justin Reid may be great this early in his career because he is with the Houston Texans.
According to Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com, Reid is the best example of homegrown talent on the Texans’ roster, and Rosenthal picked Reid to be the key for the Texans in 2020.
The lack of homegrown options on the Texans’ roster speaks to the overhaul and impatience of the Bill O’Brien regime. Reid, however, is a perfect fit for this exercise. A third-round pick in 2018, the safety has already emerged as one of the team’s leaders despite his age, winning the Ed Block Courage Award for his toughness playing through injury and his work in the community. A sure tackler who makes plays in coverage, Reid stands out because of his instincts and insane energy. He’s the type of player who gets you off your couch, something Houston’s secondary needs more of. If he played that well hurt, what can he do healthy?
The former 2018 third-round pick from Stanford has taken the reins as a leader in the secondary, a development that was occurring even in the 2019 offseason when then-free agent safety Tashaun Gipson was leaning on Reid to integrate into Romeo Crennel’s system.
If Reid produces a Pro Bowl season for the Texans in 2020, it will mean Houston’s young safety has had a season that could help the club retain its AFC South title for the third straight season.