Houston Texans NFL Draft 2017: Should They Target Obi Melifownu Early?

It’s almost draft time and I’m getting antsy in regard to what the Houston Texans are going to do next month when things get real.

As I mentioned, I know work is being done over the Houston Texans’ offices on Kirby Drive but it makes you wonder what the extent of that said work is.

We’ve talked about it before — we have needs all over the roster that we have to address and it remains to be seen if they will be come training camp toward the end of the summer.

We can only hope that’s the way things are going to pan out.

Although it’s still early, there’s still uncertainty — in a good way — in regard to who will be starting quarterback for the Houston Texans in 2017.

That’s going to shake out soon but we have other holes to fill, particularly on the offensive line and the secondary and the defensive line as well.

There’s one guy that the Houston Texans have kept their eye on for quite some time and he’s a budding prospect out the University of Connecticut.

Who am I talking about?

Obi Melifonwu!

Early last month, I wrote about how big of an effect the safety will have on the secondary if the franchise were able to get their hands on him.

Rumors have been flying about the Texans’ interest since the Senior Bowl back Jan. 28 where Melifonwu recorded three tackles and one fumble.

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According to the Houston Chronicle’s Aaron Wilson, the team did attend the 6’4,” 224-pound beast’s Pro Day yesterday.

Wilson reports that he did quite well — similar to his showing at the NFL Combine — continuing to prove that he has speed, agility and natural knack at the position.

This man ran a 4.40 40-yarder back at the Combine!

Insane!

If we don’t draft this guy and put him into the fold, I think the Texans are making a huge mistake.

But he’ll be gone likely by the beginning of Round 2 at the latest so they’ll have to jump on him early.

I expressed my concerns that Quintin Demps wasn’t getting any younger and that we needed a backup plan for his health.

Well, that plan backfired as he just recently signed a deal with the Chicago Bears.

Now we need a talented safety more than ever and Obi certainly fits the bill.

But what are his weak points?

Here’s what SportsTalk 790 and NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein had to say in his analysis:

"“Leggy and gets feet bundled up when asked to turn and sprint. Lacks desired instincts and will play with slow eyes at times. Has to see ball in the air before charging over to help on deep throws. Inconsistent with coverage responsibilities from high safety. Takes time to diagnose play-action. Rub routes found him near goal line. Can take inefficient paths to the ball that get him there a step too late. Would benefit from high-pointing rather than waiting on throws.”"

None of this concerns me, he’s not going to be perfect but if he can prove he’s quick on coverage and be able to read what’s coming his way, he’ll be fine.

We’ve got the best defensive coaches in the business and I’m sure he’ll get the all the preparation he’ll need to be successful at the position.

Not only that but the guy can play both corner and safety, demonstrating versatility, a theme the Texans have stuck with in the Rick Smith/Bill O’Brien drafting era.

Next: Pull Out The Stops For Mitch Trubisky?

It makes sense — why get a one-dimensional player?

Get a guy that can do more than one thing, which will make his value skyrocket even more.

I rest my case — they just need to get that man in a Texans’ uniform.

They’ll have to get in line as the Detroit Lions, Carolina Panthers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks and New Orleans Saints, who are all interested in his services.

Melifonwu recorded 118 tackles, four interceptions and three broken-up passes for the Huskies in 2016.

In comparison, he had 88 tackles, five passes broken up and two picks in 2015, indicating that he’s up to the task for a higher workload.

Go Texans.

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