Houston Texans Will Look Hard At Outside Linebacker In The Draft

Nov 23, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) and outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (90) in action against the Cincinnati Bengals at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Outside linebacker will be an area of great concern in the 2015 draft for the Houston Texans.

While the Texans await Jadeveon Clowney’s return from micro-fracture surgery, who’s recovery by all accounts is going well, they must address this position due to several factors beyond the questions around Clowney.

Whitney Mercilus will likely step in for Clowney until he’s 100% healthy.  Mercilus played much better in 2014 and even began to display some ability to drop into coverage.  Mercilus has only one year remaining on his contract.

Sep 28, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus (59) during the game against the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

The Texans also lost Brooks Reed in free agency, who played on the opposite side from Clowney & Mercilus, as he received $4 million a year from the Falcons.  Many Texans fans viewed the Reed dollars with a chuckle as he was rather underwhelming following a strong start to his Texans career.

But the Reed signing speaks to the main issues with outside linebackers for teams in the NFL that run the 3-4 defense.  Most teams employ a “rush” linebacker in one OLB spot and at the other spot, while at times is asked to rush the quarterback, they typically look for a guy that is better at dropping into coverage.

To complicate this even further, very few college programs run a true 3-4 defense, making it more difficult to find guys in the draft where there is evidence that they can play the position, leaving it to speculation and measurables from the combine as well as Pro Day and individual work outs.

To get 3-4 outside linebackers most players have to be converted from 4-3 defensive ends where they normally only rush the passer.  Rush linebackers are more easily identified.  Finding guys that can drop into coverage and hold their own against a running back is much more difficult and why a team like Atlanta hands Brooks Reed $4 million a year.

But this is exactly the position that the Texans must try to fill, barring further free agent signings.  So who are the players in the early rounds the Texans may look at to fill it?

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