Houston Texans: Top 3 rookies the team will face in 2018

With the NFL Draft now completed and the pieces falling into place, the Houston Texans now have an understanding of which young studs fresh out of college they will face this season. Here is who I think the Top 3 rookies the Houston Texans will have to go against this season. Take a look.

Every off season, there are many Houston Texans fans who circle a specific game on the teams calendar because they are excited to see a rookie player face their team.

With a quarterback like Deshaun Watson and a defensive coordinator like Romeo Crennel, you always look and see which rookies will they give a slap in the face to and say “Hey kid, welcome to the NFL!”

Here are my top 3 rookies the Houston Texans will face this season:

#1: Denzel Ward, CB Cleveland Browns

Lately, THE Ohio State University has been producing some flat out studs in the secondary and most notably last season’s Defensive Rookie of the Year in Marshon Lattimore. I have a good feeling Denzel Ward will be the next great one to come out of that program.

With the 4th pick in the draft, the Cleveland Browns selected Ward to be their lock down corner on an already-stout defense. To many, Denzel Ward was the best corner back in this year’s draft by far.

Here’s what Walter Football had to say about him:

"“Ward totaled 37 tackles with 15 passes broken up and two interceptions in 2017. For the NFL, Ward has good speed, athleticism, ball skills, and quick feet to run the route to prevent separation. He looks like a future starter and could have No. 1-corner potential. While he is shorter than ideal, Ward is very good at blanketing receivers and keeping them from getting open.”"

By the way, this won’t be the first time he will do battle with Watson. Ward and Watson faced off in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl in 2016 where Watson absolutely torched Ward’s fellow Buckeyes all day long.

The Cleveland Browns and the Houston Texans will face each other Dec. 2 at NRG Stadium.

#2: Saquon Barkley, RB New York Giants

Personally, I am really pumped to see this match up in Week 3. I am really interested to see what

Saquon Barkley can do at the pro level. This guy was phenomenal to watch on Saturdays. Obviously, I’m not gonna get carried away because at times running backs don’t live up to their hype coming out of college at the pro level. We’ve seen this story before but I have a good feeling Barkley is going be the focal point in the Giants’ backfield for many years to come.

Just like Ward, many draft experts had the guy at the top of their positional big boards at the draft. According to NFL.com, he’s got a 7.45 grade. Which by their grading system, he could eventually morph into a bona-fide Pro Bowl-caliber player. Experts compare him to Barry Sanders with the way he runs the ball and plays the game.

According to his Walter Football draft profile, Barkley only has one weakness. You know what that was? He was CONTAINED as a junior. That’s absolutely incredible.

It will be fun to watch him go against this Houston Texans‘ defensive line Sep. 23rd at NRG Stadium.

#3: Bradley Chubb, DE Denver Broncos

The media hype for Bradley Chubb coming out of high school was non-existent but over the past

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few seasons, he has now received the praise that rightfully deserves. He was initially going to play linebacker for N.C. State but he bulked up over time and became a defensive end. His physical transformation was the best thing to ever happen to him as he became one of the most dominant forces in college football — like the Bosa brothers and Houston’s own Ed Oliver.

In His sophomore year, he gave Wolfpack fans a taste of what’s to come as he racked up 5.5 sacks, 69 tackles, three forced fumbles and 12 tackles-for-loss.

But it was his junior year when he really started to make a name for himself. Chubb had 58 tackles with 22 TFL’s, 10.5 sacks, one batted down pass and three forced fumbles. In his senior year, Chubb racked up 73 tackles, 10 sacks, 25 TFL’s, three forced fumbles and two pass bat-downs.

Personally, I think Chubb will be a much better NFL player than Mario Williams was for the Houston Texans. He has the right mentor in Texas A&M’s own Von Miller who was the MVP in Super Bowl 50. I think those two together will wreck havoc for years and the Texans‘ offensive line better be ready because these fellas are coming for DW4.

Fun Fact: Who else went to NC State and was drafted in the 1st Round as a DE?

None other than former Texans‘ DE Mario Williams. Chubb broke his all-time sack record at N.C. State with 26 sacks, which broke Mario’s record long-standing record of 25.5.

Next: Texans: Three players destined to break out in 2018

The Texans will get their first glimpse of Chubb Nov. 4th at Mile High Stadium.

So these are my Top 3 rookies that the Texans should have a trying time doing battle with in 2018. Do you agree? Feel free to sound off in the comments section below. I can’t wait until the season!

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