Houston Texans: Drafting Ross Blacklock signals the sign of a new era

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Houston Texans defensive end Ross Blacklock (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

Roll the tape and the bottom line

Roll the tape

The bottom line

Blacklock is exactly what the Houston Texans need in what needs to be a partial rebuild of the defensive line. J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus aren’t getting any younger and a new standout needs to emerge as the leader of the line. That guy could’ve been D.J. Reader but with what Laremy Tunsil has commanded with his new three-year, $66 million deal and the massive extension that will be due for Watson with hopefully some money left for Zach Cunningham,

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Reader was the odd man out.

Reader eventually signed with the Cincinnati Bengals on a four-year, $53 million deal, something the Houston Texans just could not work in.

Blacklock will be expected to be versatile and line up at different positions on the line with Brandon Dunn — who recently signed for three-year, $12 million — and the explosive Angelo Blackson on the defensive line.

He may get a bit of apprenticeship but with the needs being a bit direr with Reader’s departure, he might be getting significant playing time right away but O’Brien has continued to reiterate that this is a season of the veterans so we’ll see how that pans out.

Nonetheless, I’m extremely happy with this pick and I wish him nothing but the best of luck.

Welcome to the Houston Texans Ross!

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Blacklock accumulated 40 tackles — 25 solos — along with 3.5 sacks and 9.0 tackles-for-loss in 12 starts last season with the Horned Frogs.

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