NFL Draft: Houston Texans questionably reach up to nab John Reid
The tangibles and what the experts are saying
The tangibles
Reid is a 5-foot-10, 187-pound corner with 30.13-inch arms and 9.13-inch hands and can run the 40-yard dash in 4.49 seconds which is pretty damn respectable. There’s no question that he’s physically-gifted, agile and fast but it’s his size that’s going to be the question mark. Can he keep up with the elite pass-catchers in the NFL? That’s something that he’ll have to work on and prove the naysayers wrong.
Reid ranks 11th all-time in terms of passes defensed with 30 pass breakups and seven interceptions so he leaves a distinguished mark behind. He was named to the All-Big Ten team as an honorable mention selection, won the Lions’ Pride Outstanding Senior Player Award — along with two other teammates — for his level of play this past season and was recognized by Pro Football Focus for his performance against Buffalo back Sep. 7. I’m sure O’Brien loves that he won the Lions’ Pride Award to which I’m sure he’s ever so familiar with even outside of Reid’s physical traits.
He’s dealt with knee injuries in the past in high school as well as his 2017 campaign that was truncated because of it but has made 24 starts since then so he’s really tried his utmost to stay healthy.
What are the experts saying about him? Let’s take a look under the hood.
What the experts are saying
"“Competitive press nickel who uses mirror quickness and controlled hand work to make press release uncomfortable for receivers. Reid’s body control and balance allow him to play a stickier brand of coverage underneath, but that coverage will fade as routes progress. He can be mismatched with big speed or big size and doesn’t feature the physical profile of a capable run-support defender. Reid’s passion, competitiveness and football IQ are fun to watch, but physical limitations could cap his ceiling.”"
Joe Marino of The Draft Network:
"“Penn State cornerback John Reid enters the NFL after starting 40 games in the Big 10 while racking up 37 passes defended and seven interceptions. Reid is a smart football player with fluid hips and rapid footwork that translate well to both man and zone coverage. He has good ball skills and competes like an alpha. With that said, Reid lacks size, length and play strength which limits him in terms of appeal on the outside and some matchups in the slot. Reid has the upside to be a starting nickel corner at the next level with a modest ceiling and high floor.”"
Charlie Campbell of WalterFootball.com:
"“Reid had a hot start to the 2019 for Penn State and cooled down somewhat, but he still put together a solid year. Reid totaled 37 tackles with two interceptions and eight passes broken up on the season. He would fit best in the NFL as a slot corner.”"