Undrafted Free Agents can either boom ala Arian Foster or bust like Terry Swanson"WhiteFanposts Fanshots Texans StoriesScheduleRosterStatsYahoo Texans NewsYahoo Texans Team PageYahoo Texans ReportYahoo Texans Depth ChartYahoo Texans TransactionsYahoo Texans PhotosOdds About Masthead Community Guidelines StubHub ✕Houston Texans Roster: 8th Round Draft PicksNew
Jordan Akins Jersey ,21commentsUndrafted Free Agents can either boom ala Arian Foster or bust like Terry SwansonCDTShareTweetShareShareHouston Texans Roster: 8th Round Draft PicksKaran Higdon at the NFL CombineTrevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY SportsSince the NFL Draft was shortened to 7 rounds, and the last player picked dubbed “Mr. Irrelevant” the class of players signed in the feeding frenzy of undrafted talent directly after the draft ends is often completely overlooked. However, a quick glance at a list of top undrafted players in NFL history brings us names like Wes Welker, Priest Holmes, Nate Newton, James Harrison, Kurt Warner and, of course, Arian Foster. While there’s no guarantee this years crop of Undrafted Free Agents (UDFAs) is going to provide Houston with a future Hall of Famer, there are a few who might not only make the roster but contribute in a very positive manner. Signing undrafted rookies also lets a team quickly address areas of need that weren’t glaring enough to warrant early round draft picks, or in some cases any draft picks. For the Texans, those areas are the running back corps, wide receivers and interior defensive line. Thankfully, the Texans addressed all three spots with UDFAs. Let’s face it
Keke Coutee Jersey , the Texans essentially did nothing to improve their running back corps, unless that is, you’re one of those people who think getting rid of Alfred Blue immediately upgraded the team. Cue Missouri back Damarea Crockett and Michigan Wolverine back Karan Higdon.Running Back: Damarea CrockettNFL Draft NetworkRunning Back: Karan HigdonNFL Draft TrackerSean PendergastNext up we have a pair of wide receivers who could find the field faster than they run the 40-yard dash. With DeAndre Hopkins a lock at WR1, but Will Fuller and Keke Coutee almost assured to miss time with injuries, there are a lot of question marks on the depth chart after D-Hop. While Vyncint Smith and DeAndre Carter should have a shot at the WR2 or WR3 slot depending on which combo of Fuller/Coutee is off the injury report on any given week, Oklahoma State’s Tyron Johnson and Ohio State’s Johnnie Dixon could both see the field early and often if they learn, adapt and excel quickly enough. Cowboys Ride For FreeTexans Sports NationWhile Houston has the edge set, for sure, with players like J.J. Watt, Jadeveon Clowney, Whitney Mercilus and Duke Ejiofor, the interior defensive line could stand an upgrade or two. What does Houston tend to do when in need of a defensive lineman? Turn to the Clemson Tigers (or Houston Texans East, as they may as well be known these days...) Richard Johnson broke down Huggins game very well over at the SBNation main site.In addition, Sean Pendergast had this to say about him:What do you think? Any of these UDFAs get your blood flowing? Think one (or more) of them is going to crack the final 53 in a big way? Expect them all to bust? Convinced a player I didn’t mention is the cream of the UDFA crop? Give us your insights in the comments! With a stirring rendition of "I'll Fly Away" marking the conclusion of a memorial service for former Houston Texans founder and owner Bob McNair
Deshaun Watson Jersey , Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wiped tears from his eyes Friday afternoon."It's ironic that I'm getting emotional because the only other time I ever teared up was right on this field when the Texans and Bob kicked our butt in the first game that was ever played in this stadium," Jones said, recalling Houston's 19-10 win over the Cowboys in their inaugural game in 2002. "The Texans put it on the Cowboys and it was a glorious night to begin the Texans. Bob was so special."More than 1,000 of McNair's friends, members of the Houston and NFL community, players and coaches past and present, gathered to pay respects and say goodbye to McNair, who brought the NFL back to Houston for its inaugural season in 2002 after the Oilers moved to Tennessee.Former Secretary of State James A. Baker, a close friend of McNair's, opened up tributes by saying the gathering was in the "House that Bob Built." Baker said he and McNair enjoyed a love of politics, football and quail hunting, and said it was former President George H.W. Bush who converted both of them from Democrats to Republicans.Baker talked about McNair's determination and told a story of how he only saw McNair give up on a quest once in his life, when the two were quail hunting in sweltering south Texas heat. After a long and miserable day, McNair finally said in his Southern drawl
Zach Cunningham Jersey , "Calf rope," an expression similar to "Uncle" or "I give up."The Rev. Eric Manning provided a welcome and an opening invocation. Manning is the senior pastor at Mother Emanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston, South Carolina, the site of a July 2015 race-inspired mass shooting.NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell also spoke, calling McNair one of America's finest sportsmen and business leaders. Goodell talked about that expansion process and how Houston was a long shot early on, but McNair never wavered."Bob was not in it for himself. He wanted to return the NFL to Houston because of his tremendous loyalty to the community," Goodell said. "He knew that bringing the NFL back would help show the world what an extraordinary place Houston is."Goodell praised McNair for his faith, integrity, patience, honesty and thoughtfulness."Not to put any more pressure on you and the team, but you know how much Bob wanted to win a Super Bowl," Goodell said, looking to Texans coach Bill O'Brien.Texans defensive end J.J. Watt praised McNair for his philanthropy and generosity in the community. Watt recalled a charity event at NRG Stadium when, at the end of the event after "tons of money" had been raised
D’Onta Foreman Jersey , it was announced that McNair committed to matching everyone's combined donations."That's what Mr. McNair did. He would do the kindest things at random moments, and he would do it many times when people had no idea that he was doing it," Watt said. "I consider myself lucky to have known him, lucky to have learned from him, and I can only hope that I'm making him proud in the way that we represent his organization."Dr. Harris Pastides, president of the University of South Carolina, mentioned a commencement speech McNair did at his alma mater in 1999 and how McNair talked about meeting his wife, Janice, and telling her parents they were moving to Texas for a few years to build some capital before returning home."He then reminded the graduates to never make promises they could not keep," Pastides said.Dr. Dave Peterson, pastor emeritus at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church, talked about McNair's drive, which he said he believed was instilled in McNair from an early age. Peterson told a story of a young McNair in his small hometown of Forest City, North Carolina who wanted his country dirt road to be paved so badly that he would repeatedly stomp on a strip provided by the state's transportation department to determine how busy the road was and whether or not it needed to be paved.Peterson said he visited McNair at the hospital on Thanksgiving and said he was saddened to see him suffering. Peterson noted the last few months of McNair's life were painful
Julién Davenport Jersey , adding that in seeing the pictures and videos paying tribute to McNair, "It's good to see him smiling again."McNair died on Nov. 23 at the age of 81. He had battled both leukemia and squamous cell carcinoma in recent years. He died peacefully with wife Janice and his family by his side, the Texans said.Following the tributes, a short video montage highlighted McNair's life, with a focus on his time as Texans owner."I'd like to think that I'll be remembered as an honorable man, as a good Christian man, and that I always did things in a first-class manner and treated people honestly," McNair said on the video. "I think that would be a good legacy."