Undrafted free agents have found the Texans to be a good landing spot.
Club has a history of developing unknown free agents like Foster, Bouye, Braman, Cole
Memo to Texans undrafted free agents who will be on the practice field this weekend for the rookie minicamp: You signed with the right team.
The Texans have been a refuge for undrafted free agents. Looking for an opportunity? Houston might be your first and final destination.
After drafting eight players, general manager Brian Gaine signed 13 undrafted free agents. He’s also providing tryouts for 16 more undrafted free agents.
Last season, the Texans employed 14 undrafted players they signed coming out of college, including nine who started a total of 39 games, led by defensive end Joel Heath (nine), center/guard Greg Mancz (seven), outside linebacker Brennan Scarlett (five) and tight end Stephen Anderson (five).
While the undrafted free agents are becoming familiar with coach Bill O’Brien and his staff, the organization, NRG Stadium and Houston Methodist Training Center, they should take some time to learn about the team’s history as it relates to players who faced similar situations.
In 2009, very little was expected from the undrafted running back coming off a disappointing, injuryplagued senior season at Tennessee. There was no buzz for a back who ran a 4.65 at his pro day and didn’t get a positive endorsement from his college coaches.
After getting waived on the roster reduction to 53, Arian Foster was signed to the practice squad. He was added to the roster in November of his rookie year and played special teams until he got a chance at running back in his last two games.
Look for Swanson, Chachere
Foster, of course, became an offensive force, compiling four 1,000-yard seasons, earning Pro Bowl recognition four times, signing a five-year, $43 million extension and ending up as perhaps the third-best player in franchise history behind Andre Johnson and J.J. Watt.
Could Toledo’s Terry Swanson or Washington’s Lavon Coleman follow in Foster’s footsteps?
Swanson may have the best chance. He replaced Kareem Hunt as Toledo’s starting running back last season. Hunt led the NFL in rushing as a rookie at Kansas City. Swanson took his place and ran for 1,319 yards and scored 14 touchdowns.
As they check out Texans history, the undrafted free agents should pay close attention to 2013.
The Texans had Johnathan Joseph, Kareem Jackson, Brice McCain and Brandon Harris at cornerback. They were coming off an AFC South title and a playoff win. There didn’t seem to be any room for the skinny corner from Central Florida. But the harder A.J. Bouye worked, the more he impressed the coaches, and he made the roster as the fifth cornerback.
Bouye improved every season and was so good in 2016 — the last year of his contract — that Jacksonville signed him to a five-year, $67.5 million deal. He has become one of the NFL’s premier corners.
Could San Jose State’s Andre Chachere become the next Bouye? Chachere (6-0, 197) was a three-year starter who ran a 4.49 and also played safety.
Taking notice of Bellamy
There are other examples for the undrafted free agents to check out while they’re in town.
In 2011, everybody knew about Watt, the first-round pick who would be voted NFL Defensive Player of the Year three times.
Nobody knew much about the quirky outside linebacker from West Texas A&M who worked as a bouncer and kept his shorn dreadlocks in a bag in his freezer. Not only did Bryan Braman make the team and play three seasons with the Texans, but he played in Philadelphia’s Super Bowl victory over New England this year.
Could Georgia outside linebacker Davin Bellamy be the next Braman? Or the next Dylan Cole, who made the team as an inside linebacker from Missouri State last season?
Bellamy (6-4, 255) played part of last season with a broken left hand that left him with a club. He got the attention of O’Brien and defensive coaches at the Senior Bowl.
So much is about opportunity for undrafted rookies trying to make the team.
An offensive tackle like Pittsburgh’s Jaryd Jones-Smith could fit in because the coaches are looking for players at his position. The Texans also need wide receivers who can stay healthy. Pittsburgh’s Jester Weah and Limestone’s Vyncint Smith have a chance to impress the coaches.
The rookie minicamp is the first step in their journey from signing as undrafted free agents to making the roster or practice squad and, ultimately, getting a chance to become the next Foster, Bouye, Braman or Cole.