Quintin Demps had a career year for the Texans in 2016, then took the money and ran to Chicago in free agency.
- Rick Smith recently said in an interview the Texans have options on the roster, but this draft class is “one of the strongest safety positions that I can remember,” and that there is depth at the position throughout the entire draft.
- The options to replace Demps on the current roster include Corey Moore and Eddie Pleasant.
- Moore graded out at 75.0, position rank 60 in 2016. He had 6 stops and 4 missed tackles.
- Pleasant was efficient as a dime-back-blitzer, accumulating 5 QB pressures on just 20 pass-rushes. Pleasant allowed a 57.7 completion percentage into his coverage, best of Texans safeties.
Draft options
- Early-round target: Marcus Williams, Utah. Highest run-stop percentage of all FBS safeties in 2016. Second-highest tackle efficiency against run of all FBS safeties in 2016. Had just a 53.5 Passer Rating Against in 2016.
- Mid-round target: Xavier Woods, Louisiana Tech. Allowed just 27 of 47 throws into his area to be completed in 2016. QB rating against was 58.4.
- Late-round target: Chuck Clark, Virginia Tech. Allowed 54.2 completion percentage in three seasons, while missing just 19 of 230 attempted tackles and registering 83 stops.