NFL Houston Texans

Landon Collins Makes Most Sense for Houston Texans in 2015 NFL Draft

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By @JordanWevers

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Getty Images

The Houston Texans have a number of areas to address before the 2015-16 regular season. Free agency aside, strong safety Landon Collins should be their target heading into the 2015 NFL Draft to help shore up a soft secondary that must be tasked with slowing down Andrew Luck two times every calendar year.

The Texans had the 21st-ranked pass defense in 2014. A 9-7 record does not look all that flashy either when you factor in the secondary faced the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars (3-13) and Tennessee Titans (2-14) twice each in the rather paltry AFC South.

Houston managed to go 4-2 in their division games, losing to the Indianapolis Colts both times. Regrettably, the defense did surrender 299 yards passing and two touchdowns to rookie Titans quarterback Zach Mettenberger in Week 8 as well.

Outside of their division games, Houston allowed opposing quarterbacks to pass for greater than 250 yards in five of 10 contests. Though their defense features one of the premier defenders and pass rushers in the game today in J.J. Watt, the secondary did not play at a high enough caliber to warrant a playoff berth. Depending on how former first overall pick Jadeveon Clowney rehabs after season-ending meniscus surgery, the pass rush could be even fiercer in 2015 should he go on to produce. Those factors, along with the addition of an impact player like Collins to the secondary, could stabilize the defense more moving forward.

Collins is a big man, measuring 6-foot-2 and weighing 220 pounds. He is light-footed for his size and adjusts in coverage well with his fluid hips. One of his biggest assets is his ferocious tackling ability. Collins makes a point of trying to rip the ball out of the ball-carrier’s grasp at any chance he gets. He also has a nose for the ball, having recorded five combined interceptions in his sophomore and junior campaigns.

An All-American in 2014, the Alabama Crimson Tide product is the highest-rated safety in the draft. With no combine or pro days yet logged, scouts believe Collins to be the only safety worthy of a first-round grade. Whether he could fall to Houston at the 16th overall spot remains to be seen.

Current Texans SS D.J. Swearinger was selected by the Texans 57th overall in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He started in 10 games as a rookie and 12 last season. Between he and veteran Danieal Manning, the Texans aren’t getting a whole lot of ball-hawking, playmaking ability. Both have combined for just three interceptions over the last two regular seasons, and Collins could change that in a hurry.

Jordan Wevers is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @JordanWevers, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google.

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