(This is part of a series — Finding the Fits — in which NFLDraftScout.com will review the more intriguing picks made during the 2016 NFL Draft. The goal is to identify one relatively unheralded player per team who appears to be a good schematic fit and, therefore, more likely to be a surprise contributor early in his pro career.)
Houston’s best fit: RB Tyler Ervin, No. 119 overall
Relatively speaking, many believe that running back is the “easiest” position for a rookie to make an immediate impact on the NFL. It certainly is among the easiest positions to make a strong first impression on coaches.
With defenders held from fully tackling during minicamps and OTAs, backs with vision, elusiveness and burst can make a spectacular professional debut, especially if they also have the soft hands and body control to also operate as a receiver out of the backfield or in the return game.
This is precisely the scenario developing in Houston, where splashy free agent Lamar Miller was notably signed in the offseason to replace current street agent Arian Foster, the Texans’ all-time rushing yardage (6,472) and touchdown (54) leader.
With all due respect to the Texans’ talented new back, he’ll need help.
The Texans handed Miller a four-year, $26 million dollar deal to be their lead back but head coach Bill O’Brien has been a big believer in the running back by committee approach dating back to his time working with the New England Patriots. While Foster’s 2015 was cut short with a torn Achilles tendon, backups Alfred Blue, Jonathan Grimes, Akeem Spence and Chris Polk (also now a street free agent), combined to rush 355 times for 1,410 yards last season — more than 300 yards more than Miller even ran in a single season for the Miami Dolphins.
From a style standpoint, Ervin more closely resembles Miller than Foster. Slimmer and more explosive, the 5-foot-10, 192-pound rookie from San Jose State is a classic jitterbug with the agility to make defenders miss as well as the speed to run by them. He proved as much during his time at San Jose State, rushing for an eye-popping 1,469 yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior to earn an invitation to the Senior Bowl, where he again stood out.
Ervin has a stacked depth chart to overcome to see significant rushing opportunities in 2015 but he should make an immediate impact as a receiver and on special teams. His soft, reliable hands were put to good use by the Spartans in college, where he caught 73 passes for 642 yards the past two seasons. According to multiple reports, O’Brien and the Texans have peppered Ervin with passes throughout the early practice sessions, an indication that the head coach may have a Shane Vereen-like role in mind for the speedy back.
Better yet, Ervin averaged 23.5 yards per kickoff return (with three touchdowns scored) and 13.3 yards per punt return, taking back two of these for scores, as well. Ervin’s big-play potential as a returner is something the Texans have been sorely lacking. Houston has just two returns for touchdowns (both following punts) since 2009.
Outside of new quarterback Brock Osweiler, Miller will generate most of the preseason buzz. But due to his versatility and speed, Ervin should also play a key role for a Texans squad hoping to repeat as AFC South champions.
Other thoughts on the Texans’ 2016 draft class:
With only six selections, the Texans had relatively few opportunities to boost their roster via the draft. At least at this point, however, it appears that no team did more with less. The addition of blue chip athletes Will Fuller and Braxton Miller adds playmaking potential at wide receiver to complement star DeAndre Hopkins and take full advantage of Osweiler’s big arm. And it is precisely because each of the rookies are being brought in as complementary pieces to Hopkins that their selections make sense.
Fuller is a classic one-trick pony as a deep threat. While certainly coordinated enough to run a variety of routes, his relatively slight frame and occasional struggles securing the ball before making defenders miss made him a somewhat polarizing prospect heading into the draft. As one scout simply put it, Fuller “drops too many to be a first round pick in my book.”
Fuller possesses blinding speed (4.32 in the 40), however, and tracks the ball well over his shoulder. Further, he demonstrated improved concentration during receiver drills at the combine, catching every pass thrown in his direction. Fuller remains a bit raw and he likely will prove too inconsistent to earn Offensive Rookie of the Year consideration but his ability to take the top off the defense should open things up for everyone else, making Houston a logical candidate to repeat as AFC South division champs.
With only one year at wide receiver, Miller is understandably even more unpolished than Fuller. Further, he surprised scouts by “only” running a 4.50 at the combine and comes with medical concerns after suffering multiple concussions during his time at Ohio State — but what an athlete. Miller possesses remarkable body control and fluidity for a man with his 6-foot-1, 201-pound frame.
Like Ervin and Fuller, Miller boasts the lateral agility and balance to make defenders miss in tight quarters, the speed to pull away in the open field and he can make the spectacular reception look easy. Defenses are naturally going to shift toward Hopkins, which means Fuller and Miller will receive plenty of one-on-one looks. That should result in a significant uptick in explosive plays for the Texans — a team which recorded just nine plays of 40-plus yards last season, tied with the San Diego Chargers for the third-fewest in the NFL.
Linemen Nick Martin and D.J. Reader naturally won’t get as much attention as the so-called “skill position” players but each helps fortify the middle. Martin, whom the club traded up two picks to land, is officially listed as a guard on the Texans roster but he took snaps at center in OTAs and should be in the mix to replace Ben Jones as the club’s starter, who left via free agency. The younger brother of Dallas Cowboys’ All-Pro left guard Zack Martin, this former Notre Dame and Senior Bowl standout earned rave reviews from scouts because of his toughness, intelligence and versatility.
Martin should be familiar with Reader, who lined up opposite him at times at the Senior Bowl. Reader was overshadowed at Clemson and was a surprise invite to the prestigious senior all-star game but once in Mobile, he shined, showing the ballast and determination clubs expect of a run-stuffing nose guard. At 6-foot-3, 327 pounds, Reader has a similar build as veteran Vince Wilfork (listed at 6-2, 325) and could develop into a possible replacement for the 12-year pro.
Houston’s 2016 draft class:
1st Round, No. 21 overall: WR Will Fuller, Notre Dame
2ndRound, No. 50 overall: OL Nick Martin, Notre Dame
3rd Round, No. 85 overall: WR Braxton Miller, Ohio State
4th Round, No. 119 overall: RB Tyler Ervin, San Jose State
5th Round, No. 159 overall: S K.J. Dillon, West Virginia
5thRound, No. 166 overall: NG D.J. Reader, Clemson
Key Undrafted Free Agents Signed:
TE Stephen Anderson, California
K Ka’imi Fairbairn, UCLA
OLB Brennan Scarlett, Stanford
