12up Logo

3 Texans Veterans Fighting for Their Jobs After The Draft

By Scott Rogust

These three veterans on the Texans are going to be fighting for their jobs after the NFL Draft.
These three veterans on the Texans are going to be fighting for their jobs after the NFL Draft. / Christian Petersen/Getty Images

The Houston Texans made the most of the 2020 NFL Draft despite not holding a first round pick. They managed to get a first-round talent in Ross Blacklock in the second, while adding Jonathan Greenard to their loaded pass-rusher corps. With these new additions, that means some veterans in Houston will have to work even harder to secure their jobs for the 2020 season, and beyond.

With that in mind, here are three players who need to step their game up right now in order to stick around.

3. CB Vernon Hargreaves

Vernon Hargreaves' job is far from secure, despite signing a one-year contract this offseason.
Vernon Hargreaves' job is far from secure, despite signing a one-year contract this offseason. / Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Who can forget when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers released former first-round pick Vernon Hargreaves hours after he was benched for showing zero effort during a game? Of course, Bill O'Brien added him due to Houston's need of cornerback depth, but even though Hargreaves signed a one-year contract this offseason, his job is far from safe. In the fourth round of the NFL Draft, the Texans selected Penn State corner John Reid, who allowed just six receptions and directly forced five incompletions on 95 man coverage snaps last season. Additionally, Hargreaves accounts for zero dead money in 2020, so if he shows no improvement in the preseason, he'll be shown the door.

2. DT Eddie Vanderdoes

Eddie Vanderdoes carries minimal job security after the addition of Ross Blacklock.
Eddie Vanderdoes carries minimal job security after the addition of Ross Blacklock. / Bob Levey/Getty Images

Ross Blacklock possesses tremendous speed for a nose tackle, and could create a perfect one-two punch with edge rusher JJ Watt. We can expect the former TCU Horned Frog to make the starting lineup in his rookie season, which means someone has to go, and Eddie Vanderdoes makes sense. The former 2017 third-round pick by the Las Vegas Raiders had potential, but was seriously hampered by a torn ACL suffered in his rookie season finale. Houston originally signed Vanderdoes off the Raiders' practice squad, and he made a minimal impact in his three appearances. Cutting ties with him is an easy decision for the Texans, as they'll free up over $800,000 in cap space in the process.

1. WR Kenny Stills

It's only a matter of time until the Texans move on from Kenny Stills.
It's only a matter of time until the Texans move on from Kenny Stills. / Tom Pennington/Getty Images

Look, it's hard for the Texans to part ways with a wide receiver -- considering they traded superstar DeAndre Hopkins this offseason -- but we're placing Kenny Stills on this list based off a report from The Athletic. Stills carries a $7 million cap hit but no dead money in 2020, and the team truly must give quarterback Deshaun Watson a long-term contract extension. Houston did add Brandin Cooks via trade and Isaiah Coulter in the fifth round of the draft, so the need for Stills has decreased. It will be a matter of when, not if, the Texans move on from Stills, whether that's through a release or a trade.