A banged-up defense and rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson suffering a season-ending knee injury led to the Houston Texans finishing 2017 at 4-12.
The returns of Watson, J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus bodes well for head coach Bill O’Brien’s unit and with it also getting defensive back Tyrann Mathieu in free agency, Houston’s secondary receives a boost.
In what has been a progressive offseason for the Texans, the biggest news story came Friday via John McClain – NFL reporter on the Texans for the Houston Chronicle. According to McClain, the franchise has decided to move Kareem Jackson from cornerback to safety for next season.
Jackson, who enters his ninth NFL season this fall, is the longest-tenured player in Houston’s defensive backfield. Since being selected in the first round (20th pick) of the 2010 draft, Jackson has totaled 472 tackles, 14 interceptions, 70 pass breakups and three touchdowns.
The former University of Alabama standout posted a career-high 73 stops in 2017, while his 10 pass breakups led the Texans. With the team not having a high-end player at safety, paring the 5-foot-10, 185-pound ball hawk with Mathieu could be a strong move for O’Brien and his staff.
Prior to his arrival in the pros, Jackson was a major component in helping Alabama football secure its first Southeastern Conference championship and BCS national championship during the 2009 season. He finished sixth on the squad in tackles that year (49) and was second in pass breakups with 13.
If it means anything for Jackson, his Alma mater did move Eddie Jackson and Minkah Fitzpatrick from corner to safety and both turned in All-American numbers in that role.
According to spotrac.com, Jackson will make $9 million in 2018.
Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
