4 players from Raiders-Jaguars Hall of Fame Game the Texans should consider
The Las Vegas Raiders gave new coach Josh McDaniels a happy homecoming to Canton, Ohio, as they beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 27-11 Thursday night in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.
Other than finding solace in a Jacksonville loss, the Houston Texans can also benefit from this game by finding some potential gems who may not make the Jaguars or Raiders 53-man roster.
Many of the players who participated in Thursday night’s commemorative game will have to be cut and Houston is certainly not in a position to say no to taking chances on players with potential. Below are four players that either played well tonight, fit a position of need or would excel in Houston’s scheme.
Jaguars S Rudy Ford
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The Texans starting free safety snaps are currently being taken by Jonathan Owens who flashed a great interception in Week 16 versus Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers, but has little production on his resume. Houston could add some competition in the form of Ford, who has played for three teams and is going into his sixth season.
At 27 years old, Ford is right in his prime and while he only started four games for the Jaguars in 2021, they were an impressive four games. The Alabama native totaled 21 tackles, three pass breakups, one interception and three quarterback hits. If Ford has flashed a semblance of starter caliber production when given the opportunity, why wouldn’t Jacksonville keep him?
Ford was benched at the end of the 2021 season for rookie Andre Cisco. The third-round pick has impressed in 2022 training camp and is expected to start at free safety. Additionally, Jacksonville just handed safety Rayshawn Jenkins a four-year, $35 million contract, which is considered the Jaguars’ worst contract on the books.
Nonetheless, there may be a better opportunity in store for Ford on the Texans, whom would be wise to give Ford a shot and bolster their weakest position in the secondary.
Raiders DT Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa
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The rookie defensive tackle out of Notre Dame impressed during the Hall-of-Fame game, thanks to his physical traits. Tagovailoa-Amosa added some juice to the Raiders defensive line and was consistently the first player to get off the ball. That first-step quickness allowed Tagovailoa-Amosa to collapse the pocket on a few occasions.
Texans coach Lovie Smith has long preached about playing fast and pushes his defensive linemen to get off the ball with haste. There is no doubt that Tagovailoa-Amosa would thrive under that play style and he would provide some intriguing depth to develop, behind starters Maliek Collins and Roy Lopez.
Tagovailoa-Amosa was signed to one-year deal as an undrafted free agent, after showcasing a solid senior season at Notre Dame – finishing with 6.5 tackles-for-loss and 2.5 sacks. While his future may be in question in Las Vegas, Houston would be wise to pickup the youngster who fits Smith’s defense perfectly.
Raiders S Tyree Gillespie
(AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
While it is unlikely Gillespie does not make the Raiders 53-man roster, as he was drafted in the fourth-round just two years ago, it’s not impossible and he makes this list due to his strong performance. The hard-hitting safety lived up to his reputation by forcing a fumble in the second quarter, thanks to a perfectly placed tackle versus a Jaguars receiver.
A few minutes later, Gillespie showcased how his official 4.43 40-yard-dash speed aids him in coverage. On a rep where Gillespie was asked to cover deep on a Cover 2 call, he broke downhill and laid a booming hit on a tight end, who was thus limited in gaining yards after the catch.
Perhaps the optimism behind Gillespie finding his way to Houston relies on the fact that Vegas has their starting safeties set with 2019 first-round pick Jonathan Abram and 2021 second-round draft pick Trevon Moehrig. Additionally, the Raiders signed the accomplished former New England Patriots safety Duron Harmon, who is expected to provide veteran depth.
Raiders OL Alex Bars
(AP Photo/David Dermer)
Another potential addition in the trenches for Houston to be alerted of, Bars was a steadying force for the Raiders second-string offensive lineman. He blocked his assignments in the run game and was a positive in pass protection, particularly stopping numerous stunts and giving quarterback Jarret Stidham time in the pocket.
Bars’ impact was felt even more when he was taken out of a drive. The third-string left guard and left tackle tandem for the Raiders did not communicate a tackle-end stunt by the Jaguars, allowing Arden Key to secure a sack and end the drive for Las Vegas, late in the second quarter.
Houston could certainly use more depth along the interior of their offensive line as Justin Britt has struggled to stay fully healthy and the skeptics are out on A.J. Cann. Standing at 6-5 and weighing 334 pounds, Bars provides the hulking size offensive line coach George Warhop prefers. If the fourth-year pro is cut by the Raiders, Houston should pounce on the opportunity.
