HOUSTON — Not lengthy after the Houston Texans traded up within the third spherical of final month’s draft, the staff posted a video on Twitter of coach Lovie Smith and normal supervisor Nick Caserio hugging after a choose.
The choice? Houston had traded up 5 spots to draft Alabama linebacker Christian Harris, sending picks Nos. 80 and 162 to the Denver Broncos for choose No. 75.
“I do not assume anyone was extra ecstatic than Lovie about that choose,” Caserio stated that evening.
Throughout rookie minicamp Friday, Smith joked that he wanted to observe what he stated and did when the cameras had been rolling. He added that he and Caserio, “had been high-fiving on most of our draft picks.”
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“We like Christian,” Smith stated. “Quite a bit. We had him ranked excessive on our board. … We thought he would go a bit of earlier. To have a chance to get him in that spherical the place we did was thrilling.”
Harris stated his mother confirmed him the video of the hug and admitted it was “fairly cool to see.”
“I assumed it was humorous,” Harris stated. “I used to be laughing.”
On draft evening, Caserio stated Harris “match the profile when it comes to what we would like at linebacker.”
Harris stated after assembly with Smith on his go to to Houston through the pre-draft course of he “truthfully fell in love with” the pinnacle coach’s protection.
“It is sort of powerful as a result of going by way of that complete course of, like you may’t choose the place you go,” Harris stated. “However I knew if I had been to return right here, it could be the proper match for me.”
Harris pointed to the success linebackers have had in Smith’s protection as one of many causes he’s excited. Smith, who was promoted from defensive coordinator in February, was the linebackers coach in Tampa Bay earlier than he was employed by the St. Louis Rams as their defensive coordinator.
“Simply listening to concerning the historical past of the linebackers who had been on this comparable protection which have had success, like Derrick Brooks and LaVonte David,” Harris stated. “These are two guys I watched a bit of bit, and clearly I feel with my spot and my position, no matter it’s they need me to do, I really feel like I can have a excessive success price.”
For as excited as Smith was about with the ability to draft Harris, the 21-year-old appeared simply as excited to get to study from the three-time NFL head coach.
“He’s a frontrunner,” Harris stated of Smith. “A father determine. He’s an amazing man. For me, these two days simply sitting there and with the ability to speak to one of many best has been sort of loopy and legendary. It’s positively a blessing.
“I’m about to choose his mind as a lot as I probably can whereas I’m right here.”
