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Randy Gregory May Be The Next Justin Houston

By Erik Lambert

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May 27, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive end Randy Gregory (94) during OTAs at Dallas Cowboys Headquarters. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

The 2011 NFL draft class is being hailed as one of the best to come around in the past decade thanks to the presence of current superstars like J.J. Watt, Von Miller, Cam Newton, A.J. Green, Patrick Peterson, Tyron Smith and Julio Jones all going within the first 11 picks.  That makes it easy to forget perhaps the biggest sleeper to come out of that incredible group:  Justin Houston.

The star Kansas City Chiefs linebacker didn’t go until the 70th pick of the 3rd round, an incomprehensible gaffe made by several teams according to Mike Freeman of NFL National.  He feels several general managers and front offices made way too much of the fact that Houston failed a drug test at the scouting combine that year for marijuana use.

"“To some (perhaps many) team executives in the sport, a failed combine drug test is one of the most egregious mistakes a prospect can make. (It shouldn’t be seen that way, but it is.) The executive criticizing Houston wasn’t alone. More than a few were hammering him to me and other journalists.And the criticism of Houston didn’t stop with just words. Before the failed test, Houston was a certain first-round pick. In fact, there were some in the league who felt he was a top-10 player. But the failed test caused Houston to fall to the third round, 70th overall.”"

In the end, Houston and the Chiefs got the last laugh.  The 25-year old just inked a $101 million deal for the next six years after compiling 48.5 sacks in 53 starts as a pro.  He is one of the top two or three pass rushers in the NFL.

That leads one to believe that perhaps teams make too much of failed tests for marijuana, not accounting for maturity.  After all, college is a time known for kids experimenting with a variety of substances.  It’s not until after graduation when they truly start to grow up that they get serious about their careers.

Houston is just the latest to prove that, which leads to the next question.  Is Randy Gregory next in line to do so?

Like Houston, the Nebraska pass rusher was a sure-fire 1st round pick in the 2015 draft given his obvious natural talent, speed and length.  However, he suffered from marijuana issues off the field and then compounded that mistake by showing up late or missing meetings with teams prior to the draft.

Sure enough his stock plummeted from possible top 10 pick until he fell all the way to the Dallas Cowboys late in the 2nd round.  When asked how that happened, Gregory didn’t blame the weed problem.  It was his own immaturity and foolish decisions that did it.  This leads one to believe that with such a humbling experience, coupled with hanging around proven pros like Jason Witten and Tony Romo, Gregory will begin to learn the value of a great work ethic.

Should that happen, his obvious ability will take care of the rest and maybe the Cowboys will be able to look back in five years and shrug their shoulders like Michael Jordan right after hitting six 3-pointers in one half.

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