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The one move that defined the 2018 NFL season for all 32 teams

By Erik Lambert

ALAMEDA, CA - JANUARY 09: Oakland Raiders new head coach Jon Gruden looks on during a news conference at Oakland Raiders headquarters on January 9, 2018 in Alameda, California. Jon Gruden has returned to the Oakland Raiders after leaving the team in 2001. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
ALAMEDA, CA - JANUARY 09: Oakland Raiders new head coach Jon Gruden looks on during a news conference at Oakland Raiders headquarters on January 9, 2018 in Alameda, California. Jon Gruden has returned to the Oakland Raiders after leaving the team in 2001. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – NOVEMBER 04: Justin Reid #20 of the Houston Texans celebrates a interception against the Denver Broncos at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on November 4, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – NOVEMBER 04: Justin Reid #20 of the Houston Texans celebrates a interception against the Denver Broncos at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on November 4, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

Houston Texans: Drafting Justin Reid

The Texans came into 2018 having been put in a bad spot of their own making. Thanks to previous trades in order to clear up the blunder that was the Brock Osweiler signing, the team had no 1st or 2nd round picks coming in this years’ draft. That presented a big challenge. They needed to find impact players for a roster that was ready to win now. Especially with some of their key veterans starting to approach the downslope of their careers.

In the end, they decided to go after some help for their secondary by using their first pick of the draft on Stanford safety Justin Reid in the 3rd round. It was a minor surprise he’d actually fallen that far according to experts. Many felt he had the sort of skill set to be a top 50 pick. Maybe even a 1st rounder. Time has quickly proven those experts were quite correct.

Not only does Reid have 69 tackles this season as a key member of the Texans secondary, but he also has three interceptions including one for a touchdown. He’s been a huge key to that unit ranking 5th in the NFL in points allowed.

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