Houston Texans: 3 UDFAs who could make an immediate impact

Drew Lewis, ILB, Colorado

Drew Lewis is a smart and athletic linebacker prospect who comes from a football crazy family. His uncles, Will and Tim, both played defensive back in the NFL, as did his cousin, Louis Riddick. Lewis joins the Houston Texans after a successful three-year stint at the University of Colorado, where he started at inside linebacker his final two seasons.

Lewis is an extremely quick and athletic linebacker who showed off his raw speed with an impressive 4.5 40-yard dash. Simply put, this guy can move and it consistently shows up on tape.

The Colorado product moves extremely well in space, showing high-level short-area quickness and long speed on the field. He can legitimately defend from sideline-to-sideline and holds his own against speed in coverage. He is also a weapon when asked to blitz, using his explosive athleticism to create legitimate pressure on the quarterback.

Lewis is a modern NFL linebacker whose ability to defend in space gives him a real chance to compete for playing time as a rookie for the Houston Texans. He is a strong candidate to come in and backup Benardrick McKinney and Zach Cunningham at inside linebacker and provide immediate value on special teams. Lewis’ speed and overall athleticism give him a great chance to be a real asset in kick coverage.