Sixth Round (#185 overall) – S DeAndre Houston-Carson, William & Mary
Grade: B
Of all the Bears picks, this is the one I know the least about. I’ve watched film on Houston-Carson, but the Colonial Athletic Association is a far cry from the NFL and the lack of talent on the field makes it difficult to accurately scout a player. To his credit Houston-Carson was clearly the best player on the field, but how that translates to the next level is still difficult to ascertain.
A three-year starter at corner before switching to safety as a senior, Houston-Carson should have above-average coverage skills. He was also a force in the run game at the college level, but his thin 201-pound frame might not be strong enough to take down NFL-sized ball carriers. Despite a lack of bulk, “DHC” showed no qualms about contributing in run support with an aggressive playing style and the fundamentals to consistently square people up.
On tape DHC shows all of the traits you want to see in a safety, he can run (4.54), has good instincts, solid ball skills (10 career interceptions), sound tackling technique (293 career tackles), and has very few obvious flaws in his skill-set.
He’s also a weapon on special teams with an unheard of nine blocked kicks. Three of four blocked kicks would be noteworthy, but nine is ridiculous. The jump from the CAA to the NFL is huge and it may take DHC a season or two to adjust, but his skill-set is polished enough that I think DHC will pass Bush on the depth chart and be the primary backup at safety by the end of his rookie season.
Whether or not DHC contributes on defense or not this year, he should be a weapon on special teams. His athleticism and kick-blocking skills should translate immediately and I expect DHC to be a core special teams member by week one.
Projected Role: Secondary depth and special teams asset
Projected Stats: 25 tackles, 1 interception, 1 blocked kick
Next: WR Daniel Braverman