Jordan Akins, Tight End

Jordan Akins declared his NFL debut “a dream come true.” The rookie tight end snagged two catches for 20 yards and scored on both plays. It’s hard to ask for a better performance from a third round draft pick. Call it a humble dream but Akins has already etched himself into the record books. The Texans announced Thursday night that he is the only player in franchise history to score twice in a preseason game – not a bad way to start a career, right?

The rookie pass-catcher found his way into Texans locker room via an unusual route. He spent four years playing minor league baseball for the Texas Rangers before becoming a UCF Knight. He didn’t even play tight end until his sophomore season was cut short by injury. He spent the offseason bulking up and learning the role after playing wide receiver his first two years. These factors played into Akins’ third-round draft value, potentially making him another steal for the organization. His athleticism is obvious in game speed and his time in the minors allowed him to develop his physique further than the rest of his draft classmates. It’s hard to not get excited about adding another playmaker to the young and dynamic Texans’ offense. Should he continue to have game impact, he’ll compete to take the starting  role from incumbent Ryan Griffin.

The Houston Texans are so rich at offensive skill positions it’s hard to imagine handing Deshaun Watson another weapon. However, the UCF wide out turned tight end already looks like he deserves targets. His quickness and separation ability flashed on both of his scores. Playing the tight end position with a wide receiver skill set puts opposing linebackers in a bind. The ability to create a mismatch in the middle of the field provides another nuance to the Texans explosive unit. The downside to his specialization as a pass catching option does limit his impact in the run game. However, Akins has the kind of skills that can compensate for what he lacks in blocking ability if he’s utilized properly.