Zach Cunningham joins Texans' linebacker corps at 57th overall
The Houston Texans selected Vanderbilt Commodores inside linebacker Zach Cunningham with the 57th overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft.
Cunningham made 27 starts for the Commodores, finishing third in school history in tackles for loss (39.5) while earning first-team All-American honors in 2016. Cunningham excels in pass coverage with long arms (34 3/8") and lived in SEC backfields as an exceptionally physical run defender, but he appears stringy at 6'4", 234 pounds and will need to add weight in order to stay on the field for three downs. He will likely work into the rotation behind Brian Cushing.
Cunningham missed 21 tackles last year, but did rack up 125 others with 16.5 tackles for a loss. The Texans were sixth and seventh in Adjusted Defensive Passing Net Expected Points (NEP) per play and Adjusted Defensive Rushing NEP per play, respectively.
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