How will former Nittany Lions John Reid, Cam Brown and Robert Windsor fare with their new NFL teams?
The third and final day of the 2020 NFL Draft saw three former Penn State football players get selected across four rounds.
Cornerback John Reid was the first to get picked when he went at No. 141 overall to the Houston Texans. Linebacker Cam Brown, at No. 183 overall, and defensive lineman Robert Windsor, at No. 193 overall, followed in the sixth round when they were drafted by the New York Giants and Indianapolis Colts, respectively.
Let’s take a look at how they’ll fit with their new teams as they start their professional careers.
CB John Reid, Houston Texans
Reid is entering a situation at cornerback that lacks clarity. The Texans have tried to patch up their secondary with castoffs of other teams around the league but haven’t fixed their issues. They ranked 26th in pass defense according to Football Outsiders, and still don’t have long-term answers at the position. Reid’s arrival likely won’t solve any major issues, but it should solidify a starting spot for the Texans.
The former Nittany Lion is a sound technician with the athleticism to stay with fast wide receivers. His biggest flaw is his size, which is likely to push him into the slot long term. However, former NFL scout and current Ourlads general manager Dan Shonka thinks Reid can still play on the outside.
“He could probably play outside once in a while because he’s not real small,” Shonka told the Centre Daily Times. “He’s good in press coverage. He’s a tough kid, working through blocks.”
Reid could come in and impact Houston’s secondary right away. His draft position, in the fourth round, should almost guarantee him a roster spot and his ability will take over from there.
The former Nittany Lion’s biggest advantage could be his intelligence in the uncertain future facing the league. With the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, NFL teams don’t know when training camp will occur, or if the season will start on time. Smart players who can learn schemes and terminology quickly will benefit because they’ll be more prepared in a shortened window.
Whether or not Reid earns a starting job as a rookie, he should be able to stay in the league for a very long time, according to Shonka.
“I think he’ll eventually be a starter in the slot,” Shonka said. “He’s really a versatile guy. He’s got the skills to be on the outside but I think he’ll start in the slot. That slot corner is as valuable as the outside guys anymore.”
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LB Cam Brown, New York Giants
Brown landed in an interesting spot with the Giants. He’ll see plenty of familiar faces on the team with former teammates Saquon Barkley and Grant Haley already on the roster, plus former Penn State defensive assistant Sean Spencer, who now coaches the Giants’ defensive line. The familiarity in the locker room should make his transition to the next level much easier.
His translation on the field could be more interesting. Brown is best suited in a 4-3 where he can use his length and athleticism to his advantage. The Giants could use some four-man fronts, but defensive coordinator Patrick Graham ran a 3-4 last year in Miami, according to Art Stapleton of NorthJersey.com.
Brown could slide inside but doesn’t have the size and strength to hold up as a run defender in the middle of the field. It stands to reason that he’ll play on the outside with the Giants, which could lead to more pass-rushing opportunities. He has the length and athleticism to fare well as an edge rusher, but needs to add weight no matter where he plays, according to Shonka.
“He’s slender,” Shonka said. “He has to put on some weight, certainly, if he’s going to play outside over a tight end. You’d like to see him have more balance in his lower body. The big thing would be gaining a little more weight.”
DT Robert Windsor, Indianapolis Colts
Windsor is joining a team that added one of the best defensive tackles in football this offseason. The Colts traded the No. 13 overall pick in the draft for defensive tackle DeForest Buckner. Buckner and Denico Autry present a formidable pass-rushing duo in the Indianapolis four-man front. Windsor will have a chance to earn time alongside or behind the two linemen with his ability to defend the run and push the pocket from the interior.
Shonka said Windsor’s hand usage stood out, especially in last season’s Penn State win over Iowa.
“He’s got size and he’s got some power to him,” he said. “He’s a physical guy that really hustles. If you look at the Iowa game, he just killed Iowa. He looked dominant in that game. He showed some quick movement off the ball. He uses his hands pretty well. He’s got quick and strong hands.”
He’ll be relying on his strength to stick on an NFL roster and potentially crack a rotation. The former Nittany Lion isn’t an explosive athlete but has plenty of strength to hold up long term, and has a high motor when he’s playing at his best.
The former NFL scout projects Windsor as a rotational piece long term.
“I think he’ll be a journeyman defensive lineman, a long-term backup or rotational guy,” Shonka said. “He’ll keep blockers off linebackers.”
