Byron Cowart will join a second team this offseason. The former Patriots starter caught on with the Chiefs in March, but the defending champions quickly cut him. The Texans will take a flier.
Houston is signing Cowart, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 tweets. Best known for being a full-time starter with New England in 2020, Cowart has not started a game since. He spent last season with the Colts. Texans GM Nick Caserio was with the Patriots when they drafted Cowart in the 2019 fifth round.
Cowart saw an injury derail his 2021 season. The Patriots stashed the 300-pound defender on their reserve/PUP list to start the season but later allowed his return-to-practice period to expire. That ended his season, and the Pats moved on just before training camp began last year. The Colts picked up Cowart and used him as a backup in 17 games. He made 12 tackles (two for loss) during a season in which he played 227 defensive snaps.
Pro Football Focus did not rank Cowart highly last year, slotting him outside the top 100 among interior D-linemen. He will aim to bounce back with a rebuilding team. The Colts claimed Cowart’s rookie deal last summer, but after the Chiefs bailed on a veteran agreement, the former Maryland and Auburn D-lineman will attempt to stick on a veteran contract in Houston.
The Texans have added some D-tackle help this offseason, signing Sheldon Rankins and ex-DeMeco Ryans 49ers charge Hassan Ridgeway. The team also returns Maliek Collins, who signed during Caserio’s first offseason. The Texans, however, did not draft an interior D-lineman.
Why did he get cut in the first place
I remember Cowart was a big time recruit coming out of high school, and was rated as the number 7 player in the entire country.
I never understood why he ultimately went to Maryland. It just makes you wonder if his career would have turned out any different if he went to a Georgia, Alabama, Ohio State, Clemson, Michigan, or even a South Carolina or Wisconsin etc. teams that are known for churning out great DL year after year..
Alot of people will tell you if you’re good at football, scouts will find you regardless, and that is true, but coaching also matters. Not to mention, the vast majority of these top teams have significantly better weight programs and alot more staff, so they can take more personalized approaches with their players.
I mean, I understand if you don’t happen to have one of these schools near you, and you want to stay closer to home, but if I’m a mold of clay I’d want to be shaped by the best..