HEADLINES

Juice Scruggs

Texans Sign Second-Round C Juice Scruggs

May 13th, 2023 at 9:31pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Texans have already signed their final four draft picks from this year’s class, but they have now come to terms with their second-rounder as well. Houston signed former Penn State center Juice Scruggs to his rookie deal, as noted by Aaron Wilson of KPCR2. The four-year contract is worth slightly more than $6MM.

[RELATED: Texans Extend G Shaq Mason]

Scruggs’ path to the NFL was a tumultuous one, with a 2019 car accident leaving his playing future in serious doubt. He recovered in full, though, and became a team captain with the Nittany Lions by the end of his college career. That completed a notable turnaround from a high-profile recruiting process coming out of high school in which he had a number of notable offers to choose from.

The 6-3, 315-pounder earned third-team All-Big Ten honors in 2022, cementing his status as one of the top interior linemen in this year’s class. The Texans made a small trade up to No. 62 to select him, and he was the third center to hear his name called. While Scruggs has experience at guard, he is expected to primarily see time in the middle of Houston’s o-line.

That will allow him to immediately compete for a starting role. The Texans re-signed veteran Scott Quessenberry earlier in the offseason, but Scruggs could displace him as a first-teamer during training camp. If that were to take place, he would become the second consecutive interior blocker to see signficant playing time as a rookie in Houston. First-rounder Kenyon Green played 15 games at left guard last season, and represents a part of the team’s long-term plans up front.

The same is also true of Laremy Tunsil, of course. The Pro Bowl left tackle inked a three-year, $75MM extension in March, ensuring stability on the blindside for the rebuilding team. Tunsil, Green and Scruggs could form the left side of their offensive line for years to come if all goes according to plan.

Texans Acquire No. 62 From Eagles, Draft C Juice Scruggs

April 28th, 2023 at 8:09pm CST by Ely Allen

The Eagles fielded calls on moving back from No. 30. With the penultimate pick in the second round, the defending NFC champions will slide down a bit. The Texans moved up to No. 62. To move down three spots to No. 65, the Eagles will pick up Nos. 188 and 230. The Texans will take Penn State offensive lineman Juice Scruggs.

Scruggs continues a bit of a second-round run on centers, slotting in as the third center off the board behind Wisconsin’s Joe Tippmann and Minnesota’s John Michael Schmitz. The third Nittany Lion off the board, and the second in as many picks, Scruggs brings ideal size, strength, and acumen to Houston.

Scruggs had to come back from a serious car accident in 2019, suffering a break of his L3 vertebra after being thrown from the vehicle in the wreck. Instead of risking spinal surgery that could end his career, he allowed it to heal naturally and slowly, eventually rehabbing back into playing shape. He returned to become a captain in Happy Valley.

Scruggs reads defenses well before the snap and masterfully reacts to defensive line stunts and twists. He has strength to push blocks into the next level, but when overpowered, Scruggs can struggle to recover.

After releasing Justin Britt, the Texans re-signed Scott Quessenberry, who ranked dead last in the NFL out of 36 qualifying centers, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). This should provide Scruggs with an immediate starting opportunity at center in 2023. If not, Scruggs can provide some strong competition or depth on the interior with experience at both center and guard at Penn State.