Texans add ‘fun’ in DB Calen Bullock

Is Calen Bullock the next starting safety for the Houston Texans?

It took until the Third round, but Texans’ general manager Nick Caserio finally struck a trade, giving up picks no. 86 and no. 123 to move up to no. 78 and select S Calen Bullock from USC.

There weren’t a lot of bright spots to the 2023 USC defense, but Bullock was certainly one of them. At 6-2, 188 pounds, and with a 4.48s 40-yard dash time, Bullock was a standout athlete since becoming a starter as a freshman in 2021. In his three years and 39 games (33 starts) at USC, Bullock amassed 151 tackles, nine interceptions, two defensive touchdowns, and 15 PDs.

Despite USC’s issues on the defensive side of the ball, Bullock was an excellent center-field defender, earning First-team All-Pac 12 honors in 2022 and 2023. Similar to many defenders filling the Texans’ (and 49ers’) roster, Bullock is an athletic, versatile defender capable of excelling anywhere on the field.

Bullock’s highlights will make you believe he’s the next star DB that somehow fell into the middle of the draft. He’s an intense competitor, quick to identify offensive schemes, and sudden when coming in to stop the run. He has the instincts and awareness to see immediate success as a safety in the NFL, and could slot perfectly into DeMeco Ryans’ freshened defensive backfield.

Although, despite the high upside, he is not a perfect diamond in the rough prospect. He’s not the most effective at wrapping up defenders (his size sometimes getting in the way), and his occasional poor angles on tackles can lead to costly mistakes. This, on top of an underwhelming pro day and his undersized frame prevents him from being a top-pick in the NFL Draft. Bleacher Report’s NFL Scouting Department goes on to mention,

Bullock’s lack of strength shows up at times when he takes on blockers. He often uses his quickness to beat blockers in the open field, but he has been pushed around at times when taking on bigger blockers. There are also times where ball-carriers can fight him off for extra yards.

He clearly isn’t perfect, but MAN is he fun!

Just check this out:

Football is fun! The Texans are fun!

Overall, Bullock is a talented, if undersized athlete with production to back it up. He’s had his bad plays and poor decisions, yes, but has also shown significant improvement throughout his collegiate career. I really like his upside, and he is a quintessential Texans/49ers defender. With a more filled out frame, Bullock a starting defensive back right away.

What do you think, though? Is Bullock Houston’s next starting free safety, or was this a disappointing pick? Let us know down in the comments!