The Houston Texans made a big splash on offense during the NFL draft with wideout DeAndre Hopkins to go with Andre Johnson and the team also did some work afterwards as they signed Heisman finalist Collin Klein as an undrafted free agent.
According to Pro Football Talk, the Texans signed Klein with the intention of him playing quarterback, as many saw him as a possible tight end or back due to his similarities to Tim Tebow. Klein runs a lot, but he has a much better arm and throwing motion than Tebow and he joins an already crowded position with Matt Schaub, T.J. Yates, Case Keenum and Stephen McGee. The Texans seer something in Klein and there is a chance he could beat out the others to backup Schaub, who has been hurt at times over the past few seasons.
The Houston Chronicle first reported the news of him being used as a quarterback and he will get his first chance to show off his skills in rookie minicamp and organized team activities over the summer and spring. Klein put up fantastic numbers at Kansas State, including last season when he was a Heisman finalist after throwing for 2,490 yards and 15 touchdowns while also rushing for 890 rushing yards and 22 scores, which came a season after he scored 27 rushing touchdowns.
Klein has a different style of play, but it could fit in with the high scoring Texans offense and he could get himself past Keenum and Yates depending on how he plays during the spring. Klein has been working in the offseason with former Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer, who worked with head coach Gary Kubiak with Denver in 2003 to 2005.
"I think the biggest thing here is we know this guy's a winner," Texans coach Gary Kubiak said on Monday. "Obviously, he's trying to change himself a little bit for the next level as far as playing the quarterback position from the throwing standpoint."
