Houston Texans Star Ranked Among the NFL’s Best Linebackers

Azeez Al-Shaair is finally getting leaguewide recognition. NFL executives, coaches and scouts ranked the Houston Texans’ defensive leader as the sixth-best linebacker in football after he failed to make last year’s top 10. Al-Shaair appeared on all but one ballot, with one evaluator calling him “the Dennis Rodman of linebackers” because of his relentless energy, physicality and ability to get inside opponents’ heads. We’ll react to the ranking, discuss what makes Al-Shaair so important to DeMeco Ryans’ defense and determine whether No. 6 is fair—or whether the Texans star deserves to be even higher. Al-Shaair defended nine passes last season, added two interceptions and helped patrol the middle of one of the NFL’s best defenses. After signing a three-year, $54 million contract, he is no longer one of Houston’s best-kept secrets. Read the full ESPN ranking: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/4...