HOUSTON – Oregon linebacker Jamal Hill was drafted in the sixth round by the Texans.
Although Hill has played safety previously, the Texans informed him they view him as a linebacker. He is expected to have a significant special-teams role due to his speed and aggressiveness.
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“I’ll do whatever they want me to do on special teams,” Hill said in a Zoom interview after being drafted by the defending AFC South champions. “I think that will be my path my first few years in the NFL. I’m just happy. I’m overwhelmed. I’m happy to be a Texan. The best part of my game is running and attacking.”
He met virtually with the Texans with a follow-up video meeting with linebackers coach Bill Davis and special teams coordinator Frank Ross since that initial meeting, per a league source.
“They sold me on the vision of playing linebacker and how I can help my team and NFL teams in the future,” Hill said of his switch to linebacker.
The Texans traded their 189th overall pick in the sixth round to the Detroit Lions in exchange for their 205th overall pick in the sixth round and a 2024 seventh-round draft pick (249th overall).
Hill did virtual meetings with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Buffalo Bills and New York Jets and visited the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos and he did the Atlanta Falcons’ local prospect day. Hill has met with the San Francisco 49ers individually. He’s up to 226 pounds from 216 pounds since his Pro Day.
Hill ran the 40-yard dash in 4.41 second with a 33-inch vertical leap and a 10-1 broad jump. His 40-yard dash would have led all linebackers at the combine and tied him with the best safety time.
Hills is a converted safety. He had 31 tackles, five for losses and two sacks as a senior and forced two fumbles.
Hill had 50 tackles with one forced fumble as a junior.
“My family means everything to me,” Hill said. “They’re all with me today. It’s giving them something to be proud of.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com