Jeremy Fowler’s annual NFL player rankings usually spark plenty of debate, and this year they brought a little more shine to one of the Houston Texans’ most versatile defenders. Jalen Pitre didn’t make the top 10 safeties, but he did land an honorable mention, and the real headline came from the anonymous NFC scout who made it clear how highly he views the Texans defensive back: "He's a nickel but can play safety.
Don't think he gets nearly enough credit. Would love to have him."
That kind of praise says plenty. Around the league, versatile defensive backs are gold, and Pitre’s ability to move between roles has clearly caught the attention of evaluators who value flexibility as much as production.
Pitre has spent his NFL career wearing a lot of hats in Houston’s secondary. He has played deep safety, worked in the box, and covered the slot, giving DeMeco Ryans and Defensive Coordinator Matt Burke a defender they can move around without losing reliability. That kind of usage also helps Houston disguise coverages while keeping one of its most instinctive players near the football.
What the scout said also lines up with how Texans fans have seen Pitre for years. He may not draw the same national buzz as some of the bigger names at safety, but his value shows up in the details: slot coverage, run support, and blitzing when needed. Those are the kinds of snaps that don’t always dominate highlight packages, but they matter plenty to a defense.
In a league where offenses keep hunting for mismatches, a player who can shift cleanly between nickel corner and safety is a major asset. For Houston, that kind of versatility gives the defense options many teams simply don’t have.
And because the praise came from an NFC scout, it carries a little extra weight. That’s an outside evaluator with no daily stake in Houston’s roster, saying plainly that Pitre doesn’t get enough credit. Around the league, there are clearly people who see his impact as bigger than the national rankings suggest.
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