The Texans released offensive guard Sam Cooper in addition to defensive lineman Kingsley Keke.
The Texans drafted Texas A&M offensive guard-tackle Kenyon Green in the first round and LSU offensive lineman Austin Deculus in the sixth round. They also signed Arkansas offensive lineman Myron Cunningham as an undrafted free agent.
An undrafted free agent from Merrimack College who was previously with the Baltimore Ravens, Cooper was signed to a reserve-future deal after being added to the Texans' practice squad last season. Before being signed, he worked out for the Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots and New York Jets.
Cooper played in the Hula Bowl and Tropical Bowl all-star games before being selected for the East-West Shrine all-star game and the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, which were cancelled.
A transfer from Maine who was an All-Catholic League selection and National Honor Society student at Conwell-Egan Catholic in Pennsylvania, Cooper has bench pressed 225 pounds 35 times and run the 40-yard dash in 5.1 seconds with a 1.69 10-yard split. The team captain and dean’s list student’s maximum bench press is 515 pounds and his maximum squat is 650 pounds.
At the Hula Bowl, he drew praise from NFL Network analyst and former Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Brian Baldinger. Cooper was honored with the annual Joe Roth Award.
Aaron Wilson is a Pro Football Network reporter and analyst and a contributor to Sports Talk 790.
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