Benardrick McKinney

Texans' Benardrick McKinney showing signs of improvement

Houston Texans linebacker Benardrick McKinney "has really improved during the offseason," said Houston coach Bill O'Brien.

What It Means:

"McKinney is a guy that really understands our defense well right now," O'Brien said. "He has got a very unique skill set, can do a lot of different things. I think he’s a guy who has improved quite a bit."

At 6-foot-4, 246 pounds, McKinney ran a 4.65 40-yard dash at the combine and recorded a 40.5-inch vertical jump -- so athleticism isn't going to be an issue. He started 12 games as a rookie last year, totaling 63 tackles with one sack. Houston finished third in Adjusted Defensive Net Expected Points per play.