Dylan Cole signs with Houston Texans

Missouri State linebacker Dylan Cole is joining the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent.

“Not everything went the way I wanted it to,” Cole said in a phone interview. “But at the end of the day this is what God wanted, honestly.”

@HoustonTexans HERE I COME!!!!

— Dylan Cole (@dylancole31) April 29, 2017

Saturday was a roller coaster for the Logan-Rogersville product. Initially projected as one of the top-20 linebackers in this year’s class, he wasn’t selected in the 2017 NFL Draft. Despite this, he tweeted within minutes of the end of the process that he was heading to Houston.

“By the end of the sixth round I’m thinking I’m probably going to go undrafted, and that’s kind of what I wanted,” Cole said. “The seventh round money is a little better in terms of the guarantees, but other than that, signing as undrafted I get to choose where I go.”

He says Houston was an easy choice because the coaching staff sounded excited to add him, they believed he could start immediately on special teams and earn a starting linebacker job down the road, and they matched other offers he’d gotten after the draft.

Cole received offers from multiple teams, including the Jets, Buccaneers, and Dolphins. Ultimately, he agreed with Houston on a three year deal worth up to $1.665 million with $27,000 guaranteed. Most undrafted rookies don’t get any guaranteed money. To see the full amount of the deal, Cole must make the team out of training camp and stay on the 53-man roster all three years.

He expects to have a good chance to do just that.

“They said, ‘it’s such a good opportunity for you and it’s hard to see how you couldn’t make the team,'” Cole said of his conversation with Texans officials. “‘You’re a great linebacker, you’re going to impact special teams so much with your speed and size and at Will linebacker they see me competing for that starting job.'”

Cole was one of the most decorated FCS prospects in this class regardless of position. He was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, selected to six All-American lists, and led all FCS players in tackles per game. Even though he wasn’t invited to the NFL Combine, his pro day was eye popping. His bench press and vertical leap were better than any linebacker that went to the combine.

Before all of that, Cole helped Logan-Rogersville to a state championship in 2011. Even though he was hoping to hear his name called in the draft, he’s using it as fuel going forward.