‘Big, strong guy, he can help us,’ Texans’ DeMeco Ryans on undrafted rookie defensive tackle Junior Tafuna

HOUSTON – When the Texans scouted Junior Tafuna at the Senior Bowl all-star game, his strength and mobility at the line of scrimmage made him stand out from the pack.

Although the Utah defensive tackle went undrafted, he wasn’t unwanted by the NFL. Tafuna accepted the Texans’ priority free agent contract offer over multiple NFL teams.

The Texans made it worth his while, too, guaranteeing $200,000 of his rookie contract with $175,000 of his base salary guaranteed in addition to a $25,000 signing bonus.

Tafuna performed well at the Texans’ rookie minicamp this weekend.

“Yeah, the thing I saw with Tafuna is a really big, strong guy,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “He’s very versatile. I like him in the run game and in the pass game. I think he does both. Young guy who can come in and add some depth to our interior defensive line.”

The three-time second-team All-Pac 12 selection and former conference Freshman Defensive Player of the Year played in the Senior Bowl all-star game.

Tafuna (6-foot-3 1/2, 308 pounds, 32 1/2 arms, 10 1/2 hands) ran the 40-yard dash in 5.03 seconds at the NFL scouting combine where he bench pressed 225 pounds 24 times.

He recorded 31 tackles, three for losses with one interception last season and was a team captain and an honorable-mention All-Big 12 selection.

As a freshman, he had 33 tackles, 5 1/2 for losses and a career-high 4 1/2 sacks. He finished his career with seven sacks and two interceptions.

“That’s what we’ve been looking to do is continue to upgrade that position, find younger guys who can help us out there,” Ryans said. “And I think Tafuna is a guy who, seeing his college tape, he can help us.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com .