Dylan

Cole

Cole joined the Titans in 2021 after spending four years in Houston. He made one start for the Texans in 2017 and didn’t see his next until last year when he made the starting lineup eight times. He totaled 64 tackles, four TFLs, and a sack while more than doubling his career high in defensive snaps. Cole is best fit for a backup job while making his money on specials teams, but he proved he can take on a starting role in a pinch, earning him a new deal in Chicago.

Cole hasn’t started a game since 2017 but has played at least 60% of the special teams snaps for the Texans and Titans in every season of his career to date. He’ll be a key special teamer again for the Titans in 2022.

Identified as a close contract of COVID-positive Jacob Martin, Mercilus and LB Dylan Cole cannot rejoin the team until they return five days of negative tests. That will not happen in time to suit up for Sunday’s game against the Jaguars. It means the Texans will be without three different linebackers. That is football during the time of COVID. Veteran Mercilus has four sacks through seven games, though he has earned poor marks from Pro Football Focus in the process.

Cole played 136 defensive snaps last season and is a mainstay on special teams. At his elevated price thanks to the low tender as a restricted free agent, Cole won’t be guaranteed to make the team for the cap-strapped Texans this summer.

It’s worth $2.144 million. Since Cole is a former undrafted free agent, it means the Texans would be entitled to no compensation if they declined to match an offer sheet elsewhere. A reserve inside linebacker, Cole also contributes on special teams.

Cole is due a $2.144 million restricted free agent tender. He’s played in 31 games since joining the Texans in 2017, although it’s almost fully been as a reserve. The Houston defense was quietly awful in 2019, allowing a league-high 6.1 yards per play.

Cole is a reserve linebacker and special teamer. He played 75 snaps in three games before going down in September.

Cole reportedly played three quarters with a dislocated wrist on Sunday, but the injury will still send him to injured reserve. The rotational linebacker’s absence will be felt most on special teams.

Cole (6’1/239) was a first-team All-American in the FCS as a senior, leading the sub-Division-1 ranks in tackles per game (12.9) and finishing his career with a whopping 40.5 tackles for loss, five interceptions, and five sacks. Snubbed for a Combine invite, Cole blew up the Missouri State Pro Day to post the highest SPARQ score among all off-ball linebackers in this class. Cole is an intriguing sleeper who will likely start out on special teams and offers potential as a versatile inside-outside linebacker prospect down the line.

Cole has been out several weeks with a hamstring injury. There are no surprises on this list.