The Houston Texans selected Jalen Pitre with the No. 37 overall pick in Round 2 of the 2022 NFL draft. The pick indicates the club has hopes for the Baylor product to upgrade their secondary.
Pitre signed a standard rookie contract with the Texans, which means the club expects him to man the backend at a high level for the next four years.
For the next four seasons, the former Stafford High School product can count on staying in his native Harris County to get his NFL career off the ground. However, Pitre isn’t looking too far upfield, but rather focusing on each day to ensure the proper rudiments are established for his career.
“Just try to take it a day at a time,” Pitre told reporters on May 13 at Texans rookie minicamp at NRG Stadium. “I want to show up and like Coach Lovie [Smith] said, ‘Just be a professional every day.’ I feel like if you look too far ahead you’ll start to trip over the things in front of you.”
The Texans’ big plans for Pitre are within his skillset. The 6-0, 197-pound defensive back has the ability to play on the backend and also down in the box to enforce the run defense. Pitre will be playing in a Tampa 2 scheme that has produced some dominant safeties over the decades from John Lynch to Bob Sanders. It is feasible that Pitre could have a similar career arch if he follows what Smith preaches.
In order to hear Smith’s words, Pitre has to keep it simple and take each day as it comes.
“I’m just trying to take it a second at a time, a minute at a time, a day at a time and take care of what’s happening right now,” said Pitre.
