4 players that could follow DeMeco Ryans to the Houston Texans

Feb 2, 2023; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans head coach Demeco Ryans (center) holds a jersey while posing for a photo with owner Cal McNair (left) and general manager Nick Caserio (right) during the introductory press conference at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports /

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DeMeco Ryans, Houston Texans; San Francisco 49ers linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (51) during the third quarter against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Azeez Al-Shaair, LB, San Francisco 49ers (2023 free agent)

The good news for DeMeco Ryans this year in free agency is that he should have no shortage of players with connections to choose from. Thanks to the success of his defense in San Francisco the last handful of years, it’s going to be brutally tough for John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan to hang onto all of their stud linebackers after already re-signing Fred Warner with Dre Greenlaw on deck.

Azeez Al-Shaair is not a household name just yet but if you watched a lot of 49ers football over the last couple of years, you wouldn’t have been able to help but see “51” pop up on your screen more often than not.

The 25-year-old out of Florida Atlantic is coming off of a season in which he racked up a pretty modest 44 tackles, but it was what he did in place of an injured Dre Greenlaw in 2021 that really has paved the way for his potential to impact DeMeco Ryans’ defense in Houston.

In 2021, Al-Shaair had 102 total tackles and nine tackles for loss as a full-time starter for the 49ers’ defense. He started off his NFL career playing mostly special teams and he’s developed into a starting-caliber linebacker who should get the chance to shine in DeMeco Ryans’ defense, but in Houston with the Texans.

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