The best is still to come for Benardrick McKinney.
And that's saying a lot, considering the middle linebacker rang up a team-high 129 tackles last season. He also tallied five sacks, joining DeMeco Ryans as the only players in team history with a season of 100 or more tackles and five or more sacks. His performance in 2016 got him a 2nd-team spot on the All-Pro squad. But in year three and beyond, better things are on the way.
"In our locker room we fully understand and appreciate everything that he does for our team," defensive end J.J. Watt said. "And I think that you're only going to see him continue to get better."
The Mississippi State Bulldog was a fixture in the middle of the defense last season, starting all 16 regular season games and both playoff contests. According to head coach Bill O'Brien, the future is sunny for McKinney.
"I thought he had a Pro Bowl-type of year last year," O'Brien said. "Last year's over but I think the guy is poised to have a really good career here. A lot of it is going to have to do with health, but I think as long as he stays healthy he's a hell of a football player."
Linebackers coach Bobby King has been around McKinney for only a few months, as he spent the last couple seasons in San Diego. But in the short time he's coached McKinney, he's been impressed, and echoed what Watt and O'Brien predicted.
"He can still get better, too, as he would tell you, too," King said. "We're expecting big things out of him leadership-wise and playmaking-wise."
McKinney and the Texans are on break until the start of training camp at The Greenbrier in West Virginia. That begins on July 26.
The Houston Texans roster in photos. (Updated 3/2/2021)

ILB, Tyrell Adams #50

TE, Jordan Akins, 88

DT, Auzoyah Alufohai, #98

P, Bryan Anger, 9

CB, Cornell Armstrong, 30

C/G, Beau Benzschawel #62

DT, Ross Blacklock #90

ILB, Curtis Bolton #47

DT, Andrew Brown, #97

TE Pharaoh Brown #85

C, Cohl Cabral #72

WR, Randall Cobb #18

ILB, Dylan Cole, 51

CB, Gareon Conley, 22

WR, Brandin Cooks #13

WR, Isaiah Coulter #82

WR, Keke Coutee, 16

CB, Keion Crossen, 35

ILB, Zach Cunningham, 41

DE, Brandon Dunn, 92

OLB, Duke Ejiofor, 53

ILB, Kyle Emanuel, 56

K, Ka'imi Fairbairn, 7

TE, Darren Fells, 87

G, Hjalte Froholdt #77

OL, Zach Fulton, 73

CB, Phillip Gaines #29

FB, Cullen Gillaspia, 44

OLB, Jonathan Greenard #52

ILB, Nate Hall, 48

NT, P.J. Hall #96

WR, Chad Hansen, #17

CB, Vernon Hargreaves III #26

T, Charlie Heck #67

RB, Dontrell Hilliard, #22

OL, Tytus Howard, 71

RB, Buddy Howell, 38

RB, David Johnson #31

CB, Lonnie Johnson, Jr., 32

T, Roderick Johnson #63

LS, Anthony Kukwa #45

LB, Jacob Martin, 54

QB, AJ McCarron #2

LB, Benardrick McKinney, 55

OLB, Whitney Mercilus, 59

WR, Steven Mitchell, Jr., 11

S, A.J. Moore, 33

S Eric Murray #23

DE, Charles Omenihu, 94

S, Jonathan Owens, 36

RB, Scottie Phillips, #40

G/T Brent Qvale #76

WR, Damion Ratley, #19

CB, John Reid #34

S, Justin Reid, 20

OLB, Brennan Scarlett, 57

OL, Max Scharping, 74

S, Michael Thomas #28

TE, Kahale Warring, 81

DL, Carlos Watkins, 91

QB, Deshaun Watson, 4

LS, Jon Weeks #46