In April, the Dallas Cowboys liked cornerback Josh Thomas enough that they chose him in the fifth round of the NFL draft, No. 143 overall. The Houston Texans liked safety Shiloh Keo enough that they chose him in the fifth round of the NFL draft, No. 144 overall. On Saturday, neither player made the 53-man roster.
Thomas and Keo were among a group of fifth-round picks who didn’t make their teams, a group that also included Tampa Bay’s Ahmad Black (No. 151 overall), Seattle’s Mark LeGree (No. 156 overall) and New England’s Lee Smith (No. 159 overall).
Thomas, who has been hobbled by a hamstring injury, is expected to be signed to the practice squad if he clears waivers. Keo has been described as a favorite of Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, and he also may make the Texans’ practice squad if he clears waivers.
So it’s still possible that those fifth-round picks will spend the season with the team that drafted them. But failing to make the team after going in the fifth round of the draft makes them disappointing picks.