This is true. Fact is for a lot of those late round picks the ones that do flash don’t start to “get it” until they are one of the few NFL players regardless of draft pick that make it to a second contract.
Look at all the players the team signed this offseason. There were lots of late round picks, even some earlier round selections that have “got it” enough to play in the NFL. Not necessarily as a star player but good enough to be on a gameday roster as a contributor.
Examples:
Terrance Mitchell- 7th round pick, 6 NFL teams, 2nd stint with Texans. Started “getting it” around 2017 when he settled into defensive rotation for KC which then earned him a 3 year contract with Cleveland. Now a starter with Houston he has effectively outplayed his draft status.
Kamu Grugier Hill - 6th round pick 2016, 4th NFL team. Has held on in the league due to his special teams ability. But this year appears to be “getting it” in a LB friendly scheme outplaying our high dollar LB Cunningham and imo will be entrenched as a starting member of the LBs as long as he’s healthy this season.
These players have proven they belong in the league and outplayed their draft status. But the team that drafted them did not get any benefit because it took time and development. Which the Texans skipped by letting other teams absorb those early year growing pains.