Picture a scenario where Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux is available for the Houston Texans at No. 3 overall and they pass him up.
According to Daniel Jeremiah from NFL.com, that is the scenario the Texans could find themselves in as he released his first mock draft of the offseason. Jeremiah envisions the Texans taking Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton at No. 3 overall due to the fact it seems like something the New England Patriots would do.
Hamilton feels like the “Patriot pick” for NE South. He’s big, fast, versatile and smart. Those characteristics are highly valued in New England, where Texans GM Nick Caserio spent two decades honing his craft.
How the Texans ended up in a position to take Hamilton ahead of Thibodeaux was due to the Jacksonville Jaguars taking Alabama tackle Evan Neal No. 1 overall and the Detroit Lions selecting Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson.
In the mock draft, the New York Jets end up taking Thibodeaux with the No. 4 overall selection.
Caserio told “Payne & Pendergast” on Sports Radio 610 [KILT-AM] on Jan. 18 that the team is doing its due diligence on how to proceed with a top-5 pick, and is actually “open for business” with the selection.
“We’re rolling up our sleeves right now going through that draft process,” Caserio said. “I’d say there’s a number of good players that would be available that we think will be available. But, again, we’re open for business on anything. I think that’s the one thing about this organization of what people, I would say, around the league know about me is that we’re not afraid. We’ll always listen and we’ll always consider. And then we’ll take the information in, process it, and ultimately try to make the decision we feel is best for our team.”
The Texans may need to find a quality safety in the offseason nevertheless as Justin Reid is on an expiring contract and the continuation of his Texans’ career is in doubt.
