The NFL Draft annually represents an opportunity for bad teams to accumulate talent. Talent barren rosters have the chance to add dynamic players that will serve as the faces of the league moving forward. Look no further than the 2021 Cincinnati Bengals, who found their primary building blocks Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase in the 2020 and 2021 first round, as great evidence of that representation. Hope.
In recent years, some teams have adopted a specific strategy. Beyond simply drafting talented players, teams have looked to identify specific weaknesses and address them. Using the first two to three rounds to catapult a previous weakness into the strength of a team, the players selected are able to serve a purpose well beyond the sum of their parts.
Beyond simply drafting the names on the back of the jerseys, NFL teams can draft an identity.
Look at the 2019 Carolina Panthers as an excellent example. After finishing 31st out of 32 teams for points score against during 2019 campaign, the Panthers opted to go all-in on defense. First-round defensive tackle Derrick Brown, second-round selections in defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos and safety Jeremy Chinn, with fourth-round cornerback Troy Pride all made significant contributions to the 2019 season.
Their first four selections turned their weakness as a team into one of the league’s more respectable units, with further steps taken forward during the 2021 campaign. The quality of young defensive players in Carolina was such that they were considered prominent contenders to trade for quarterback Deshaun Watson.
This series will explore multiple scenarios for if general manager Nick Caserio and the Houston Texans decided to draft their own identity. The depth of players in the 2022 draft means that quality starters can be found at nearly every position group in the first three rounds.
To begin, what if the Texans wanted to be able to run the ball in 2022? The team finished dead last in yards gained last season with 1,422 yards and no running back finishing with over 3.5 yards per carry.
Everyone talks about how important the offensive line is and how necessary their play will be for Davis Mills & Pep Hamilton to succeed. What if Houston made the ground game their identity:
3- Ikem Ekwonu
13- Tyler Linderbaum
37- Breece HallHow would you feel? #WeAreTexans
— John Crumpler (@TexansDoc) March 27, 2022
Houston, here’s your running draft. In this scenario, using their four first selections, Houston immediately upgrades their ability to run the ball and creates viable opportunities for Davis Mills.
