The Houston Texans have two first-round round picks and have a chance to use both selections for the first time since 2004. Such is the benefit from trading Deshaun Watson to the Cleveland Browns.
With the Texans getting Cleveland’s No. 13 overall pick in Round 1, many mock drafts have had to be updated to reflect the new reality.
According to Mel Kiper from ESPN, the Texans use their original No. 3 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft to take North Carolina State tackle Ikem Ekwonu in his post free agency mock.
Deshaun Watson is gone, and it appears the Texans will move forward with Davis Mills as their quarterback. This team really just has to focus on adding talent around Mills and then see where it is in 2023. Houston is not going to compete in the AFC South this season but could be right back in the top five next year. With five picks in the top 80 in this draft — including the No. 13 selection from the Watson deal — it should take the best prospect available. For me, that’s Ekwonu, an elite offensive tackle. Yes, Laremy Tunsil is returning on the left side, so put Ekwonu at right tackle and the Texans can have one of the league’s most talented bookend duos. This is a roster with several holes; this selection is another crucial step in a slow rebuild.
The selection totally ignores the fact Tytus Howard is still around and the Texans want to keep him as a bookend. Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson and Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton were already off the board. However, Georgia defensive end Travon Walker and Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux were still available.
Houston does pick up a Georgia defensive lineman with the selection of defensive tackle Jordan Davis with the 13th overall pick.
As I mentioned in my writeup for the No. 3 pick, the Texans aren’t in the position to target needs over talent. They have to get the best players they can and figure out the rest later, because this is not going to be a quick rebuild. So while I thought about edge rusher Jermaine Johnson II and a couple wide receivers, I decided to get Houston a massive defensive tackle who could make everyone around him better. The 341-pound Davis can plug the middle of head coach Lovie Smith’s defense. He wowed at the combine earlier this month, and even if he doesn’t have stellar pass-rush upside, he’s going to dominate interior centers and guards on early downs. He’s a unique player who can be excellent if used properly, helping off-ball linebackers find space and getting in the face of quarterbacks.
The Texans would have a crowded room at defensive tackle as they brought back Maliek Collins and saw tremendous development from last year’s sixth-round defensive tackle Roy Lopez.
The first quarterback off the board is Kenny Pickett to the New Orleans Saints at No. 18 overall. The Pittsburgh Steelers select Liberty signal caller Malik Willis with the 20th overall pick.
