Currently, the Houston Texans’ top need is defensive back help. Jimmie Ward and Kamari Lassiter remained sidelined for the next several weeks due to injury. Rookie Calen Bullock, plus veterans Jalen Pitre and Eric Murray, have been hit-and-miss this season in man coverage.
But what’s the Texans’ biggest need entering the offseason? For now, it remains defensive tackle. Houston chose to spend money elsewhere in the offseason, thus leading to one-year deals with Tim Settle, Foley Fatukasi and Mario Edwards Jr.
The Texans would be wise to find an interior running mate to pair alongside Defensive Player of the Year candidate Will Anderson Jr. and Pro Bowl defensive end Danielle Hunter. That’s what ESPN has the Texans doing in its latest mock draft with the selection of Ole Miss defensive lineman Walter Nolen at pick No. 30.
A true wrecking ball up the middle is one of the few missing ingredients for an elite football team in Houston. After two underwhelming seasons at Texas A&M, Nolen is having a breakout year in his first season at Ole Miss. He already has 2.5 sacks, five tackles for loss and 8 run stops. With aggressive hands and a sudden first step, he’s consistently able to defeat single blocks at the first level.
ESPN has the Texans selecting DT Walter Nolen with their 1st rounder in the 2025 draft. https://t.co/WGvbrrkJ8E pic.twitter.com/5gu0O1chFj
— Jeremy Branham (@JeremyBranham) October 16, 2024
Formerly the No. 1 defensive recruit of the 2022 class, Nolen started two years for the Aggies before transferring this offseason. Despite the underwhelming results under then-coach Jimbo Fisher, Nolen flashed potential, totaling nine tackles for loss, 24 QB hits and four sacks.
Entering the Rebels’ bye week, Nolen has been the anchor of a defense that leads the nation in run defense, holding opponents to 1.96 yards per attempt and 66.5 yards per game.
Edwards, Settle and Fatukasi call could cash in elsewhere this offseason, meaning Houston could bargain shopping once more to fill the void up the middle. Bringing in a player with a fifth-year option to shore up some money elsewhere makes not only sense on paper but also to a defense headlined by DeMeco Ryans.
The Texans are also picking 30th, which means that ESPN believes Houston is poised to go on a postseason run.
#OleMiss iDL Walter Nolen is playing to his potential so far this season. Stacking multiple good games.
Big test vs. LSU this week. pic.twitter.com/WLSdOQH71I
— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) October 8, 2024
To show up in the AFC title game for the first time in franchise history and land a potential All-American defensive lineman as the foundation of the run defense? It’s hard for Texans fans to hate that result entering 2025.
