Typical mock drafts have the Houston Texans using their No. 2 overall pick on a quarterback and then taking USC receiver Jordan Addison with the No. 12 overall selection.
The pick makes sense. The Texans are experiencing a state of flux with their receiving corps due to Brandin Cooks’ hesitancy to be a part of another rebuild and the availability of former 2022 second-rounder John Metchie, who is undergoing treatments for leukemia.
According to the Scouting Department with the 33rd Team, Addison did not have a good outing at the NFL combine during receiver drills on March 4 at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Addison (scouting report) only tipped the scale at 173 pounds, and he lacked length, measuring in with 30 7/8-inch arms. His numbers weren’t terrible, but he was in the middle of the pack compared to the other wide receivers he was competing against in Indy. Addison’s lack of explosiveness was most concerning. He didn’t show the “pop” required of a No. 1 receiver in the NFL.
If the draft order goes according to 33rd Team’s plan, with some teams no doubt picking according to need, Addison should be available at No. 12 overall when the Texans are back on the clock in Round 1.
The Texans need to address wideout to give their new franchise quarterback a weapon to grow with, but they don’t need to reach for Addison. If the 21-year-old can be had a little bit later in the round, Houston shouldn’t be afraid to move back — similar to what they did in 2022 when they moved down from No. 13 overall to No. 15 overall to take Texas A&M guard Kenyon Green.
Obviously the Texans will be ready to pick no matter the selection at No. 12, pending they can’t find a trade partner. Nevertheless the Texans can’t afford to get pigeonholed into a need at receiver when there may be other viable options to help roster deficiencies at that draft position.
