DeMeco Ryans wants an attacking front four; it is one of the aspects of the Houston Texans’ new defense that excites veteran Jerry Hughes.
As the Texans look to improve, they also seek to get younger.
According to Jordan Reid from ESPN, the Texans will use their first-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft to take Ohio State defensive tackle Michael Hall.
The Texans need to keep adding talent all over the roster, and the defensive line remains a glaring weakness — even after Houston traded up for Will Anderson Jr. in April. Hall is a quick-footed interior defender who displays burst out of the starting blocks at the snap. He checks a lot of key boxes as a pass-rusher, but his early-down reps as a run defender must improve in 2023. He had 4.5 sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss on only 290 defensive snaps last season.
The pick would be fascinating as the Texans are ostensible loaded at the position with Sheldon Rankins and Hassan Ridgeway. Houston also would be rounding the corner on former 2021 sixth-rounder Roy Lopez, who would be entering the final year of his contract. Not to the mention the Texans invested in 28-year-old Maliek Collins in June with an extension.
Hall established himself as a fascinating defensive line prospect last season with 19 combined tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery through 12 games.
The Texans do not have a proprietary first-round pick in 2024 as they dealt that pick to the Arizona Cardinals as part of the trade for defensive end Will Anderson. Houston’s participation on Day 1 of the draft would be due to the Cleveland Browns’ selection, which the Texans obtained via 2022 offseason trade.
