Houston Texans Mock Draft 2.0

The NFL Draft is rapidly approaching. With NFL Free Agency at a lull, it’s a good time for my second Texans Mock Draft. I’m using fanspeak.com’s mock draft simulator as an assistant for this. I chose to use CBS Sports’ big board over their other multitude of options. Unlike last time, I will add other names I thought about choosing with each pick. Without further adieu, let’s get going.

First Mock Draft

Round One

Randy Gregory/EDGE/Nebraska

Original Pick: Shaq Thompson

Others Considered: Eric Kendricks/ILB/UCLA

I really wanted Jaelen Strong with this pick, but the Browns stole him from me at number 12. Apparently he has a wrist injury that needs surgery too, so the Texans might avoid him due to the injury debacles of Jadeveon Clowney, Louis Nix III, and Brennan Williams in recent years.

Gregory is too talented to pass up on at 16. He’s had a poor draft season because of a failed drug test due to marijuana and a showing at the combine that was below expectations. However, if it weren’t for the drug issues he would probably come off the board between 2-8.

The Chiefs got a steal in Justin Houston a few years ago after he fell due to his failed drug test, and the Texans can do the same. If Clowney comes back and performs like many thought he would, and Gregory is on the other side of him, teams might not score on Houston.

Round Two

Denzel Perryman/ILB/Miami

Original Pick: Phillip Dorsett/WR/Miami

Others Considered: Brett Hundley/QB/UCLA, Sammie Coates/WR/Auburn, Hroniss Grasu/C/Oregon

I was eyeing a receiver with this pick again, as I wanted to take Ohio State’s Devin Smith, but the Saints plucked him off the board a few picks in front of me. Inside Linebacker is a major need and Perryman is a plug-and-play starter next to Brian Cushing.

At this point, we might as well just forget about the offense and form the greatest defense of all time and just keep teams from scoring on us period. I expect 16 shutouts next year. Coates is talented, but he’s really raw and I want to find a starter in the second round. Bill O’Brien already has too many QB’s on the roster to draft a project like Hundley with this high of a pick.

Round Three

Phillip Dorsett/WR/Miami

Original Pick: Ifo Ekpre-Olomu/CB/Oregon

Others Considered: Ifo Ekpre-Olomu/CB/Oregon

Ok, the offense needs to be addressed at some point plus Dorsett was the best player available. I’m not sure if he’ll actually be there in round three, but he was according to CBS Sports, so I’m going to take him.

Dorsett’s stock is all over the place. Some have him going as early as round one and some have him going as late as round four. He has game-changing speed and can absolutely embarrass corners out of the slot. He might be able to make an impact in Houston’s anemic return game as well.

Round Four

Steven Nelson/CB/Oregon St.

Original Pick: Corey Crawford/DE/Clemson

Others Considered: Jesse James/TE/Penn State, Chris Conley/WR/Georgia

The Texans lack talent at slot corner and Nelson could possibly fit in there beautifully. He’s a little short for a corner, but that’s less of an issue covering shorter, slot receivers. His biggest weakness is that he gets a little overaggressive at times. He’s strong for a corner and could absolutely dominate those smaller slot guys mentioned earlier. If the big knock on him is his aggressiveness, then I’ll take him.

Round Five

Taiwan Jones/ILB/Michigan State

Original Pick: Joey Mbu/DT/Houston

Others Considered: Jamison Crowder/WR/Duke

The Texans have had depth issues at linebacker for a few years now and Jones would help fill that void. Nobody knows how Cushing will hold up and Jones could be the guy to step in for him. Mbu doesn’t really have a spot anymore due to the signing of Vince Wilfork. I decided to stay away from Crowder because he’s basically the same guy as Dorsett but slower.

Round Five

Ty Montgomery/WR/Stanford

Original Pick: N/A

Others Considered: Nick Marshall/CB/Auburn

Montgomery’s draft stock has fallen off of a cliff. At the beginning of the draft season he was thought of as a borderline first round pick. He’s a return game nightmare and can stretch a defense vertically. His biggest issue his senior year was with drops. Hopefully that’s an issue he can erase but if he can’t then he’ll at least make an impact as a returner.

Round Six

Wes Saxton/TE/South Alabama

Original Pick: Adrian Amos/FS/Penn State

Others Considered: N/A

Saxton’s claim to fame is his talent as a pass catcher. Scouts say he has the potential to be a “matchup nightmare” for defenses at the next level. He can’t block, but C.J. Fiedorowicz was drafted as a blocking tight end. Bill O’Brien got absolutely no production in the passing game from his tight ends last year. Saxton might be able to change that.

Round Six

Louis Trinca-Pasat/DL/Iowa

Original Pick: N/A

Others Considered: Connor Haliday/QB/Washington St., Deshazor Everett/CB/Texas A&M

Trinca-Pasat is a depth pick more than anything. He has a big base and isn’t easily movable, but he doesn’t have the potential to turn into a superstar at the next level.

Round Six

Anthony Jefferson/S/UCLA

Original Pick: N/A

Others Considered: N/A

The first things mentioned about Jefferson underneath his scouting report are “coachable” and “good teammate.” That sounds like a Bill O’Brien type of guy to me. In all seriousness, the Texans need to add some depth in the secondary behind Danieal Manning and Jefferson is the best option at this point.

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