Oquin: Houston Texans Seven Round Mock Draft
By Travis Oquin
Aug 30, 2014; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks defensive lineman Arik Armstead (9) grabs South Dakota Coyotes quarterback Kevin Earl (14) at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports
Round 1
Pick #16 – Arik Armstead
6’7”, 296 – Defensive End/Tackle – Oregon
“With the 16th pick in 2015 NFL draft the Houston Texans select”….. When we hear those words the world will learn something that none of us know right this minute. Most experts don’t have much of a clue what the Texans will do in the first round. But this is a Mock draft after all so we have to make a selection.
Arik Armstead has huge upside and quite frankly all other players that we believe the Texans would like to take over him will be gone. If somehow wide receivers Amari Cooper or Kevin White are available at 16 or if pass rushers Alvin “Bud” Dupree or Vic Beasley are, they will be the pick.
I believe all four will be gone. So the pick will come down to a defensive lineman like Armstead or UT’s Malcolm Brown. If not them, the Texans may take a chance on a couple other high upside players that carry some baggage like outside linebacker Randy Gregory (Nebraska) or cornerback Marcus Peters (Washington)
The Texans don’t have a glaring need at defensive end but Armstead has huge upside, and Jared Crick, who played very well opposite J.J. Watt, is in the last year of his contract.
Ideally if those four players listed above are gone, I believe the Texans will try very hard to trade back and pick up extra draft picks. The question is, will there be another team to make that offer and how far back would the Texans be willing to move and still pick up a pass rusher like Virginia’s Eli Harold, a wide receiver like USC’s Nelson Agholor or take less risk with a lower pick on Gregory or Peters?
Alternate 1 – OLB Randy Gregory Alternate 2 – CB Marcus Peters
Next: Round 2 Selection