Houston Texans 7 Round Mock Draft 2.0 – (Trades Included)

4th Round – Pick #119

Devonte Booker – RB – Utah

5’11” – 203

Serious drafniks may look at this pick and say how is Booker there in the 4th?  I thought the same thing as he’s much higher on my personal list so I ran the simulation three times and he was available each time.  If he’s there the Texans should not hesitate, in fact they should sprint to the podium!

Although the Texans signed Lamar Miller to be the lead back, in the NFL you always backfill the RB position due to injury risk and most teams end up with a committee of running backs.  Booker, for those that have not seen him, is a smaller version of Arian Foster.

He is a smart, patient running, one cut and go.  He’s quicker than he appears to defenders because he seems to glide through open space.  He also has outstanding hands in the passing game and will be a threat out of the backfield.  Nearly all of the runningbacks that the Texans have looked at specifically this offseason have been players with pass-catching ability.  However, Booker is more than that and could end up being a number one back.

He slips here, likely for a couple reasons. He’s coming off of a knee injury and hasn’t been able to do much during the draft evaluation period.  He is, however, expected to play in 2016.

Another reason is there is a group of late 3rd round through the 4th round runningbacks that have a lot of similar features to Booker like Kenneth Dixon, Paul Perkins, and C.J.Prosise.  Which ones go first depends on the eye of the beholder and there’s a good chance one if the group is available at the Texans selection in the 4th round.

Others on the board to consider:

RB Tyler Ervin (San Jose St.), RB Jonathan Williams (Arkansas), DE/DT Matt Ioanniddis (Temple), SS K.J. Dillon (West Virginia)

Next: Another round with multiple picks