Houston Texans: The Final Mock Draft

Oct 11, 2014; Tucson, AZ, USA; Southern California Trojans linebacker Hayes Pullard (10) against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Round 5, 16th Pick: Hayes Pullard, ILB

The Texans cannot buff up their linebacker depth chart enough.

Brian Cushing’s last year contributed greatly to the Texans run defense improving to 10th in the league. That did not come without challenges along the way as the Houston camp was still subjected to suffering injuries at the inside linebacker position as both Cushing and Darryl Sharpton went down during the 2014 campaign.

Pullard’s biggest addition he brings with him is his ability to chase down perimeter passes on the edge. Historically, the Texans have struggled to find linebackers who are able to cover the flats on the outside of the field. This has resulted in the secondary being exploited multiple times on the sidelines, the consequences turning into a panicked all out pursuit by nearly everyone on defense.

Pullard should at the very least be a good youngster to throw in the mix and ensure someone with his particular skill set is present.

Next: Round 5: Pick 39