Texans Draft Grades 2017: Complete Houston Selections
C. . OT. 4th Round. JULIE'N DAVENPORT
It was great that the Texans were able to grab an offensive tackle in the 4th round, but the problem is that I would be surprised if Julie’n Davenport has any chance at being Houston’s starting right tackle this coming season.
Given the fact that Davenport played his college ball at Bucknell and has too many weaknesses that he needs to fix, he’s purely a project at this point.
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From Davenport’s NFL.com draft profile.
"Competition level won’t have him prepared for NFL rushers. Feet are a little heavy. Struggles to redirect back inside against stunts. Plays with inconsistent base width and balance. Will allow secure blocks to slip out of the side door due to poor footwork. Leans into run blocks rather than running feet under him. Has to keep his feet alive and moving after initial contact. Hand approach and placement is spotty. Loses base on lateral work due to tall pad level and uneven weight dispersal."
The great thing about drafting an offensive tackle like Davenport is that if he struggles at the next level, he can always move to offensive guard. Which is another need for the Texans.