Houston Texans quick reaction NFL Draft grades 2019: Max Scharping

The second of the Houston Texans’ second-round picks went to the offensive line, continuing the rebuild of the front five.

The Houston Texans used their 55th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft on their second offensive lineman, tackle Max Scharping of Northern Illinois. The Texans previously in the first round selected offensive tackle Tytus Howard of Alabama State, and now with Scharping, the offensive line will eventually have a new and hopefully improved look.

The Draft Network had Scharping as an early Round 3 draft selection, while Lance Zierlein of NFL.com had the offensive tackle graded as a second-to-third-round selection.

Zierlein of NFL.com wrote this of Scharping in his draft profile of the Northern Illinois standout:

"“He might get a shot at left tackle, but might be best-suited on the right side where he has the potential to become an above-average starter.”"

Houston did what they’ve need to do with this pick, and that is to add talent and potential to the offensive line, as the top priority for the Texans should have been, and was, to get better on the offensive line.

According to the Pro Football Focus Draft Guide, in 2018 Scharping played 1,026 snaps, where he allowed only one sack and no QB hits. In four seasons at NIU, the offensive tackle had just five allowed sacks.

The PFF Draft Guide also listed Scharping as the ninth-ranked offensive tackle on pass-blocking efficiency and fight in run-block success percentage. Overall, this is a nice selection by the Texans, as they are drafting by need and going a different route with small school players being the ones chosen to rebuild the offensive line.

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