The Houston Texans draft should include an edge rusher late in the three-day 2020 NFL Draft to build depth on the defense.
Let’s get one thing out in the open when it comes to the Houston Texans draft for 2020, and that is nothing is for certain with Bill O’Brien calling all the shots as both the official general manager and the head coach.
One that that should happen is on Day 2 of the 2020 NFL Draft is the Texans draft choices should include a pass rusher off the edge. The reason is that type skill set from a player is a must for this franchise to be successful for many years to come.
That said, the Texans draft should also include a pass rusher on Day 3 of the annual selection process as well. The Texans need to have much better depth and competition for players on the edge of the defense, and players who can put heavy pressure on the opposing quarterback.
Finding a “sleeper” or “steal” on the third day of the draft isn’t easy as in-depth scouting, doing homework, and some luck is involved.
No team in the draft likes to tip their own hand at any point of the draft, and that is of great importance on all three days of the NFL Draft. To a degree, the third day of the draft is maybe the most important day of all as rosters are said to be built during this part of the three-day event.
That brings us to how the Texans draft could look like. Who might be available on the third day in the later rounds of the draft for the Texans to hit the jackpot on in terms of finding an excellent pass rusher is a guessing game to say the least.
Next are three pass rushers in the 2020 NFL Draft who could be the “diamonds in the rough,” or “a sleeper” as they could surprise the NFL with the style of play, no matter what their draft profile or grade says about their projected abilities at the NFL level.
3. Bryce Huff, Memphis
There is a lot to learn of Memphis linebacker/defensive end Bryce Huff as he’s projected as a potential pick in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft. One of those things to learn is where would he fit into the roster if apart of the Texans draft?
The Houston Texans have three seventh round picks, and if available, the Texans should show some interest in the edge rusher, as they really need to find a surprise player or two at this point of the draft. Huff in his senior season played in 14 games for a second straight year with the Tigers, totaling 6.5 sacks as a defensive end for the first time in his career.
In that first season as a defensive end, Huff also had 33 solo tackles, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. The previous season in ’18 as a junior (and a linebacker), Huff totaled 35 solo tackles, 9.5 sacks, two passes defensed and had a forced fumble.
Huff faced his toughest competition in his final collegiate game against the Penn State Nittany Lions. In that bowl game, Huff collected three solo tackles, a half-tackle for loss, and a half-sack.
Huff wouldn’t be a big risk in the seventh round of the draft, in fact, the reward far outweighs any risk with the Texans draft board having three seventh round selections if he were still available.
Dane Brugler of The Athletic has Huff ranked as the 32nd best edge rusher in the draft, though Huff was not invited to the combine in February. Still needing a lot of coaching to make a name for himself in the league, it would be fun to see the Texans have a prospect who could build his way onto the roster, and see if he can add to his overall skill set.
2. Chauncey Rivers, Mississippi State
Here is a player that also has a grade for a seventh round selection, but another player who you don’t know what could occur when in the NFL.
Chauncey Rivers played the edge at Mississippi State in the very tough SEC. Rivers stands at 6’2 and weighs in at 262 pounds, but more importantly he has a lot of natural ability to be an edge rusher. In ’19 Rivers totaled 24 solo tackles, five sacks and one forced fumble at Mississippi State.
The problem with the draft stock of Rivers is more off-the-field as he was asked to leave the Georgia Bulldogs for multiple arrests, and then was academically ineligible at Mississippi State in 2017. That is all in the past, and this is current day, and Rivers is getting a second chance and a fresh start.
Being graded down to the third day of the draft shows Rivers must learn from his past miscues, and there is still work to do to achieve success in making the roster for the Texans or any NFL team that drafts him.
This Texans draft has a forecast of needing edge rushers on the roster. Assuming they have selected at least one edge rusher earlier in the draft, the Texans could still use the services of Rivers, as long as he works on issues like the ones mentioned by Lance Zierlein of NFL.com in the draft profile of Rivers:
"“Has to sit down and really battle to set edges at times … Hasn’t learned to craft a rush play and properly set up his moves.”"
Those two things can be worked on by the coaches in the NFL, so if those in charge of the Texans draft can overlook past transgressions by Rivers, he could work his way onto a roster, and eventually make a difference for the franchise.
1. Jonah Williams, Weber State
Jonah Williams of Weber State had a Pro Day as the potential late-round selection measured in at 6’5, 281 pounds. Williams also had 30 reps at the 225 pound bench press, and had a 4.67 40-yard dash time per stats posted by his agent Evan Brennan.
Williams with his Pro Day numbers — as he was not at he NFL Combine in late February — had a faster 40-yard dash time than any defensive lineman over 265 pounds at the combine. Williams’ bench press numbers would have placed him second at the combine for defensive ends, and overall he had a solid Pro Day with the numbers he recorded.
Playing in the Big Sky Conference, Williams was selected as the Co-Defensive Player of the Year. Willaims totaled 28 solo tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and five QB hurries in his final collegiate season to ear the DPOY honors.
Williams is this low in the draft partly because he played at a smaller school, but none of that really matters if the player has skills. At least with the numbers from his Pro Day, Williams does seem to stack up nicely with other players who are much higher rated than he is.
The Weber State edge rusher is well worth the chance if the Texans draft decision makers want him late in the seventh round.
At worst, Williams could work on the practice squad for a season, learn from an all-time great like J.J. Watt, improve his skills, continue to get stronger, and see where he stands as the year progresses.