Houston Texans: All-Time draft picks by round

Round 7: Derek Newton (2011)

A second offensive linemen makes the list in tackle Derek Newton, and it was a tough choice for finding the best seventh rounder for the Texans. Thee other serious choice to choose from was cornerback (216th pick in ’14) Andre Hal.

Hal has a great story as he battled back from cancer, then eventually retired from the league. Hal was the ultimate inspirational story that had a great outcome. In his time with the Houston Texans, Hal totaled 69 games played (40 starts) with 12 career interceptions, one touchdown, 31 passes defensed, one sack, 189 total tackles (130 solo), six tackles for loss and two QB hits.

The reason Newton was selected as the all-time best Texans seventh-round pick was the fact how hard is it to find an offensive tackle who will start 68 of the 82 games played with the franchise? The answer is simple, it is very tough, and  when they selected Newton 214th overall (2011 NFL Draft), the Texans made a very outstanding decision.

After one season of just 17 snaps to start his NFL career, Newton took off with season snap totals of 755, 830, 1,108 and 1,161 in his five total seasons with the Houston Texans offensive line.

Newton never allowed more than six sacks in any season played, and in 2014 the tackle made 16 starts with 1,108 snaps, as he was penalized only five times and allowed just two sacks for his career-best PFF season grade 78.7.

Maybe this year the Texans can add to this list, and one day we’ll all know if the Texans have selected someone who can surpass the players listed as the Houston Texans all-time draft-by-round list.