Houston Texans: Appealing 2020 NFL Draft first round trade scenario
By Jair Lopez
The Houston Texans have a few picks up their sleeve to trade into the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
The 2020 NFL Draft will be the first draft that head coach Bill O’Brien will be in charge as the new general manager, and his aggressive nature could very well put the Houston Texans on the clock on the first day. Despite all the wheeling and dealing O’Brien has done in the offseason, the Texans have seven selections and possess a pick in every round except for the first and sixth.
The Houston Texans are one of six teams without a first-round pick after trading their next two first-rounders and a second-rounder to acquire their franchise left tackle in Laremy Tunsil from the Miami Dolphins.
More from Toro Times
- Houston Texans: Can Sean Payton really be the next head coach?
- Houston Texans Draft: Michael Mayer should be a no doubter at pick 12
- Houston Texans already telling fans the Davis Mills era is over
- Houston Texans have hand forced, waste no time in firing Lovie Smith
- Houston Texans: Pros and Cons of keeping Head Coach Lovie Smith
However, Houston is one of the best-equipped teams to trade right back into the first round after acquiring the early 40th pick in the second round from Arizona Cardinals in the DeAndre Hopkins-David Johnson exchange. The Texans could use it to move into the latter part of the first round if they find a prospect they value enough to trade up for.
The trade partner that makes the most sense is the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers are fresh off their Super Bowl run that fell short against the Kansas City Chiefs, and they need picks in the later rounds. San Francisco has two first-rounders after acquiring the Indianapolis Colts 13th overall pick for Deforest Buckner, but they won’t have another selection until the fifth round.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that Niners’ general manager John Lynch is open to the concept of trading back at least one of his early draft picks to acquire some capital in the early to mid-rounds of the draft.
"“I’m comfortable saying that there’s scenarios where we are going to be open at both of those picks to moving back,” Lynch said. “It’s out there for everyone to see. We have two firsts, and then we don’t have a pick until the fifth, where we have two picks, and then a sixth and two sevenths. So with those picks, there’s a big gap in there, so maybe you don’t want 10 [picks], but a couple more might be nice just to close that gap.”"
It isn’t absurd to think that O’Brien could package the second, fourth, and fifth-round selections for the 31st overall pick of the draft. Not only would the Texans be in range to get a coveted player on their board in this potential trade, but they would have the control of a possible fifth-year option.
The only downside with moving up would be that the Texans would have only a third and three seventh rounders to work with.
Next. DeAndre Hopkins talks; one day left until 2020 NFL Draft. dark
Trading up would be a calculated risk, but it could be one worth taking if the Texans land a quality rookie for the upcoming season.