Houston Texans Draft: 4 Bold predictions for 2020 NFL Draft
The 2020 Houston Texans draft that has Bill O’Brien at the helm is of great importance starting on Thursday as many things can happen in the three-day event.
Nobody truly knows what the Houston Texans draft decision makers are thinking going into the 2020 NFL Draft, especially with many of them all away from each other due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has changed the layout of the three-day event.
The Texans or any team will no longer have representatives in Las Vegas as the draft is no longer being held there due to the current pandemic. Rather, those making the decisions for the Texans draft will be at their respective homes or individual rooms away from others, as everything is being done by digital video, including the broadcast itself.
The final decisions made by general manager/head coach Bill O’Brien will either bring great praise or negative tones in his direction. Currently, the Texans will enter Thursday’s first round of the NFL Draft without a first-round pick because they already used that pick last year in the trade with the Miami Dolphins for left tackle Laremy Tunsil.
That pick is now the 26th overall selection, and there is a possibility the Dolphins draft a left tackle in that spot. Houston isn’t scheduled to make a pick until Friday night — unless they trade up in the draft. The first pick the Texans have is the 40th overall pick, which is the eighth pick in the second round.
There are rumors the Texans could select the best player available that can help their team, or they might trade back in the round to gain more draft picks to be used later during the event. Who knows? Maybe O’Brien will try to trade up into the first round if there is a player he covets.
Next are “4 Bold Predictions” for the Texans draft process and what could happen in the event.
4. Texans Draft: Select DT in the second round
No matter what happens with the 40th overall pick, as in if the Texans decide to trade down and gain more draft capital, the one prediction for the 2020 NFL Draft is the Texans won’t leave the second round without a defensive tackle selected.
There are some talented defensive tackles available who were given a second-round grade from Dane Brugler of The Athletic, with those players being: Marlon Davidson (Auburn), Ross Blacklock (TCU), Justin Madubuike (Texas A&M), Jordan Elliott (Missouri), Bevelle Gallimore (Oklahoma) and Raekwon Davis (Alabama).
Davidson and Blacklock each have a first- to second-round grade, and the rest have second- to third-round grades. It is an honest prediction here, but the Texans could look another way and select an edge rusher. Just don’t be surprised though if the Texans come out of the second round with a defensive tackle for their 3-4 defense to replace D.J. Reader, because he was the biggest free agent loss of this offseason for Houston.