In previous 2021 mock drafts at the Toro Times, Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson was traded from the franchise and the Texans gained valuable draft choices. This week, let’s keep Watson on the roster of the Texans and see where the chips fall with the current way the draft choices are looking for Houston.
That means the Houston Texans won’t make a selection until the early stages of the third round, and that isn’t something that isn’t that farfetched as twice in the history of the Texans draft they haven’t made a pick until the third round, and just last year the Texans didn’t pick until the second round.
If Houston wouldn’t have traded for Laremy Tunsil in 2019, they would be picking third overall this year, but instead they traded their first- and second-round picks for this year’s draft to the Miami Dolphins.
Until a trade is officially made, the Texans’ first pick will be 67th overall — the third pick of the third round — so let’s start from there and see what players the Houston Texans could draft and add to their roster for the 2021 NFL season, as the 2020 season just came to a close for all 32 teams with the conclusion of Super Bowl 55 this past Sunday.
Texans Draft: Pick No. 67 (Round 3): Joe Tryon, EDGE, Washington
Joe Tryon might not be the very best edge rusher in the 2021 NFL Draft, but the Houston Texans need to add players on the defensive line, and a player who could be available in the third round is Tryon of Washington.
Houston needs to rebuild their defense as they were one of the worst overall units in all of the NFL, and Tryon would be used on Day 1 if selected by the Texans. Tryon didn’t play the 2020 season as he was an opt-out player, but in 2019 he totaled 41 tackles and had eight sacks.
There is no way that Tryon wouldn’t be a great addition to the new Lovie Smith defense as either an outside linebacker or a defensive end when he would be needed there off the edge as well.
The current outside linebackers for the Texans are Whitney Mercilus, Jacob Martin, Benardrick McKinney and Tyrell Adams, so adding a little competition at the EDGE with Joe Tryon would be good for this team because the Texans pass rush in 2020 was uninspiring, to say the least.
Texans Draft: Pick No. 108 (Round 4): Ambry Thomas, CB, Michigan
Ambry Thomas of Michigan, a 6’0,182-pound cornerback, is another player who opted out this past season, but his final collegiate season was solid.
Nick Falato of Giants Country wrote the following on Thomas in a draft profile:
"“He possesses enough burst and change of direction to play in the NFL, but it doesn’t stand out as difference-making… He predominantly played boundary cornerback, but he has experience playing safety and in the slot, so he is versatile.”"
This is the exact type of player the Houston Texans need on their defense as he can play cornerback and safety, and if you remember this past season, the Texans had issues with overall play and injuries at the positions in 2020.
In 2019 at Michigan, while playing in the Big Ten, Thomas totaled 38 tackles, but 30 were solo with two fumble recoveries, three passes defensed and three interceptions. In three seasons, he collected four interceptions and 43 solo tackles.
Some of the players in the Texans’ secondary won’t be returning in 2021 as they are free agents, and it is a sure thing new head coach David Culley and defensive coordinator Lovie Smith will want to make some changes.
Thomas is a player the Texans need because they just need versatile players to play alongside Lonnie Johnson Jr. and Justin Reid in the secondary, plus he’d have a chance to learn from Bradley Roby, which wouldn’t be such a bad thing, either.
Texans Draft: Pick No. 121 (Round 4): Kendrick Green, Guard, Illinois
The Houston Texans need to replace Zach Fulton at guard as he allowed 11 sacks in 2020, and a player who would be excellent competition is guard Kendrick Green of Illinois.
Green started in eight games (Illinois played in just eight games in 2020), and on his Illinois football page it states he played center in three games this past season as he was a second-team all-American selection by the USA Today. He was also first-team All-Big Ten, and in his career he totaled 33 starts in a row.
Pro Football Focus rated Green as their third-best guard for 2020, and he was also their 17th-ranked offensive lineman. Being 6’4 and 315 pounds, Green is a big man and would most likely be a nice upgrade for the offensive line of the Texans that struggled last season and most seasons before that.
His former coach Lovie Smith is on the Texans coaching staff as the new defensive coordinator, so Smith must know what type of player he is, and if his honors mean anything towards that, well, Green could be a steal in the fourth round.
Texans Draft: Pick No. 148 (Round 5): Israel Mukuamu, CB, South Carolina
Here is a player that could amp up the secondary of the Houston Texans, and that is South Carolina cornerback Israel Mukuamu.
In three seasons at South Carolina, Mukuamu totaled 64 solo tackles, seven interceptions and nine passes defensed. Mukuamu had a groin injury this past season, and with that he opted out after the injury.
Houston needed better production at cornerback in 2020, and with changes coming to the defense, this draft is a perfect spot to start the rebuild of the secondary by adding Mukuamu to the mix.
The cornerbacks of the Texans for their most recent depth chart for this past 2020 season were Gareon Conley, Cornell Armstrong, Bradley Roby, Phillip Gaines, Keion Crossen, Vernon Hargreaves and John Reid. Conley, Hargreaves, Gaines and Armstrong are all free agents this offseason.
Joe Marino of The Draft Network said this of Mukuamu’s “ideal role” with an NFL team:
"“Outside corner that can situationally play in the slot. Has some appeal as a slot safety/positionless sub-package defender.”"
In his last full season with South Carolina, Mukuamu had 45 solo tackles, four interceptions, one touchdown and an impressive nine passes defensed.
Texans Draft: Pick No. 189 (Round 6): Darius Stills, DL, West Virginia
In 2020, defensive lineman Darius Stills totaled 12 solo tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and one interception. For his four-year career at West Virginia, Stills collected 48 solo tackles, 25.5 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, one interception, three passes defensed and one forced fumble.
Texans Draft: Pick No. 204 (Round 6): Kenny Yeboah, TE, Mississippi
After playing most of his collegiate career at Temple, the final season of Kenny Yeboah was played at Ole Miss, where he finished with 27 receptions for 524 yards receiving and six touchdowns. For his entire collegiate career, Yeboah totaled 74 receptions for 1,062 yards and 12 touchdowns.
The Texans need to make sure they are prepared at tight end moving forward because Darren Fells isn’t getting any younger, and Jordan Akins will need another tight end to work with him on the offensive line. There is work to do for Yeboah, but he’s a solid receiving tight end who is a versatile player on the offense, which would be a plus for the Texans.
Texans Draft: Pick No. 230 (Round 7): Shemar Jean-Charles, CB, Appalachian State
The final selection of the Houston Texans is Shemar Jean-Charles to add to the depth for the secondary. In four years, Jean-Charles had 62 solo tackles, 30 passes defensed, two forced fumbles and two interceptions.
Jean-Charles was a Walter Camp first-team All-America selection and has been described by Joe DiTullio of The Game Haus as a player who’s “an expert at getting pass breakups.”
This is a player who could surprise many as a late-round pick, but he does have a chance to have success in the NFL.