The 2021 season has been a predictable nightmare for the Houston Texans.
Sitting with a record of 1-8 at their own bye week, the only team worse is the winless Detroit Lions. The Texans showed promise for one week (as laughable as that is) and after Tyrod Taylor’s injury against the Cleveland Browns, it all went downhill. Eight straight losses that were all over the map are enough to kill any team’s morale.
With that being said, a majority of the Houston Texans fan base is already looking forward to the end of the season. Who can blame them? The reason the excitement is already building at this point of the regular season is that this will be only their second time owning a first-round selection within the last five years.
Those last two first-round picks were Tytus Howard and Deshaun Watson. Both were solid picks until Watson’s legal allegations came to light last offseason. Anyone that has watched the Houston Texans play in 2021 knows that they need everything, to be honest. It’s been brutal.
One week one side of the ball will look adequate, meanwhile, the opposite side is completely broken and inoperable. Some of their games have ended in odd scores (no pun intended) of zero, three, and five.
So who will the Texans select with their first pick? Will it be Kayvon Thibodeaux or Aidan Hutchinson? Will a quarterback enter the mix? There will be lots of intrigue in who the Texans pick in April.
Kayvon Thibodeaux has a chance to be Mario Williams 2.0 for the Houston Texans
This is presuming the Texans are going to have the first overall pick, as sadly they will give Detroit their only win of the year. That’s a whole different subject, but Kayvon Thibodeaux is an undeniable talent at the defensive end/edge position.
His ability to “long-arm” the offensive line in the pass rush gives him access to any move he wants. The 6’5″, 258-pound sophomore out of Los Angeles, California has grown into a force on the Ducks’ defense, making them one of the best teams in the nation.
Thibodeaux can also slipstream edge blockers and scream into opposing backfields and gobble up tackles for loss. The highlight video linked above will show just how good he can be at making a crucial stop inside the goal line or on fourth down.
Thibodeaux gets the nod over Aidan Hutchinson of Michigan, as Thibodeaux has more of a burst off the edge and can handle being the read key on an option play and still making a big tackle to prevent any positive momentum to be gained for the offense.
Unless someone else takes over the top spot, it looks like an Oregon Duck will be the first player off the board.
Houston Texans happily choose Kenyon Green with their 2nd pick
When it comes to the offense and what direction Tim Kelly wants to go with, there will probably be the decision to stick to a run-first approach. What better way to do that with Kenyon Green, a mobile wrecking ball out of Texas A&M.
Houston gets an in-state stud to help solidify the middle. The current guards have been subject to beatdowns all year and one of the reasons the rushing game has fallen off the face of the earth. Green’s ability to box pull and keep his hips square lets him clean up second-level defenders with ease.
Green’s kick-out block ability is one of the most punishing things you’ll see a guard do that’s not named Quenton Nelson. On top of all of that, Green can hold gap integrity while holding a drag hand while waiting for a stunt to occupy his gap. Patience in the pass blocking game can help make life easier for your quarterback.
Our friends over at NFL Mocks (Fansided’s one-stop-shop for all things NFL draft related) had the Texans taking Trevor Penning, tackle from Northern Iowa in the second round. While that’s a solid choice, this offensive line needs to be refortified from the inside out to have a chance of improving in 2022.
Brandon Joseph is a third-round steal for the Houston Texans
The 2020 Big Ten Freshman of the Year award recipient is no stranger to making big plays. Last year alongside future first-round selection Greg Newsome II, the Northwestern Wildcats were led by these two shutdown secondary players en route to a Big Ten West conference title and taking Justin Fields and the Ohio State Buckeyes to the brink in the Big Ten Championship game.
The very first play linked in the highlights shows just how much of a ballhawk that Joseph can be. 2021 has been the complete opposite for Joseph’s squad, but he remains their best player at the third level of the defense.
Lonnie Johnson Jr. has struggled mightily for Houston this year and has often been the target for a lot of Texans fans’ frustration as passes are completed at will. Putting Joseph opposite of Reid will help close the open lid that has been deep in the Texans’ secondary, finally allowing the defensive line to get some coverage sacks and get the unit off the field.
Another indirect benefit of this pick? Joseph attended College Station High School. Another local kid coming home. Don’t let the down year Northwestern is having to affect your judgment of another standout Northwestern defender.
Two quarterbacks chosen highlight the Houston Texans’ Day 3 selections
Jack Coan was supposed to be the savior of the quarterback position at Wisconsin, and it’s safe to say that didn’t happen. Ever since transferring to Notre Dame, Coan has looked just like that said savior. Was it mismanagement of Coan at UW under Badgers Head Coach Paul Chryst? It’s an intriguing pick early in day 3 of the draft for Houston. Coan could compete for the backup spot next to Davis Mills.
Addressing the running back position will primarily be done in free agency, hence why the long wait to select one in the draft. CJ Verdell has the patience to find holes in the trenches and once he sees daylight, the turbos are on and it’s good luck to defenders who try to lay chase.
The Junior out of small-town Grantsburg, Wisconsin is having a breakout season, including a 3.5 sack day against Purdue, and a 17-tackle performance in the nail-biter win over Army. Chenal possesses Good ball recognition and open-field tackling skills.
Yes, this is another quarterback. However, Eric Barriere may be the biggest sleeper candidate at the quarterback position in the draft. A current candidate for the Big Sky player of the year award, and currently has 93 touchdowns and over 10,000 yards passing as of this writing. Don’t be surprised if he makes the final 53-man roster.
Keep checking the internet for his highlight videos, as he leads one of the most explosive offenses in the FCS.
Look, there is nothing worse than not having a long snapper when you desperately need one. Jon Weeks has been with the Texans for years. It may be time to look at a replacement. Special teams still matter, despite the NFL’s effort to eliminate them from the game.