For the Houston Texans, this draft could turn the tide from bad to good.
Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio has an opportunity to accelerate the rebuild in a massive way this year. The 2022 NFL Draft could be the first big step in changing the fortunes of a team and the opinion of many fans. So when the commissioner completes the sentence, “With the 3rd pick in the 2022 NFL draft, the Houston Texans select ______.” Caserio must be right.
There is an old football adage which says, “The games are won and lost in the trenches”. Therefore, Caserio has an excellent opportunity to fix a glaring weakness with the 3rd pick with a pick like Evan Neal or either Aidan Hutchinson or Kayvon Thibodeaux.
On the other hand, some believe that the biggest weakness is the secondary. But the biggest flaw that the Texans have had for many seasons has been and still is the offensive line, where games are won and lost.
Both offensive and defensive lines are critical to any team. Teams must protect their quarterback, and the only way a team can have a successful running game is to have a solid offensive line. When quarterbacks get three seconds or longer in the pocket, the chance of finding an open receiver is much higher.
Those seconds count on the offensive line’s ability to get “re-directs,” or how many times they can make a rusher change direction, which in turn, gives more breathing room for the quarterback.
Houston Texans must draft to fill the biggest need, not getting the best player on the board.
The Houston Texans need a defensive line that can create a strong push up front, and pressuring an opposing quarterback can help make even a weak secondary look better. Unfortunately, the Texans didn’t help themselves with the release and trade of Whitney Mercilus and Charles Omenihu.
Caserio should have either a highly regarded offensive lineman or pass rusher available to the Texans at pick number three. However, this is not the time to be cute or try to be smarter than everyone else. The Texans have significant needs on the lines, and with the potential trade of Watson, they may just get extra picks.
In 1989, the Dallas Cowboys made the best trade in their team history. That trade was the Herschel Walker trade with the Minnesota Vikings. It was the solid foundation for three Super Bowl wins. However, many would say that getting a Hall of Fame quarterback, running back and wide receiver were the most prominent additions.
But if you dig a little deeper, you’ll find the trade brought five pro-bowl caliber offensive linemen to protect that quarterback and open holes for that running back to run through. Put an average line out there, and, well, San Francisco might have two more Super Bowl rings.