Houston Texans: Is Offense or Defense the Pick at #3?

As the NFL Combine wraps up today, the Houston Texans are in the thick of the 2022 NFL Draft season.

That said, fans are currently in research mode, wondering which prospects will be joining their favorite team come April. This is no different for Houston Texans fans. Coming off a 4-13 season, all eyes are on the future for Houston.

Equipped with the number three overall selection in the upcoming draft, the Texans have an excellent opportunity to grab a difference-maker.

Perhaps the biggest question surrounding Houston, though, is will they go offense or defense with the third overall pick? Below, the case will be made for one player on each side of the ball, starting with one of the most polarizing offensive linemen in the 2022 NFL Draft.

The Houston Texans offense has to protect Davis Mills- but will they do so?

The Houston Texans certainly don’t have a lack of holes to fill this offseason. After all, they do have the third overall pick for a reason. That, however, doesn’t mean Houston is utterly devoid of talent. Enter second-year quarterback Davis Mills.

Mills showed enough flashes as a rookie to likely lead to him getting another chance at being the guy for Houston this upcoming season. This time with a little more help, hopefully. That’s where this potential draft selection comes into place.

NC State’s Ikem Ekwonu is one of the top offensive tackles in this upcoming class and would be a perfect addition for the Houston Texans.

Ekwonu excels in two key areas. The first is his run blocking ability. In 2020, Ekwonu led NC State with 50 pancake blocks and 22 knockdowns. If Ekwonu gets his hands on you in the run game, you’re going down.

Then comes the second area, and perhaps the selling point for Houston. Ikem Ekwonu’s versatility is off the charts. In 2020, he earned All ACC honors at both the tackle and the guard spot.

After ending the season as the 29th ranked offensive line (PFF), the Texans could undoubtedly use all the help they can get. This, along with reports of a potential Laremy Tunsil trade, makes Ekwonu a preferred target for Houston.

Now the NC State tackle isn’t the perfect prospect. His pass protection could still use some cleaning up. It, however, is improving, as Ekwonu’s sacks allowed dropped from seven in 2020 to three in 2021. With a little more coaching, Ekwonu could develop into an elite pass protector.

But what about the other side of the ball? Moving on to the potential defensive selection.