The Houston Texans need to fix the defense, but not forget about the offense in this latest mock draft.
When it comes right down to it, there are many directions the Houston Texans can travel when it comes time to make their picks for the 2022 NFL Draft, and with the draft being in Las Vegas, it won’t be a surprise if this franchise takes a gamble or two with some of their choices as they currently have nine picks in their arsenal.
General manager Nick Caserio did pretty well last season with the choices he made in his first year with the Texans, and now in the second year of his rebuild of the roster, the first choice the team makes — which is currently the No. 3 overall pick — has a lot of pressure and excitement surrounding it.
Caserio has also taken part in many drafts of the storied run of the New England Patriots, which is why he’s leading the Texans’ decision makers in the front office as the GM, but with this being his second draft with the Texans, Caserio and Jack Easterby really need to make sure they make the right decisions for this franchise.
With this latest Toro Times mock draft concerning the Houston Texans, the focus is on rebuilding the defense, but the offense wasn’t completely ignored, either.
Though the Texans have a defensive-minded head coach being Lovie Smith, everyone knows teams need to score points to win, and that is also something the Texans had issues with last season.
Next is the newest Toro Times mock draft as some of the times recorded in various drills were used when deciding on a player to be selected in this mock draft.
This pick is tricky not because of the talent level of Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux, but because he could already be off the board when the Houston Texans make their pick at No. 3 overall.
With the Jaguars and Lions picking ahead of them, and with those two teams having issues on defense like the Texans, Thibodeaux could be the player they covet the most.
With the NFL Combine taking place, Thibodeaux had a 4.58 40-yard dash time and did 27 reps at 225 pounds on the bench press. He stands at 6’4″ tall and weighed in at 254 pounds.
NFL.com graded Thibodeaux as a year one starter with a number of 6.72 out of 8, and his Next Gen Stats number was 92 (out of 100), which is “elite.”
Thibodeaux has gone on record saying he likes the Texans’ defense and said glowing things about head coach Lovie Smith, who will be in charge of everything on the defense.
If Thibodeaux falls to No. 3 overall, it would be tough for the Texans to pass on the EDGE rusher, right?
Cornerback is a need the Houston Texans should focus on in this draft, and there is a chance that Trent McDuffie of Washington could be available to select with this No. 37 overall selection. If that’s the case, the defense of the Texans will have a huge upgrade with just two of their nine total picks they currently have possession of.
McDuffie is 5’11” and weighed in at the combine with a weight of 193 pounds, so the cornerback might not be the tallest cornerback in this draft, but he has shown at the collegiate level he’s ready for the next level.
The Washington product has speed with a 4.44 40-yard dash time this week at the combine, as that was the only drill he took part in at the Indianapolis event.
McDuffie’s hands measured at 8 3/4 inches, and NFL.com grades him at 6.70, which is a year one starter, and also at NFL.com his Next Gen number out of 100 was 84, which means good.
The secondary of the Houston Texans really needs an upgrade, and this is a player who is described as a “fearless, aggressive competitor” by Lance Zierlein’s scouting report. If on the board at No. 37 overall the Texans must take him, and pass on some other top-level talent, at least at this point of the offseason and draft process.
This is where the draft gets a little fun because the Houston Texans can use the 68th overall pick and their first of two third-round picks for offense, and there is a chance David Bell of Purdue will be on the board.
If that’s the case, the Texans better run the draft card to the commissioner personally to make sure they add another wide receiver to their roster.
Bell at the NFL Combine ran a 4.65 40-yard dash, and his hands measured at 9 1/4 inches. Bell is 6’1″ and weighs 212 pounds, so he’s not a small wide receiver, and in his NFL.com draft profile some of his strengths were described as the following:
“Offers value working out wide or from the slot. … Unpredictable releases into the route. … Runs smooth routes with detailed footwork. … Balance and agility for more complex route tree.”
He didn’t have the best overall combine, but that’s OK, because if he’s still available at 68th overall, and with the Texans rebuilding their roster, he’s a nice player to select at this point of the draft.
When it comes to the 80th overall pick and the second pick made by the Texans in the third round, this is where the team need to return to defense and add another EDGE player to the roster. Let’s get to know the name Nik Bonitto of Oklahoma, as he’s a projected Day 2 pick in the third round.
NFL.com graded Bonitto at a 6.33 (out of 10), meaning one day he’ll be a starter, but that’s great news for the Texans because he could be sitting for the taking when this pick arrives. Bonitto’s 4.54 40-yard dash time at the combine showcased his speed, and he had a 35.5 vertical jump.
The Texans need to make sure they are set at EDGE with pass rushers and players who can help stop the run and even play in coverage at times. If he becomes just a pass rusher for the Texans, that would work for the team, but if he becomes a complete player under Lovie Smith as the head coach, well, the Texans could have a steal in the third round with this potential selection.
It is time to return to the offense with the 136th overall pick, where the Texans could take running back Dameon Pierce in the fourth round. The Texans need to add a young running back to their roster, and with Pierce available possibly in the fourth round, this is a nice spot to land a running back.
Pierce ran a 4.59 40-yard dash at the combine and bench pressed 225 pounds 21 times. He also had a vertical jump measuring at 34.5 and a broad jump of 119, so this is an athletic player whom the Texans could use in a running back rotation to see how he can improve at the NFL level with his strength.
Pierce weighs 218 pounds, and at 5’10” his NFL.com draft profiles believes he’ll be a starter at some point in his NFL career. Demetrius Harvey of All Gators Fan Nation wrote this about Pierce this weekend:
"“Pierce’s ability and athleticism didn’t necessarily come from his long speed, rather his explosiveness, and ability to hit a hole quickly and aggressively.”"
If the Texans can draft a running back with some explosiveness and a player who can wear down a defense, then where is the sign-up sheet, because they need a running back like that.
This would be a nice choice for the Texans because they need help at offensive guard, and Justin Shaffer of the Georgia Bulldogs could eventually work his way into a starter’s role if he improves his game. He’s 6’4″ and weighs 314 pounds, so if he would get a chance to play next to Tytis Howard or Laremy Tunsil, they would be help in his development as well.
It won’t hurt the Texans to add another cornerback here or even a safety in the sixth round, as they need to find players who can provide some depth in the secondary. Jack Soble of the Columbia Missourian quoted Evans and how he feels ready for the NFL challenge:
"“I like when people challenge me, so it’s like, ‘We’re gonna see. Let the best man win,’ you know what I’m saying?”"
The Texans need players who aren’t afraid to showcase their skills, and having a player who is confident in his abilities as a rookie would be exciting to watch as this would be pick No. 204 in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Logan Bruss might be a guard in the NFL, but drafting an offensive lineman who can play both positions would be nice here. The offensive line of the Texans needs challengers to test the players who didn’t keep Davis Mills safe last season. Wisconsin has a nice history of NFL lineman, and if Bruss — who is 6’5″ and 309 pounds — is available, he’s worth drafting in the sixth round at 206th overall.
This is where teams try to find the sleepers, and with the Houston Texans needing depth at linebacker, and players who can play special teams, Jeremiah Moon makes sense here. Moon had a 40-yard dash time of 4.76. Though Smith’s defense might not be best for Moon, he would still provide seventh-round value for the Texans on special teams, which is a spot on the field that can’t keep being overlooked.