With two premium first-round picks, the Houston Texans should look to improve their defense.
The Houston Texans have two picks inside of the top15 in the first round. With so many holes in the defense, General Manager Nick Caserio should trust his draft picks to help fill those holes on the roster.
They say “defense wins championships,” and Houston has the chance to set the foundation for a generational defense in the next couple of years.
Kyle Hamilton is the obvious choice at number 3. He has a tremendous vision of the field and the ability to quickly adjust to football. Hamilton’s size allows for those fun-to-watch big hits, and while some question his speed ( a 4.7 40-yard dash time), the film cant deny his ability to get to the ball. With Justin Reid moving on to Kansas City, Kyle Hamilton should be a Houston Texan.
There always has to be a second choice because nothing in life is guaranteed. If Kyle Hamilton is off the board by pick three, Nick Caserio should lean towards Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, who is rumored to be visiting Houston soon.
“Sauce” is electric and could easily step into a starting role. He comes with the accomplishment of not allowing a touchdown throughout college, on top of being a menace in the run game. Gardner would instantly make the Houston Texans better and would bring cheers from the fans to NRG Stadium.
Houston Texans are also in business with the 13th overall pick as well
Linebacker Devin Lloyd out of Utah is one of the most versatile linebackers of the draft. Time and time again, he’s shown he can stop the run, line up in man coverage, and even shut down a zone.
Lloyd has the potential to be a starter early in his career and fills a significant need for the Houston Texans. Houston brought back virtually their entire linebacking corps from 2021, but most were on very short deals. Could it mean that Caserio is looking to get younger at the position?
Llyod is a man of many trades and could be a pivotal piece to revitalizing that “Bulls on Parade” defense that Texans fans loved when J.J. Watt and Brian Cushing roamed the field back in the day.
Another prospect to consider with the 13th overall pick is CB Derek Stingley Jr. In the early stages of mock drafts, Stingley was considered a top 5 pick. However, dealing with a foot injury, he has fallen down the boards, which could benefit the Houston Texans. Houston may get a steal at 13 if Stingley Jr. is still on the board.
After that, it’s all up to Lovie Smith to get these guys ready to play.