Texans trade with Patriots for fifth-round pick; updated draft order

The Houston Texans have shaken things up with their draft order.

Draft week has started off with a trade for the Houston Texans, as they made a trade of draft picks for the 2022 NFL Draft. They are gaining a fifth-round pick from the New England Patriots in exchange for one sixth- and one seventh-round pick.

The deal is explained as the Texans will receive the 170th overall pick (fifth round), and the Patriots receive the 183rd (sixth round) and 245th (seventh round) picks, so this leaves the Texans with 10 picks in the draft that begins this Thursday night.

Houston’s ’22 NFL draft picks now look like this:

Round 1  — No. 3 and No. 13
Round 2 — No. 37
Round 3 — No. 68 and No. 80
Round 4 — No. 107 and No. 108
Round 5 — No. 170
Round 6 — No. 205 and No. 207
Round 7 — NONE

That gives the Texans eight picks in the first 170 choices (first through fifth rounds), then three more picks in the sixth round. Last year Houston had just five picks overall, and they had none in the first two rounds, which makes this year’s draft much more exciting.

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Having 10 picks, Houston can draft so much depth for their roster which is needed, and having drafts like the one Houston is about to have with 10 choices, this is the start of something special for this franchise.

Remember, the Texans will have two first-round picks in 2023 and 2024 NFL Drafts as well due to having their original first-round picks, plus the first-round pick of the Cleveland Browns in ’22, ’23 and ’24 from the trade of former Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson.

Though the “superstar level” players haven’t quite made their names yet, this upcoming draft has the ability to produce some very solid professional players and Houston has a real chance to make their lineup better than it was last season.

Exactly what general manager Nick Caserio has on his mind for this draft is the big question, but just from a complete opinion here … defense needs to be at the forefront of most of the picks for the draft.

Houston must build a championship-caliber defense starting with this draft, and within the next three drafts Caserio can make the Texans into the team he wants them to be, and maybe more than just a contender for the playoffs.

Now all of us will wait and see what the trade for the fifth-round pick turns into, along with the rest of the draft picks later this week.