With the 2024 NFL draft still months away, it’s anyone’s guess who will be drafted by which team. Even the No. 1 pick is a bit contentious depending upon what the Chicago Bears want to do at quarterback.
The Texans have their quarterback situation figured out after Houston drafted C.J. Stroud with the No. 2 overall pick in 2023 – a decision that already looks promising after just one season. Houston sent its original 2024 first-round pick to the Arizona Cardinals to move up and selected Will Anderson Jr. at No. 3 – another move that paid off in one season.
Houston still owns the No. 23 pick thanks to the Deshaun Watson trade with the Cleveland Browns and could go in a few different directions with the selection. Both sides of the ball looked great in DeMeco Ryans’ first season at the helm, but the Texans could find quality depth in the first round – especially if the team can’t keep its marquee internal free agents this spring.
There is no true consensus on who the Texans will pick or what position they’ll focus on with the No. 23 pick. So, here’s a round-up of all the players various media members have selected for Houston in their mock drafts.
Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry
ESPN’s Matt Miller thinks the Texans will select Alabama defensive back Kool-Aid McKinstry in the first round to pair him with Derek Stingley Jr. in the secondary.
“McKinstry was a consistent playmaker throughout his college career, snagging two interceptions at Alabama and deterring opposing quarterbacks from targeting his side of the field,” Miller wrote. “He will have to answer questions about his true speed at the combine, but his three years of tape tell me he’s a first-rounder.”
LSU WR Brian Thomas Jr.
TouchdownWire’s Doug Farrar predicts the Texans will target a big-bodied wideout to pair with Nico Collins on the outside.
Thomas Jr. caught 68 receptions for 1,117 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2023. His career numbers are 127 receptions on 176 targets for 1,897 yards (14.9 yards per reception) and 24 touchdowns.
Washington OL Troy Fautanu
Three draft experts predicted the Texans to land Fautanu with the No. 23 pick: NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks, Pro Football Focus’ Trevor Sikkema and The Athletic’s Diante Lee.
“Fautanu has played at left tackle for the Huskies over the past two seasons, but his shorter length might force him inside to guard at the pro level,” Sikkema wrote. “Length feels like one of the only deficiencies for him, though, and he should thrive at any interior offensive line spot.”
Clemson CB Nate Wiggins
NFL.com’s Eric Edholm also selected a cornerback for Houston, just a different one. He chose Clemson’s Nate Wiggins to pair with Stingley Jr. in the secondary. The Clemson product tallied two interceptions, 21 defended passes, two forced fumbles and 60 combined tackles in his three seasons with the Tigers.
Illinois DT Jer’Zhan Newton
Four mock drafts connected the Texans with Illinois defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr., The 33rd Team’s Connor Livesay, USA Today’s Nate Davis and PFF’s Trevor Sikkema and Connor Rogers all had Houston picking Newton with their first-round selection as a replacement for Sheldon Rankins.
“Newton is the best interior pass-rusher in this class; he had 16.5 sacks in three seasons for the Fighting Illini,” Kiper Jr. wrote. “He improved his pressure rate in every season, showing off an impressive combination of strength and natural talent. He also has versatility, as three of his sacks were from when he lined up as the nose tackle. He could slot into Rankins’ spot in the lineup.
Texas IDL Byron Murphy II
Murphy put together a career-best season with the Longhorns in 2023, which is why our TexansWire’s own John Crumpler picked him for the Houston. For what it’s worth, The Draft Network’s Keith Sanchez’s did, too. Murphy tallied five sacks this past season to finish his collegiate career with eight in 34 total games. He also finished with 15.0 tackles for a loss and 70 combined tackles.
Penn State edge rusher Chop Robinson
Five mock drafters picked Penn State edge rusher Chop Robinson for Houston: NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com ‘s Lance Zierlein, CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards, CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson and the Ringer’s Danny Kelly.
Robinson would be an incredible pair with Will Anderson Jr. on the edge, even if the Texans keep Jonathan Greenard. He wracked up 4.0 sacks and 7.5 tackles for a loss in 2023 and 11.5 career sacks and 11.5 career tackles for a loss.
Iowa CB Cooper DeJean
CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso and Pro Football Network’s A.J. Schulte mocked a third different cornerback to be mocked to the Texans in Cooper DeJean. The Iowa product is bigger than Stingley Jr. at 6-foot-1 and 203 pounds and has great shutdown skills. DeJean brought down seven interceptions over the past two seasons with 13 defended passes and 120 combined tackles.
UCLA edge Laiatu Latu
A different edge rusher goes to the Texans in Vinnie Iyer’s Sporting News mock draft. Latu tallied double-digit sacks in each of the past two seasons ( 23.5 total) and added 34 tackles for a loss. He also forced five fumbles and intercepted two passes during that stretch.
The 6-foot-4, 265-pound edge rusher would be an excellent complement to Anderson and any other pass rusher the Texans have in 2024.
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