Houston Texans blew the 2019 NFL Draft by not solidifying offensive line

The Houston Texans entered the 2019 NFL Draft with many holes on their offensive line and did not leave the draft with enough to solidify the position.

The Houston Texans are one of the most talented teams in the entire NFL. They are loaded with impact players on both sides of the ball and are set up for success in the long-term. With guys like J.J. Watt, DeAndre Hopkins and Deshaun Watson leading the way, the Texans could also find themselves as legitimate Super Bowl contenders in the near-term. However, their showing in the 2019 NFL Draft did not put them any closer to making that happen.

This less than stellar showing in the draft essentially comes down to their inability to solidify the offensive line. The Texans’ offensive front was downright awful last season, allowing a league-leading 62 sacks on the year. That is particularly egregious when you consider that Watson is an extremely mobile quarterback who can escape pressure better than most.

Simply put, if the Texans cannot fix their offensive line situation, Watson is never going to be able to reach his potential. This is a serious problem for this team that could really bring down a promising situation if it is not addressed quickly.

The Texans tried to address their issues up front in the first round, but they did so in a less than ideal way. They missed the boat on the best pure left tackle prospect in this class, when the Philadelphia Eagles traded up one spot before the Texans to snag Andre Dillard. After losing out on Dillard, the Texans appeared to panic, leading to the selection of Alabama State offensive tackle Tytus Howard.

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Howard does have some upside at the next level. He is a true left tackle prospect who moves well for his size and shows some promise as a pass protector. That being said, he is an extremely raw prospect who certainly has some work to do before he is ready to play a meaningful role for an NFL team. Simply put, he should have been looked at as a Day 2 developmental prospect. The Texans reached on this pick.

With their lack of legitimate depth up front, the Houston Texans are going to have to force Howard into the lineup as a rookie. He is simply not ready to be a starter and forcing him in there could hurt his long-term development. Taking a more pro-ready prospect like Cody Ford or Jawaan Taylor would have made much more sense for Houston, even if neither player is a true left tackle. Left tackle is not their only need up front and Ford or Taylor could have filled another offensive line spot admirably.

The Texans went back to the offensive line in the second round, taking Max Scharping out of Northern Illinois. Scharping shows nice versatility (should be able to play right tackle or either guard position), quick feet and good size.

However, his footwork and overall technique as a pass protector are an absolute mess. This guy needs some serious coaching at the next level and going from playing MAC teams to NFL athletes is a big jump. Scharping is a solid prospect, but similar to Howard, he is not a pro-ready player.

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The Houston Texans needed immediate help up front and they simply did not address that obvious need. Howard and Scharping are developmental prospects who will both likely be forced into immediate action. On top of that, free agent addition Matt Kalil was the only other move they made up front this offseason. I hate to say it, but I hope Watson is ready to run for his life again this season.

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