Houston Texans 2022 NFL Draft picks and early top 3 needs
The Houston Texans have had a pretty disastrous 2021 offseason. What does their future 2022 NFL Draft capital look like and what are their early needs?
The 2021 offseason has been horrendous for the Houston Texans. Although there are some good players that have come into their building, the Texans said goodbye to JJ Watt who was released and left in free agency for the Arizona Cardinals.
They have been dealing with Deshaun Watson demanding a trade and a lot of serious and significant off-field issues.
Mind you, this is all happening as the Houston Texans are changing head coaches and coaching staffs in general, as well as naming Nick Caserio the team’s new general manager.
It’s been a brutal nine months for Houston, with distractions lingering into the 2021 regular season. At this point, they are the clear favorites to land the number one overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft strictly based on roster strength.
The Texans have had more roster turnover in 2021 than any other team in the NFL and it honestly feels like this team was an expansion team all over again.
There will still be some intriguing players to evaluate for the Houston Texans over the course of the next year but everything that happens from now until January will be with one eye on the 2022 NFL Draft.
What picks do the Houston Texans have and what are their top three early needs looking ahead?
Houston Texans 2022 NFL Draft capital
1. First round
2. Second round
3. Third round
4. Fourth round (from LA Rams)
5. Fifth round
6. Sixth round
7. Sixth round (49ers pick from Jets)
8. Seventh round (from Dallas Cowboys)
The Houston Texans have been very active on the trade market this offseason and they have recouped a couple of late-round draft selections in the process.
If things are cleared up eventually with Deshaun Watson, Houston will undoubtedly demand a king’s ransom of picks from a team looking to take him off their hands.
It would be shocking if they didn’t somehow end up with at least a dozen picks before the start of the 2022 NFL Draft and Houston should already be considered sellers for the NFL’s regular season trade deadline.
Houston Texans early top 3 needs
1. Quarterback
This is a no-brainer.
Deshaun Watson won’t play in Houston again, in all likelihood. You just can’t ever say never. Is Tyrod Taylor going to prove worthy of another year after 2021? Will Davis Mills show potential?
Even though Mills was the team’s top pick in 2021, I think QB is going to be near the top of their needs list in 2022.
2. Cornerback
Credit to the Texans for at least trying to bring in some guys that could hit this offseason like Desmond King, who has a chance to be a good nickel corner for the long term. I also like the move to bring in Jimmy Moreland off of waivers, because you just never know.
With that said, Bradley Roby has just been traded to the New Orleans Saints, and corner is a top need for this Houston Texans team and they will have plenty of opportunities to upgrade through the 2022 NFL Draft which is looking deep at cornerback.
3. Pass Rush (EDGE)
The Texans don’t have many long-term cornerstone types of pieces on this roster right now, but Charles Omenihu looks like he could be one.
Regardless of Omenihu’s presence, the Texans have already said goodbye to JJ Watt. They said goodbye to former number one pick Jadeveon Clowney long ago. Whitney Mercilus is going to be 32 next season.
This team traded for and then traded away Shaq Lawson, leaving a void on the edge. This should be a position of emphasis in the 2022 NFL Draft for Nick Caserio.