The Houston Texans beef up the defense early and add to the offense in this 7-round 2022 NFL Mock Draft.
The Houston Texans finally made the trade that was a year in the making, moving former quarterback Deshaun Watson to the Cleveland Browns for three first round picks, fourth round picks in 2022 and 2024, and a third round selection in 2023. The accumulation of those picks should help the rebuild get going for a franchise that’s been rough to watch the past couple of seasons.
The one big positive from the 2021 season for Houston is that they don’t have to force the issue at the quarterback position in a weaker 2022 NFL Draft class. Davis Mills performed very well relative to expectations in year one, and he should get the reigns once again in 2022.
It sounds like Laremy Tunsil will also be in the fold in 2022 and beyond, as a simple restructure and a tweet from Tunsil makes it seem like he won’t be traded. The offense has some weapons in Brandin Cooks, Nico Collins, and Brevin Jordan.
Houston Texans Mock Draft: Beefing Up The Defense
The defense will be built up to suit new head coach Lovie Smith’s scheme, which went well considering lack of personnel last season. They brought back Maliek Collins and Desmond King, but did lose Justin Reid in free agency.
With two picks in the first round and three picks on day two, the Texans should be able to load up the roster in a 2022 NFL Draft that has quality depth. Here’s what the Texans could do when April rolls around in this Houston Texans mock draft.
Note: this mock draft was completed using the NFL Mock Draft Database simulator.
Round 1, 3rd Overall: Travon Walker, DE, Georgia
The comments are flooding in with this Houston Texans selection. The Texans do have a solid rusher in Jonathan Greenard, who had an eight-sack season in 2021. He’s someone who can be a a very good number two, but finding an elite pass rusher is important for this defensive unit that’s going to rush four and play a lot of zone behind it.
From a current value standpoint, it feels a bit early to select Travon Walker. However, the ceiling is enormous. People who are 272 pounds shouldn’t move the way Walker does. His explosive get off, combined with the speed and power combination, is one that shouldn’t be limited to defending the run like he did at Georgia. The run defense floor is nice, but swinging on the potential as a pass rusher is worth it for Houston in the top five of an odd class at the top.
Round 1, 13th Overall: Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
The 13th pick is where the Houston Texans could go a number of directions. They need a top corner on the outside, some help on the interior offensive line, and could get ahead of the run at safety (or take Kyle Hamilton on the off chance he falls).
Instead, the Texans get ahead and select the first linebacker, one that can roam around a be a playmaker in Smith’s defense. The lack of a consensus top guy muddies the water a bit as to who the Texans might target at the position, but Devin Lloyd makes sense, as he just makes plays everywhere. With the length to disrupt passing windows and get off blocks as a rusher, combined with instincts and closing speed downhill, and coverage chops, Lloyd can be a playmaker early in his NFL career.
Round 2, 37th Overall: Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington
As mentioned before, the Houston Texans are certainly in the market for finding a young corner to be their top guy on defense. Reggie Robinson and King, who recently signed a deal, are the only corners under contract past 2022. If the Texans roll with someone in round one that makes all the sense in the world, but the 2022 NFL Draft does have a deep class, which means that there will be impact players at the top of the second round.
Kyler Gordon would be one of those players who could end up being available at this spot, and would be a great selection. The 6’0″, 195-pound corner might not have tested as the athlete many expected at the scouting combine, but that doesn’t discount what he’s done on the field.
Gordon is great in man coverage, with the requisite skill set to transition quickly and recover with above average play speed. He can stick in the hip pocket of receivers vertically, and has very good ball skills and instincts to read the receiver and attack the catch point. He does well with vision in zone coverage as well. As the mental game (and hopefully) more effectiveness against the run grows, he can become a high level starter in the NFL.
Round 3, 68th Overall: Kerby Joseph, S, Illinois
The barrage on defense continues for the Houston Texans here early in this Texans mock draft, this time at the safety position. Losing Reid really hurts the back end, so finding a player who can replace the production and impact is important. The class is good at safety, and the Texans land a gem here in Kerby Joseph.
Funny enough, Joseph’s time at Illinois overlapped with Smith, and his growth in 2021 could see the two reunite in Houston. Joseph took advantage of opportunities, picking off five passes and breaking up two more in 2021. His range is impressive to play on the back end, and he will be able to handle a deep half in Smith’s defense.
Round 3, 80th Overall: Isaiah Spiller, RB, Texas A&M
It’s unclear as to when the running back run starts in the 2022 NFL Draft, but it’s possible that a top guy is available in the third round, based on the perceived depth at the position and the shift to committee rooms.
Isaiah Spiller would be a home run pick here. He might get docked in some circles due to athletic testing, but his short area burst, contact balance, and improved receiving ability in 2021 make him a potential three-down back in the NFL. As his vision improves, so will another dimension to this Texans offense.
Round 4, 108th Overall: Luke Goedeke, OT, Central Michigan
Is this too late to address the offensive line for the Houston Texans? Maybe, but if there’s belief in the building in Tytus Howard, who knows? Anything can happen in the 2022 NFL Draft. There’s depth at tackle and interior offensive line on day three, and that’s what the focus is now in this Houston Texans mock draft.
At the very least, giving competition for Howard is the right thing to do. Luke Goedeke doesn’t have as much hype as his teammate Bernhard Raimann, but the Central Michigan prospect is well worth a selection here. Goedecke fires off the ball in the run game, holding the point of attack with good hand placement while also displaying the ability to reach the second level with good angles. His initial strike and anchor help him make up for a lack of length.
Round 6, 183rd Overall: Luke Wattenberg, OL, Washington
Now for the interior offensive line in the sixth round. As much as the addition of A.J. Cann is nice, there’s always room for depth at important positions to protect a young quarterback in house. Luke Wattenberg is a versatile player from Washington who can potentially play guard and center. Wattenberg has the play strength to thrive in a phone booth in pass protection and can be a very good spot starter.
Round 6, 205th Overall: Dontario Drummond, WR, Mississippi
The Houston Texans have an interesting receiver room at the moment. Brandin Cooks is their route running/deep threat “Z”, Collins is their “X”, and they have other speed guys in Chris Conley and Phillip Dorsett. What the unit doesn’t have is a reliable player over the middle of the field. Dontario Drummond can be that guy.
Drummond is reliable as a possession receiver who does a good job finding holes in zone and attacking upfield post-catch with good speed and vision. He has arrogant hands and attacks the catch point well.
Round 6, 207th Overall: Chase Lucas, CB, Arizona State
Adding to the cornerback room is a must, and it’ll likely mean multiple draft picks in the 2022 NFL Draft for the Houston Texans. Chase Lucas is a nice add late, as he brings the toughness, processing skills, and tackling ability to play in man and zone coverage. The ball skills are evident as well.
Round 7, 245th Overall: Curtis Hodges, TE, Arizona State
The Texans have their receiving tight end in Brevin Jordan, but outside of him, the room doesn’t inspire confidence. If they go the inline direction, Curtis Hodges is a solid receiver who thrives working as an extra lineman at the line of scrimmage. He could get some reps in TE-heavy looks as a rookie.