Houston Texans Mock Draft: All 7 Rounds

Houston Texans Mock Draft

With the draft quickly approaching next month, scouts and coaches for every NFL team are traveling across the country, going college to college, attending pro days and holding private workouts, all in hope of finding the next future Hall of Famer.

The Houston Texans are among the few select teams who seem to be just a few pieces away from hoisting the coveted Lombardi Trophy. They hope to possibly find a few of those missing pieces in the upcoming draft.

Houston’s draft priorities will be neither primarily offense nor defense, as they have holes to fill on both sides. With the signing of free agent safety Ed Reed, Houston has more than filled the void left when Glover Quin signed with the Detroit Lions, so don’t expect Houston to snag any safeties in the draft.

Houston will most likely go offense the first two rounds in hopes of getting another target for quarterback Matt Schaub and to bring in some more protection for him as well. The third through fifth rounds should be primarily defense. Houston was torched a few times last season and obviously needs some help on defense, especially now that they have lost linebacker Connor Barwin to the Philadelphia Eagles. Houston will be looking for some depth in the secondary, as well as looking to beef up the defensive line and add a new linebacker to play alongside Brian Cushing.

The final two rounds are usually not predetermined for set positions or even offense or defense but more for just looking for raw talent and the best available players. Any player with potential could ultimately be a good pick here.

Houston is hoping to find those few players that will add the necessary talent to get them to the Super Bowl and with the depth in this year’s draft they may be able to finally complete their puzzle.

Round 1: Baylor WR: Terrance Williams

Well, it’s no surprise here, especially after the release of veteran receiver Kevin Walter, the Houston Texans are in the market for a big, playmaking wide receiver, and Williams is a perfect fit to play outside, opposite Pro Bowler Andre Johnson. Williams is a tough, physical receiver whose style of play is very similar to that of Anquan Boldin. He is a very physical player who attacks the ball with his hands and has shown the ability to make the difficult catches even in traffic. He is a deadly weapon who can come into this already dynamic offense and make a major difference right away.

Round 2: Oklahoma OT: Lane Johnson

Johnson may end up going earlier but if he is still available it would be a foolish move for Houston to pass on him. Last season, teams down the stretch figured out Houston’s weakness. If they could attack Houston’s offensive line and get pressure in the backfield they were able to disrupt the offense and fairly easily mess up the gameplan and defeat the Texans. This made it hard for running back Arian Foster to find room to run and Matt Schaub wasn’t able to set up the play-action. Houston needs to bolster their offensive line and possibly find a new starter, that's Johnson. Johnson is an excellent pass-blocker as well as run-blocker in zone schemes because of his capable footwork.

Round 3: Florida LB: Jon Bostic

After seeing the impact of losing a starting middle linebacker last year, Houston will be looking to add depth at linebacker this offseason. Houston needs another middle linebacker to play alongside Brian Cushing. Bostic is a big, strong linebacker who would fit very well in Houston. Bostic has the ability to get penetration quickly and get into the backfield and disrupt the pass or has the ability and footwork to be able to drop back into coverage. Bostic finished last season with three sacks and two interceptions and has the ability to come into Houston and possibly start right away.

Round 4: University of Tennessee-Martin NT: Montori Hughes

Houston needs to add size and depth to their defensive line to play along with pro bowler and well known superstar DE JJ Watt. Hughes could be a great addition as a backup to starter Earl Mitchell. Hughes has shown a competitive, nasty side on the field and has a lot of burst and speed for a 330 pound lineman. Hughes needs some work but with the right coaching and effort from Hughes, he could eventually become a solid starter once Mitchell has retired or moved on. Hughes has shown he has the ability to become a star and has the ability to swat down passes, which everyone knows is now a key factor for this defense.

Round 5: LSU CB: Tyrann Mathieu

I know, I know, this pick is very controversial and a lot of people will probably call me crazy for this one but besides the drug issues and problems with the law, Mathieu has a lot of potential if he can stay out of trouble. After his showing at the NFL Combine, Mathieu could possibly move up the board and not be available at this pick but for now, for obvious reasons is for a fifth-rounder. Houston needs help in the secondary and even though he's a risky pick, Mathieu could bring a spark to the defense. Mathieu can also be a key player on special teams and a valuable nickel or dime defensive back.

Round 6: Vanderbilt QB: Jordan Rodgers

The Texans have two capable quarterbacks right now in T.J. Yates and Matt Schaub and one questionable one in Case Keenum. It never hurts to add valuable quarterbacks to the roster and Rodgers is worth a shot. Rodgers, yes he is the younger brother of pro bowler Aaron Rodgers, has shown great footwork and the ability to take a big hit and most importantly, the ability to throw the ball accurately while taking a hit. Rodgers' arm strength is still a work in progress following a 2011 shoulder surgery, but there's plenty of time for the staff to work with him and train and develop his arm strength again.

Round 7: Nevada TE: Zach Sudfeld

The Texans do have plenty of depth at tight end right now but only a few of the tight ends on the roster have actually proved their worth and having one more couldn't hurt anything. Sudfeld is a big, strong tight end at 6'7" and 255 pounds. Sudfeld has shown he's an above average blocker and has the ability and quick footwork to move well in tight space. The downside is there are a few cons, he is 26 years old and has only one year of real productivity at the college level but has shown great potential. Then again, it's a seventh round pick, and at the point it's OK to make a risky pick when there’s potential.