The 2023 season is over for the Houston Texans. Filled with ups and downs, the young core of this squad definitely took a step forward. Looking to the future, building upon the talent on the team will be essential to take the next step towards hoisting the Lombardi. I have drawn up the ideal draft for Houston.
2024 Texans Mock Draft 1.0
Round 1, Pick 23) Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB (Alabama)
Ga'Quincy "Kool-Aid" McKinstry is a former 5-star defensive back for the Alabama Tide. With corner Steven Nelson’s contract expiring, McKinstry will pair nicely with Derek Stingley. He plays exceptionally well in press coverage with his quick footspeed and fluid hips. Kool-Aid is not afraid to play a physical brand of football. He has a much larger frame than most DBs and is not afraid to deliver a blow on run plays. Kool-Aid McKinstry has the potential to be a staple back for the Texans for years to come.
Round 2, Pick 59) T'Vondre Sweat, IDL (Texas)
T’Vondre Sweat was the backbone of an elite Texas defensive line. He is larger than life at 6’4 and 350 lbs, and any interior lineman in the Big 12 can confirm. Despite this, he is a great athlete. Sweat had a pair of sacks and an impressive 2-yard touchdown reception. While tackles like Sheldon Rankins and Maliek Collins had highlight games this past season, nobody in the interior managed to have a consistent year, and Sweat can step up to that challenge.
Round 3, Pick 85) Roman Wilson, WR (Michigan)
Throughout the 2023 season, the Texans' receiver room struggled with injuries, with 4/6 of the original room experiencing an injury that kept them out of competition. Wilson will fit in with CJ Stroud, who is elite at airing out deep passes. Roman Wilson is an open-field threat who brings incredible hands and blazing speed to any offense, and he will prove to be another valuable second-day receiver along with Tank Dell and fellow Michigan alumni Nico Collins.
Round 4, Pick 123) Will Shipley, RB (Clemson)
Will Shipley is an incredible pass-catching running back who excels best in the screen game and on sweeping runs. While he lacks the physicality to be overly effective between the tackles, I believe he will pair nicely with Dameon Pierce, who many have counted out from the Houston run game after a lackluster sophomore season. Pierce is on contract for another two seasons, so this duo could be the last opportunity for him to prove it before Houston looks to move on from him.
Round 4, Pick 127) Malik Mustapha, SAF (Wake Forest)
Jalen Pitre took a step backward from his rookie season, and Jimmie Ward has one more year on his contract before he becomes a 33-year-old free agent. Adding to the safety room in this draft is a must. Mustapha is extremely athletic and is not afraid to deliver a blow. When he uses the right footwork, Malik Mustapha has the athleticism and coordination to make incredible plays. He is still considered a raw talent despite spending four years in college, leaving his ceiling very high and his floor very low. In the worst-case scenario, you have added low-level depth to a room that struggled last year, and in the best-case scenario, the Texans have found a diamond in the rough.
Round 5, Pick 164) Trevor Keegan, IOL (Michigan)
There is plenty of talent on the Houston Texans offensive line, but as this season showed, they need depth. Nearly the entire room was out for at least a game, and multiple players were placed on the injured reserves list. Michigan had the best run game in college football, and they managed to come away with a championship riding on their interior run. One of the players at the helm of this was guard Trevor Keegan, who proved he could carry the workload when fellow guard Zak Zinter went down with a knee injury against Ohio State. He's long for a guard and uses his reach to bring in defensive linemen and move them at his will. For an offensive line that struggled in the run game, Keegan could provide a boost in production.
Round 7, Pick 239) Josh Proctor, SAF (Ohio State)
Josh Proctor is one of my draft sleepers. I have him graded a few rounds ahead of this, and I would not be surprised if the Texans used their 5th round pick to select him. He is 6’2, weighs 205 lbs, and runs a 4.5 second forty. According to PFF, Proctor is one of the highest-graded run stoppers in this safety class, and comes downhill extremely well. His main issues are tight hips, and he seems to lose focus when playing off-man defense. Josh Proctor is a no-brainer for pick 239 for the value being paid.
Round 7, Pick 248) Christian Jones, OT (Texas)
Finally, the Texans should add more depth to their offensive line room. Jones has excellent hands and shows good quickness and athleticism. He struggles in pass protection, and his kick-slide tends to switch up from play to play. If he can be taught better footwork on his kick slide, Christian Jones has the potential to be a player who makes that 53-man roster.
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