Texans 7-Round Mock Draft Trades Trenches Upgrades

[seestyle 0]

HOUSTON - In le s than two weeks, the will be underway. Teams are finalizing their big boards, looking to target the top positions in the cla s with the hope of them transforming into a franchise cornerstone piece.For the , they get two opportunities to find difference-makers on Day Aaron Jones T Shirts 1 at . While Texans general manager Nick Caserio is expected to field calls for both selections to garner more picks, if the value isn't there he'll stand pat.Everything this offseason is about building a foundation for the future. Houston must target prospects who can be , but also must look at long-term needs.Using the , here's TexansDaily.com latest mock draft of what Caserio could be looking to target when on the clock for all 11 picks.Georgia's Travon Walker was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the first pick while Michigan's Aidan Hutchinson heads to the Detroit Lions. Even with Laremy Tunsil returning for another year in Houston, the Texans must stabilize their trenches to give second-year quarterback Davis Mills ample protection.Ekwonu is a versatile offensive lineman that will have succe s at multiple positions. He became an All-ACC offensive lineman when playing inside at guard and duplicated the succe s when shifting to left tackle. The decision in what to with Tytus Howard Whitney Mercilus Jersey shouldn't factor into the selection since Ekwonu can fill the void at whichever position Howard doesn't play.The value to move back and add an extra second-round pick in the next two drafts is too enticing for the Texans to pa s up. Caserio has ties with the Patriots, meaning he can ask for a bit more in the long-term to help his former team contend now.Despite the , receiver is still a need in Houston. Nico Collins has upside as the team's No. 2 weapon, but the the Texans need a that can win downfield.Olave has found succe s both on the perimeter and in the slot. Considered by many as the top route-runner in the cla s, the 6-foot pa s-catcher rarely drops pa ses and excels in space. He can play a variety of positions, giving offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton an explosive receiver to pair with the duo on the outside.Even with the addition of , Houston's inability to pre sure the quarterback was evident in the first year of the Lovie Smith era. Houston finished 31st against the run and only recorded 32 sacks, fifth-fewest in the NFL. The bottom line is even with the upside of Jonathan Greenard, it's not enough for Houston to pa s on the position.Mafe shined in his last season with the Golden Gophers, 10 tackles for lo s and seven sacks. His explosive first step allowed him to win on brute Davante Adams T Shirts strength against Big Ten tackles while his hand usage gave him the edge working upfield. There's room for improvement, but Mafe's in a four-man rush gives the Texans a base of the edge for the next two seasons.Scroll to ContinueThe Texans need a No. 1 running back desperately. After rushing for a franchise-worst 3.2 yards per play and a league-low eight touchdowns, it's no surprise that a top-60 selection could be used on addre sing the need in the backfield.Hall, who , fits the style of offense Hamilton is trying to run. He's physical between the trenches, but has the home run speed in space that can win at every level of the field. He also is a willing blocker on pa sing downs and can be effective as a receiver. In three years with the Cyclones, Hall averaged nine yards per reception.Justin Reid is now a member of the Kansas City Chiefs secondary, and Houston did little to upgrade the safety position. Smith is high on veteran Jonathan Owens building off last season, but the Texans need competition at both spots in the zone-based defense.Cro s is the prototypical safety that can be an immediate upgrade in coverage. In three seasons with the Terps, he recorded five interceptions and 10 pa s deflections when covering slot receivers and tight ends. Cro s also isn't afraid to tackle and willing to play the run when running downhill.Adding in Philadelphia's Steven Nelson makes cornerback a le ser-need in terms of early picks. It doesn't mean Houston should be content running the former Eagles' starter and Desmond King out for a 17-game season.Taylor-Britt is a fun player. He's quick with his backpedal, sprints downfield when coming out of his break and is athletic enough to play either the perimeter or the nickel role. Taylor-Britt is also a willing tackler against the run, a must to play in Jimmy Graham Jersey Smith's defense on the outside.Ekwonu is set to be a long-term option at tackle. The Texans added A.J. Cann, but he could be viewed as a one-year stop gap due to age in injury. Mays is physical in terms of run blocking and plays through the whistle. He also has faced some of the best defensive linemen having started at both Georgia and Tenne see.Houston was pleased with the growth of fifth-round pick Brevin Jordan, but they expect him to be more of a flex option rather than in-line blocker. Ferguson comes from a run-heavy offense at Wisconsin and is considered to be one of the better blockers at the Green Bay Packers Accessories position. He also is an effective red zone weapon thanks to his 6-4 frame.TRADE: Houston sends picks No.183, No. 205 to Las Vegas for No. 164Caserio gave Tom Brady a weapon in the backfield when the Patriots drafted James White out of Wisconsin in 2014. In Houston, he gives Mills a similar player in Badie. Although a 1,000-yard rusher, Badie is shifty runner who excels in the pa sing game. In four years, he averaged 9.1 yards per catch and recorded 11 receiving touchdowns.Gadget players are starting to find a home in today's league. Melton is a multi-purpose receiver than can also be effective in jet sweeps and on quick pitches. Adding him to Houston's offense gives Hamilton a potential starting-caliber slot target that also will work in reps at running back. Think Curtis Samuel 2.0 when watching Melton.