Grades are for classrooms, this is football.

Best and worst case scenarios for the 2019 Texans draft class

Best and worst case scenarios for the 2019 Texans draft class

The Texans have themselves a draft class. Most fans wanted the team to draft tackles and help in the secondary and they did just that. Here is my assessment of the draft class void of grades. This isn't a classroom.

Before you read my assessment I encourage you to get to know the Texans draft class.

Tytus Howard - OT Alabama State - 1st round - 23rd overall

Contrary to my Twitter feed I don't hate this pick nor do I believe Tytus Howard will be bad. What I came to feel about this pick is he doesn't seem like he can help the Texans this season as much as other players potentially could have helped.

Andre Dillard is a better player right now, it would seem. The Eagles snatched him out from under the Texans if the rumors are true they coveted Dillard. Do I believe they could end up being the same level of talent eventually? I do. The more I read from Howard, the more draft people saw him as a diamond in the rough. It takes time to polish it up so it would seem Julién Davenport gets the first crack at left tackle with a healthy lead.

I am sure Howard was doubted as a quarterback nicknamed "Weenie" and then a tight end and then ultimately the tackle charged with protecting whoever was slinging the ball at Alabama State. He comes to the Texans as one of the most critical but also critically panned draft picks in Texans history. Hopefully he turns out to be one of the best or Deshaun Watson could be in trouble.

Best case scenario: Duane Brown 2.0 eventually

Worst case scenario: Julién Davenport 2.0

Lonnie Johnson - CB Kentucky - 2nd round - 54th overall

Lonnie Johnson is one of Jalen Ramsey's favorite cornerbacks. That's a good start. He reached out to Ramsey for help at playing the position. I like the initiative and I like the physical tools even more. Long and rough with pass catchers and no fear of bringing the hurt.

Johnson in all likelihood shouldn't learn too many names in the cornerbacks room. There is a good chance he is one of the senior members of the group in a couple of years. The pedigree is far from a Kentucky standout. Johnson was recruited by Ohio State, you know the school where Denzel Ward and Marshon Lattimore plied their trade before a first round selection. He didn't qualify because of grades. When he was leaving his junior college Georgia wanted him.

This feels like the pick that has to pay off for the Texans to start their trek back to being comfortable in the defensive backfield.

Best case scenario: Richard Sherman lite eventually

Worst case scenario: Julian Wilson

Max Scharping - OT Northern Illinois - 2nd round - 55th overall

He was the highest rated tackle on a lot of rankings when the Texans selected him. A traditional grinder who takes care of his business and does what he is asked. This is evidenced by playing multiple spots as well as starting all his games in college. This, unlike the Howard pick, was best tackle available as far as most people were concerned.

The tremendous amount of experience is a huge positive. The Texans love players who can play lots of positions and this guy is no different. He played left tackle but it would seem he would project as a swing/backup this year behind Seantrell Henderson with hopes he could take over the position should Henderson get hurt in 2019 or move on after the season.

Best case scenario: Marcus Gilbert with more consistency

Worst case scenario: Duke Robinson

Kahale Warring - TE San Diego State - 3rd round - 86th overall

Boom or bust is the potential here. I also don't believe he can truly contribute this year. He is so new to football and experience works against him right now but in the long-term he could benefit from it. There likely aren't as many bad habits to fix with someone who hasn't had a lot of reps compared to some of his peers.

He will have to continue to be an athlete while also proving his toughness in the run game. If that means adding some weight, he can't lose his incredible athleticism. He was close to 8th overall pick T.J. Hockenson in a lot of combine drills.

Combining him with Jordan Thomas and Jordan Akins allows Bill O'Brien to play the matchup game to end and even will allow him to get closer to the two tight end sets he implemented in New England when he was the offensive coordinator in 2011. They don't have to replicate that success, but making teams worry about every tight end in a totally different way is a nice problem to make the defenses have.

Best case scenario: Todd Heap eventually

Worst case scenario: He ends up back playing water polo

Charles Omenihu - DE Texas - 5th round - 161st overall

I love this pick. The Texans have hit in the late rounds more than a few times with a defensive lineman under Bill O'Brien. Christian Covington, D.J. Reader, and Carlos Watkins have all ended up as rotation help as a late-round pick.

Omenihu terrorized some of the best offenses in the Big 12 including a talented Oklahoma team. He has plenty of sacks and tackles for a loss. It is a crowded defensive line room but draft picks have an easier time sticking than other guys who don't have that investment. He needs to prove consistency to stick.

Best case scenario: Rotational player for four years

Worst case scenario: Lost in the shuffle a la Jeoffrey Pagan

Xavier Crawford - CB Central Michigan - 6th round - 195th overall

This dude was fast at his pro day. He ran a 4.3 flat though it sounded like the Texans clocked him at 4.37 but still that's fast. He will be asked to compete for a roster spot at a position that needs someone like him but has a lot of players ahead of him.

He will have to contribute on special teams before we see what he is made of at cornerback. He has an uphill battle with some solid special teams players, a healthy Aaron Colvin, and some veterans in front of him right now.

Best case scenario: Special teams and some slot in 2019 and getting more over time

Worst case scenario: Practice squad in 2019

Cullen Gillaspia - FB Texas A&M - 7th round - 220th overall

A special teams demon who now plays fullback. He is a freak athlete. Had he been at the combine he would have been close to some top numbers in the shuttle and 3-cone drills. If he can develop as a fullback there is a spot for him on this team.

Best case scenario: Fullback for the team and special teams demon

Worse case scenario: Cut

Undrafted Free Agent to Watch - Johnnie Dixon - Ohio State

He can scoot and can return kickoffs. He could have a chance to push for a practice squad spot with the hopes to eventually compete on the roster. A productive player when he finally got on the field for Ohio State. Might need to play inside more than outside but the versatility never hurt a Texans prospect.

Ultimately I feel like this draft class has the potential to be the 2006 draft class remade if they hit to a large degree. HUGE if, sure but stay with me here. Tytus Howard might never make anyone happy but could be productive like Mario Williams was throughout his Houston career. Lonnie Johnson could be the DeMeco Ryans if he develops with his gifts. Max Scharping could be the Eric Winston player here with a career initially as backup and then starter. Of course Owen Daniels is Kahale Warring. David Anderson was a specialist for those Texans teams and Cullen Gillaspia is the same with this class.

There is also heavy bust potential and could challenge the 2005 class as the worst in team history if things go wrong. Especially considering how much the current Texans need these picks at these positions to pay off.

This also concludes the Duane Brown trade as the pick used on Lonnie Johnson was acquired via that trade. The Seahawks ended up with Brown, who has since been an All-Pro and Shaquem Griffin while the Texans have Johnson and Martinas Rankin from last year's draft to show for the move. The team never should've traded Brown and the offensive line and recent selections would look so different. Unfortunately he was moved and the quest to replace him has hopefully come to an end.

Brian Gaine CRUSHED the draft last year. He deserves the absolute benefit of the doubt with this class. Almost all these players could end up being important just like the majority of last year's class turned out to be. They don't have to be stars this year. Just contribute and we can all call it a win.

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The Houston Texans addressed their most glaring needs by selecting offensive tackle Aireontae Ersery and a pair of Iowa State receivers in the NFL draft.

“The idea was to try to add good players, good people that are young, tough, hungry, that want to win, that put the team first,” general manager Nick Caserio said. “These picks exemplify that.”

The Texans got players that could help them quickly despite not picking in the first round for a second straight season. They didn’t have a first-round pick last year because of trades, including the one to move up and get defensive end Will Anderson with the third overall pick in the 2023 draft.

This season they shipped the 25th overall pick to the Giants on Thursday in exchange for several picks.

Their first selection in this draft was receiver Jayden Higgins, who was taken with the second pick of the second round. They added Ersery later in the second round with the 48th overall selection and picked up Higgins’ teammate Jaylin Noel in the third round.

Ersery could be Houston’s left tackle of the future after the offseason trade of five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil. Ersery started 38 games at left tackle over three seasons at Minnesota where he was a third-team All-American last season.

He comes to Houston to help shore up a line that allowed C.J. Stroud to be sacked 52 times last season, which was the second most in the NFL.

The Texans added veteran tackle Cam Robinson this offseason and Ersery will compete with him to protect Stroud’s blind side as the Texans attempt to reach the playoffs for a third straight season under coach DeMeco Ryans.

The 6-foot-6, 331-pound Ersery, who was the Big Ten’s Offensive Lineman of the Year last season, can’t wait to play with Stroud.

“C.J. Stroud is a baller,” Ersery said. “I’m so honored to be a guy to help out and come in and help protect him. I’m just super stoked and I know I’m going to a great organization.”

Cyclones teammates

Higgins and Noel join the Texans to add more depth at receiver to complement star Nico Collins with Tank Dell recovering from a serious knee injury and Stefon Diggs gone to the Patriots.

Higgins, who has been compared to Collins, had 87 receptions for 1,183 yards and nine touchdowns last season for the Cyclones and Noel added 80 catches for 1,194 yards and eight scores.

After Higgins was drafted, Noel never imagined he’d be heading to Houston, too. He shared on social media a fortune he received from a Chinese restaurant that read: “Look forward to an unplanned reunion with an out-of-touch friend.”

Noel later shared his feelings about joining Higgins on the roster.

“I was surprised,” Noel said. “But they’ve seen that 1-2 punch all year. They’re going to be very happy with those selections for sure.”

Caserio said a talk with Iowa State coach Matt Campbell on Friday helped him make his final decisions on the receivers.

“He was effusive in his… belief and praise of both Higgins and Noel,” Caserio said.

The Texans now have three receivers from Iowa State on their roster after drafting Xavier Hutchinson in the sixth round in 2023.

Overcoming obstacles

Ersery and his four siblings were raised by a single mother and experienced homelessness when he was a child despite her working multiple jobs. He is thrilled to have put those struggles behind him as he embarks on his next chapter.

“I’ve got that hardworking mentality from her,” he said. “So, growing up times were tough but now I’ve got my foot in the door and I look forward to trying to change some things around.”

Caserio loves guys with work ethic like Ersery’s and said that’s one reason why they believe he’ll fit in with the Texans.

“If you come in and put your head down and work and just get better, take advantage of your opportunities, you’re going to have a shot to have success and do a lot of good things for the organization,” he said.

What’s in a name?

Along with Noel, the Texans added another Jaylin in this draft with they picked USC cornerback Jaylin Smith in the third round.

“We got Jaylins, and we got all these guys around. It’s going to be hard to keep them straight,” Caserio joked on Friday after they picked Smith.

Then on Saturday, the Texans added another player with the same name, albeit with a different spelling, when they took Penn State safety Jaylen Reed in the sixth round.

That gives them four players with the same name and three different spellings as the three rookies join starting safety Jalen Pitre on the team.

Doubling up

Along with drafting two players from Iowa State, the Texans also added a pair of players from Southern California when they picked running back Woody Marks in the fourth round after drafting Smith in the third.

Marks ran for a career-high 1,133 yards with nine touchdowns for the Trojans last season after transferring from Mississippi State.

Be sure to watch the video below as NFL.com Draft Analyst Lance Zierlein shares his thoughts on all the Texans' picks!

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