Here are the Houston Texans biggest needs heading into the NFL Draft

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Texans Nick Caserio, Roger Goodell draft
Their biggest needs appear to be on defense. Composite image by Jack Brame.

With the NFL Draft just two weeks away, Mike Florio and Chris Simms examine the Texans roster and predict which spots the team will look to improve.

Simms believes that Houston needs to upgrade at corner and defensive tackle, with Desmond King and Denico Autry getting a little long in the tooth. Let's not forget DT Maliek Collins was traded away to the 49ers, and free agent DT Foley Fatukasi only signed a one-year deal with the Texans.

Not to mention, the two cornerbacks the Texans signed in free agency (Jeff Okudah, CJ Henderson) haven't been very productive over the first several years of their careers. Both players were first-round picks in the draft that never lived up to expectations.

Check out the video above for the full breakdown.

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This was a vintage McCullers performance. Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images.

Zach Dezenzo homered and Victor Caratini drove in two runs in the seventh to help the Houston Astros rally for a 5-3 victory over the Athletics on Wednesday.

The Athletics led by 1 when rookie Justin Sterner (1-1) took over for Luis Severino to start the seventh. Dezenzo sent his fourth pitch 416 feet to center field for his second homer this season to tie it at 3-all.

There were runners on second and third with two outs in the inning when Caratini lined a single to center field to score 2 and put the Astros on top 5-3.

Houston’s Lance McCullers Jr. allowed five hits and three runs in a season-long six innings in his fifth start after missing more than two seasons with injuries.

Shawn Dubin (2-0) struck out two in a scoreless seventh for the win and Josh Hader converted his 14th save in 14 opportunities with a scoreless ninth.

Jacob Wilson homered with two RBIs for the Athletics, who fell to 3-17 in their last 20 games.

Severino yielded three hits and two runs — one earned — in six innings. He struck out four to give him 1,003 strikeouts in his career, making him the 48th active player to reach 1,000 strikeouts.

Christian Walker was hit on the hand with a pitch to start Houston’s fourth. He left in the bottom of the sixth inning because of the injury. Manager Joe Espada said the X-rays were negative after the game.

Key moment

The Astros jumping on Sterner in the seventh to take the lead after Severino’s strong start kept them in check through six.

Key stat

McCullers struck out 12 to tie a career high he last reached in 2018.

Up next

LHP Jacob Lopez (0-2, 2.57 ERA) will start for Oakland on Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series at Toronto. The Astros open a four-game series against Tampa Bay on Thursday night with RHP Ryan Gusto (3-2, 4.58) on the mound against RHP Shane Baz (4-3, 4.94).

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