How Texans draft picks will impact Houston this season

TEXANS ON TAP

How Texans draft picks will impact Houston this season
Don't miss the video below as we react to the picks! Composite Getty Image.

With two picks in the second round, the Houston Texans went defense with their first selection. At No. 42 overall, the Texans selected Georgia defensive back Kamari Lassiter. Lassiter should be able to compete Day 1 at nickelback for Houston, according to NFL.com draft expert Daniel Jeremiah.

Draft analyst Lance Zierlein had Lassiter as a second round pick before he ran a 4.64 forty at his pro day. Both Zierlein and Jeremiah projected Lassiter as a third round pick because of his slow forty time.

He may not be fast, but he can really cover. Lassiter allowed 136 pass yards in coverage in 2023, per PFF. The fewest among FBS cornerbacks.

Protecting the franchise

The Texans turned their attention to the offense with their second pick in the round, selecting Notre Dame right tackle Blake Fisher. Jeremiah said on the broadcast that Fisher was the best tackle on his board when the Texans selected him. Jeremiah believes he would have been a first round pick next season if he went back to school. It will be interesting to see if the Texans experiment with Tytus Howard at guard again this year.

In the third round, the Texans traded up to No. 78 overall and selected USC defensive back Calen Bullock. He recorded 9 int, and 15 pass breakups in his career with the Trojans.

Be sure to watch the video above as we react live to the Texans selections on YouTube!

Most Popular

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).

Most Popular

SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome

Listen Live

ESPN Houston 97.5 FM