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Why Houston fans are on board with NFL Draft expert’s surprising pick for Texans
Feb 6, 2024, 2:51 pm
Why Houston fans are ON BOARD with NFL Draft expert’s SURPRISING pick for Texans
NFL.com draft evaluator Lance Zierlein released his first mock draft of the season this week, and he has the Texans going defense with the 23rd overall pick.
Zierlein said DeMeco Ryans' comments about beefing up the d-line factored into his pick for Houston. With that in mind, he selected Penn State edge rusher Chop Robinson to be drafted by Houston in the first round.
While many Texans fans were happy with this selection, it does raise some questions about what Houston will do in free agency. If the Texans elect to re-sign DE Jonathan Greenard after his 12.5 sack season, certainly that could change Zierlein's stance on the matter.
While LZ is a fan of Greenard's game, his injury history does raise some concerns, as he hasn't played a full season so far in his 4-year career. Add that to the massive salary he is going to command this season, and you have some legit reasons to let Greenard walk, and draft a young pass rusher with a much cheaper contract.
As mentioned above, free agency will have an impact on what every team does in the draft. What if the Texans let TE Dalton Schultz and Greenard leave in free agency, and instead use that money to sign the best player on the market, Chiefs' all-world defensive lineman, Chris Jones.
In theory, Houston could use the money saved on Greenard and Schultz to pay Jones around $24 million/year to wreak havoc on the d-line, and draft a player like Chop Robinson to replace Greenard.
Don't miss the video above as John Granato and Lance Zierlein break it all down!
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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.