AND THE HOUSTON TEXANS SELECT...

Josh Jordan's mock draft 2.0: Draft a tackle, don't get Greedy

Josh Jordan's mock draft 2.0: Draft a tackle, don't get Greedy
Photo via: LSU football/Facebook

With all the action in free agency, it's time to update my mock draft because many teams have filled their needs with free agents. The Houston Texans have the 23rd pick, so let's take a look at how the draft board might stack up.

1. Arizona Cardinals- Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray

Murray should be a great fit in Kingsbury's offense.

Composite photo by Brandon Strange

Nothing changes for the Cardinals after free agency. I still think they take Murray and move on from Josh Rosen.

​2. San Francisco 49ers- Alabama DL Quinnen Williams​

With the 49ers trading for Dee Ford, they pass on Bosa and draft Quinnen Williams.

3. New York Jets- Ohio State DE Nick Bosa

I had the Jets taking DE Josh Allen in Mock 1.0, but with Bosa available this time around, they'll draft him instead of Allen.

4. Oakland Raiders- Kentucky Edge Josh Allen

The Raiders get a pass rusher to replace Khalil Mack.

​​5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Michigan DE Rashan Gary​​

Their defense was horrible last year, so they improve the pass rush with Gary.

6. New York Giants- Ohio State QB Dwayne Haskins

It certainly looks like the Giants are rebuilding, and getting a QB has to be a priority.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars- Washington State OT Andre Dillard

With offensive tackle Cam Robinson coming off an ACL injury, the Jags add a tackle to protect their new QB, Nick Foles.

8. Detriot Lions- Mississippi State DE Montez Sweat

Guys that can sack the QB are hard to find.

9. Buffalo Bills- Florida OT Jawaan Taylor

The Bills have one of the worst offensive lines in the league, so they address their weakness with Taylor.

10. Denver Broncos- LSU LB Devin White

I had the Broncos drafting o-line in my first mock. Now that they added some players in free agency, I think they go defense and add a big time playmaker at linebacker. Is 4.42 a good forty time for a linebacker? I thought so.

11. Cincinnati Bengals- Alabama OL Jonah Williams

12. Green Bay Packers- Clemson DL Christian Wilkins

13. Miami Dolphins- Oklahoma OT Cody Ford

14. Atlanta Falcons- Houston DL Ed Oliver

15. Washington Redskins- Missouri QB Drew Lock

16. Carolina Panthers- Iowa TE T.J. Hockenson

17. New York Giants- Ole Miss WR D.K. Metcalf

18. Minnesota Vikings- Michigan LB Devin Bush

19. Tennessee Titans- Iowa TE Noah Fant

20. Pittsburgh Steelers- Oklahoma WR Marquise Brown

21. Seattle Seahawks- Clemson Edge Clelin Ferrell

22. Baltimore Ravens- Florida Edge Jachai Polite

23. Houston Texans- Ole Miss OT Greg Little

I had the Texans selecting LSU corner Greedy Williams in my first mock, and he's still on the board. The Texans would get better value with Williams, but they have to get a young tackle to develop and eventually protect Deshaun Watson. As of March 19th, the Texans still haven't signed any tackles, so drafting a tackle is a MUST. Little may take some time to develop, just like former Texan Duane Brown, but he should be an improvement over Houston's linemen on their roster currently. Also, his poor Combine performance has his value down a bit, but I don't think he'll be on the board if the Texans wait until the second round to draft a tackle. The fact that Little doesn't have his own Pro Football Focus prospect video says a lot. If he does have one, I couldn't find it. He's still under-the-radar for many talent evaluators and people putting mock drafts together. I think he'll become a quality tackle, but it may take some time.

24. Oakland Raiders (via Bears)- Florida State Edge Brian Burns

25. Philadelphia Eagles- LSU CB Greedy Williams

26. Indianapolis Colts- Mississippi State S Johnathan Abram

27. Oakland Raiders (via Cowboys)- Alabama RB Josh Jacobs

28. Los Angeles Chargers- Clemson DL Dexter Lawrence

29. Kansas City Chiefs- Washington CB Byron Murphy

30. Green Bay Packers (via Saints)- Alabama TE Irv Smith Jr.

31. Los Angeles Rams- Georgia CB Deandre Baker

32. New England Patriots- Kansas State OL Dalton Risner

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Can Will Anderson and the Texans defense force Drake Maye into rookie mistakes? Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images.

The New England Patriots are turning things over to Drake Maye, and his first shot will come against the AFC South-leading Houston Texans.

The first-round draft pick is replacing Jacoby Brissett as the starter in the hopes that he can snap the Patriots’ four-game losing streak. But he’ll have to do it against one of the NFL's toughest defenses.

“There’s never a perfect time to make a change,” Patriots coach Jerod Mayo said this week after announcing the swap. “Every defense that we play ... they all have the ability to rush and get after the quarterback. So, I don’t think there’s ever a perfect time.”

But the Texans (4-1) will pose an especially difficult challenge for Maye and the makeshift New England (1-4) offensive line that has started five different combinations in five games. Houston pressures the quarterback more than any other team in the league – 42% of dropbacks, according to NFL NextGen stats.

“It’s probably going to be a little nervous at the beginning,” Maye said this week. “I think once we settle down, we have a chance to move the football and just have fun out there. ... That’s what this game is about: Don’t make it too big or the spotlight too big. Just go out there with those guys that we’ve been battling for three months since training camp, go out there and try to make some plays.”

After winning the opener and going to overtime in Week 2, the Patriots were blown out by the Jets and 49ers and lost 15-10 to Miami, another of the NFL’s worst teams. In all, Brissett has completed 79 of 135 passes for 696 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said there’s a challenge in facing an unknown such as Maye, who was 4 of 8 for 22 yards in mopup duty against the New York Jets in Week 3.

“What I’ve seen is a young, athletic quarterback who has a live arm, can move around really well in the pocket, can escape the pressures,” Ryans said. “Them, making that move, (they’re) looking for a spark for their offense, and he can provide it.”

Running game help

Houston’s running game could get a boost with the return of Dameon Pierce.

The third-year pro hasn’t played since injuring his hamstring in the season opener. But he has been practicing this week and Ryans said he expects him to play Sunday.

Pierce, who ran for 939 yards as a rookie in 2022, should improve a rushing attack which ranks 23rd in the NFL by averaging just 104.2 yards a game.

Stroud is excited to have Pierce back on the field.

“It is really big, I am very happy for DP,” he said. “He has worked really hard to come back.”

KPRC2's Aaron Wilson is reporting that Joe Mixon could return this week as well, he practiced on Thursday and Friday.

Mixon has been out since injuring his ankle against the Bears in Week 2.

Special teams star

Houston kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn earned AFC special teams player of the week honors for the second time this season on Wednesday.

Fairbairn’s 59-yard field goal as time expired lifted the Texans to the victory over the Bills.

It was his eighth field goal this season of at least 50 yards, which is the most in NFL history through the first five games of a season. It’s also the most 50-yarders made in a season in franchise history.

“It’s comforting for everyone to know wherever we are, (Ka’imi) can make a play,” Ryans said.

Fairbairn loves being in those high-pressure situations.

“Whatever yardage it is, I really don’t care. I want that shot,” he said. “I think part of being good at this job is ... wanting that opportunity.”

dameon piercedemeco ryanshouston texansnflpatriotstexansjoe mixon

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