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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The Astros added some pop at first base.Composite Getty Image.

Gold Glove first baseman Christian Walker and the Houston Astros agreed Friday to a $60 million, three-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement was subject to a successful physical.

Houston acquired infielder Isaac Paredes from the Cubs last weekend in the trade that sent outfielder Kyle Tucker to Chicago, and Walker’s agreement likely means the Astros plan to start Paredes at third and won’t re-sign third baseman Alex Bregman.

Walker, who turns 34 during the opening week of the season, hit .251 with 26 homers, 84 RBIs, 55 walks and 133 strikeouts this year. That was down from 2023, when he batted .258 with 33 homers and 103 RBIs as the Diamondbacks reached the World Series.

He didn’t secure a full-time job in the big leagues until 2019. He’s provided consistent power over the past six seasons and has grown into an elite defensive first baseman, winning Gold Gloves in each of the past three seasons.

*Don't miss the video below as the crew from Stone Cold 'Stros (Charlie Pallilo, Brandon Strange, and Josh Jordan) reacts live to the deal, and examines what the signing means for the club moving forward.

Walker played college ball at South Carolina and was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 2012. He made his big league debut with the Orioles in 2014 but couldn’t stick in the majors and was claimed off waivers by Atlanta, Cincinnati and Arizona in a five-week span.

“He’s a phenomenal player,” Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen said. “He’s the best defensive first baseman in baseball. He’s a self-made player in a lot of ways, and I respect that immensely. What that gave our clubhouse was a lead by example that was pretty elite.”

Walker had a $10.9 million salary last season and turned down Arizona’s $21.05 million qualifying offer.

Houston will lose its second- and fifth-highest picks in the 2025 amateur draft.

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