AND THE HOUSTON TEXANS SELECT...
Josh Jordan's mock draft 4.0: The Oliver twist
Apr 24, 2019, 9:54 am
AND THE HOUSTON TEXANS SELECT...
Okay, so I'm not going to try to predict all the possible trades that may go down. My mock draft is more about showing where I anticipate players to be selected, which positions teams are looking to fill, and what the player's perceived value is. There were seven trades on the first day of the draft last year, and it won't surprise me if it happens again.
This mock draft is mostly about the Texans and I think the majority of the early trades in the 1st round for QBs, won't impact the Texans all that much. I will say, the more QBs that go in the 1st round, the better for the Texans. If 4 QBs get taken before the Texans pick at No. 23, that means Houston gets a Top 20 non-QB prospect. Texans fans have to love that.
Let's take a look at how the draft board might stack up.
There are some rumblings that Murray may not be the pick, but if the Cardinals don't trade out, I think they draft Murray.
The 49ers take the best player on the board despite trading for Dee Ford.
The Jets need somebody that can pressure the QB. Allen is that somebody.
This pick could also be Ed Oliver, he's shooting up draft boards. But I'm still gonna predict they take Williams.
I'm buying into the hype. I had Oliver going No. 12 to the Packers in my last mock, but this time I think he goes Top 5 and Top 3 would not shock me. One way to improve the Bucs' secondary is to get more pressure on the QB. Oliver can do that and then some. I'm hearing the Bucs may trade out of this spot, so that is something to look out for.
I had the Giants taking a QB in this spot in my last mock, but Gary was already off the board. The Giants also have another pick in the 1st round, so they can address QB there if need be. There is some concern over Gary's shoulder, so if he falls on Thursday night, that's probably the reason.
Nothing changes here. The Jags take Taylor to pair with Cam Robinson at tackle. As long as Robinson recovers from his ACL injury, they should be set at tackle for years to come.
Matt Patricia is all about defense, and they have to get pressure on Aaron Rodgers. Trubisky and Cousins aren't too shabby either. This could change if teams are concerned about Sweat's heart condition.
The Bills offensive line is awful. Time to add a tackle and protect Josh Allen. Being able to run the ball in December is a must in Buffalo. Dillard can help with that.
The Broncos had an elite defense the last time they won a Super Bowl. Devin White will make an immediate impact and I think the Broncos roll with Flacco this year and wait on QB.
Time to move on from Andy Dalton and get a QB will some serious arm talent.
Great value and he protects Rodgers who has been injured quite a bit the last couple of years.
The Dolphins are rebuilding and Wilkins is a nice piece for their d-line.
This may be a little early for Ford, but a big tackle makes sense.
The Redskins need a QB and if Haskins falls, they should grab him.
The Panthers need a pass rush with Peppers retiring.
It looks like the Giants will pass on Haskins at No. 6, and Daniel Jones already has a relationship with Eli and will be the QB in waiting for New York.
Vikings really need help on the o-line and Bradbury can step right in and make an impact.
Hockenson is a steal at No. 19 and Delanie Walker is 100 years old and coming off an injury.
The Steelers will have a party in the draft room if they get Bush at No. 20. Bush can replace Ryan Shazier in the middle of the Pittsburgh defense.
21. Seattle Seahawks- Florida State Edge Brian Burns
Seattle can address receiver later in the first round after trading with the Chiefs.
22. Baltimore Ravens- Ole Miss WR D.K. Metcalf
I'm sure the Ravens would like to take a pass rusher here, but they also need receiver help desperately.
Photo via: LSU Football/Facebook
I know it seems crazy that Williams would fall this far, and the questions about his football character don't exactly scream Texans worthy, but they need a starting corner, and he has the physical traits GM Brian Gaine desires. SPEED! Plus, LSU is known for having great DB play. The Texans say they want to get faster and Williams running a 4.37 forty certainly qualifies as fast.
Ideally I would like to put a tackle here, but that would mean reaching for Ole Miss OT Greg Little or Kansas State OT Dalton Risner. I'm cool with them taking either one of those guys, but Brian Gaine seems to be a GM that takes the best player available. We saw that when he took safety Justin Reid last year.
Oklahoma's Cody Ford would be a good pick, but I have the Falcons taking him earlier in the first round. Don't rule out the Texans trading back and picking up some extra picks. Drafting one of these tackles in the late first or early second round, and picking up extra picks, would be a nice way of navigating the draft.
24. Oakland Raiders (via Bears)- Iowa TE Noah Fant
The Raiders replace Jared Cook.
25. Philadelphia Eagles- Washington CB Byron Murphy
The Eagles have to fix the secondary.
26. Indianapolis Colts- Mississippi State S Johnathan Abram
Chris Ballard can hold tight and improve the safety position.
27. Oakland Raiders (via Cowboys)- Alabama RB Josh Jacobs
Great value pick for Mike Mayock.
28. Los Angeles Chargers- Clemson DL Dexter Lawrence
Great pick for the Chargers.
29. Seattle Seahawks via (Kansas City Chiefs)- Oklahoma WR Marquise Brown
Doug Baldwin is getting older and always hurt.
30. Green Bay Packers (via Saints)- Mississippi State DL Jeffery Simmons
Watch out when he's healthy.
31. Los Angeles Rams- Notre Dame DL Jerry Tillery
The Rams continue to be strong on the d-line.
32. New England Patriots- Alabama TE Irv Smith Jr.
Gronk's gone, so the Pats get a brand-new TE.
The Houston Texans have secured their lockdown corner for the future, agreeing to a three-year, $90 million extension with Derek Stingley Jr., according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The deal includes a staggering $89 million in guaranteed money, making Stingley one of the highest-paid defensive backs in NFL history.
Record deal: Texans All-Pro CB Derek Stingley Jr has agreed to a three-year, $90 million extension including $89 million guaranteed. At $30M base value per year, Stingley is now the highest paid defensive back in NFL history. The CB market has been completely reset.
Deal… pic.twitter.com/g8nzFFFQvj
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 17, 2025
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler is reporting that Stingley's extension will kick in after his fifth-year option, which the Texans picked up ahead of the extension. He's now under team control for the next five seasons.
Derek Stingley Jr.'s new deal with the #Texans includes a fifth-year option that he was slated to receive in 2026. So, he's under the #Texans' contractual control for five seasons -- two from his rookie deal, plus the three-year, $90M extension reached today.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 17, 2025
Stingley, 23, is coming off a breakout All-Pro season in which he recorded five interceptions (seven if you include the playoffs) and proved to be one of the league’s elite shutdown corners. His performance was instrumental in the Texans' defensive resurgence, solidifying his role as a cornerstone of the franchise.
The only lingering concern for Houston is Stingley’s durability. While he played all 17 regular season games in 2025, it was the first time he managed a full season in the NFL. Injuries limited him to just nine games in 2022 and 11 in 2023. The Texans are banking on his ability to stay on the field, confident that his elite talent outweighs the risks.
With this extension, Houston locks in a defensive playmaker as they continue to build a championship-caliber roster around quarterback C.J. Stroud. If Stingley stays healthy, this investment could pay massive dividends for the Texans' future.
*ChatGPT assisted.