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.
Tari Eason scored a career-high 30 points to lead the Houston Rockets to an easy 133-96 win over the Dallas Mavericks Friday night.
Jalen Green added 23 points with nine rebounds, despite sitting the entire fourth quarter to help the Rockets to their fifth straight win, tying their longest such streak of the season.
Houston led by double digits most of the night and was up by 16 in the third quarter before scoring the next seven points, with a 3 from Eason, to make it 80-57 midway through the quarter.
The Rockets were up by 21 later in the third before using a 10-0 run to push the lead to 96-65 near the end of the period, and most of their starters didn't play in the fourth.
Brandon Williams scored 25 points off the bench for the Mavericks as they lost for the seventh time in eight games. Klay Thompson was 2 of 16 for five points with nine rebounds.
Mavericks: Dallas continues to struggle with most of its top players out with injuries and lost another one Friday with coach Jason Kidd saying that Dante Exum sustained a broken left hand that will likely end his season.
Rockets: Houston has taken advantage of a schedule with six straight home games, going 4-0 so far on the homestand as it tries to climb the Western Conference standings.
Houston was in control of the game from the start but put it out of reach with its 37-point third quarter.
The Rockets had 29 second-chance points to just two by Dallas on a night Houston had a 17-6 advantage in offensive rebounds.
Houston hosts Chicago on Saturday night and Dallas hosts Philadelphia on Sunday.