The Texans address key needs in multiple ways with this draft

Texans 7-round mock draft

Brian Gaine
Buffalobills.com

The Texans have seven picks in the upcoming draft as it stands right now. The way I approached this is rankings to assess how likely these players are available where the Texans pick, guesses on what some other teams would do, and my runs through a couple of mock draft simulators. I also weighed anything I have heard myself about various picks/players a little heavier than rumors.

First Round - 23rd Overall - Andre Dillard OT Washington State

I have been pushing Dillard for the Texans for a while now. They need some help for him or Oklahoma's Cody Ford to get here. The lust for quarterbacks helps them in this quest. Teams will likely be moving up for the three or four quarterbacks so that helps push offensive linemen down the board. Any pass rusher, tight end, or wideout helps the Texans get to this point. If there is no Dillard or Ford, a trade back a few spots with Dalton Riser from Kansas State and Kaleb McGary from Washington as the targets.

Second Round - 54th Overall - Julian Love CB Notre Dame

This guy feels like a Texans style of cornerback. He had a ton of impact at Notre Dame and the Irish defense fell apart without him in the college football playoff. He feels a little like a Johnathan Joseph in that his physical ability isn't going to blow you away but you trust the smarts and intelligence to get him near the ball. One NFL comparison for him was Ronde Barber. Love isn't the top corner on anyone's board, but he should be available for the Texans.

Second Round - 55th Overall - Tytus Howard OT Alabama State

I was tempted to put Texas A&M's Erik McCoy here but ultimately adding Howard as the team's swing tackle and future right tackle is too attractive to pass up. Likely an "overdraft" but there should be other tackles coming off the board forcing the Texans into this spot. This pick is hard to peg because it is unknown how the Texans are stacking the tackle board. I would guess tackle is a safe bet and if not tackle perhaps another spot on the offensive line.

Third Round - 86th Overall - Darrell Henderson RB Memphis

The Texans have checked in on Henderson a couple of times. He's a home run hitter and was amazing for Memphis this past season. He would push D'Onta Foreman and would take over for Lamar Miller at the end of the season. There could be other positions addressed but they could be reaches at this spot. Why not help solidify a position that has lacked talent recently.

Fifth Round - 161 Overall - Kingsley Keke DL Texas A&M

It seems likely Keke would be here but regardless of he is or not the Texans should shoot for another late-round defensive lineman success a la D.J. Reader. Maybe a safety here as well but let's look for the replacement for Christian Covington.

Sixth Round - 195th Overall - Ryan Bates OG Penn State

You know how much the Texans love versatility. Well, how about a former college tackle who will likely play guard and maybe center in the NFL? You can do a lot worse than someone to push the current offensive line at this spot.

Seventh Round - 220 Overall - Xavier Crawford CB Central Michigan

He might not be here in the seventh round as I have seen him as high as a fifth rounder but if he is, snatch him up. He was a standout on the worst team in college football. Literally one of the few bright spots. He would add some solid competition to the cornerback room.

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Welcome to Houston, Nick! Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images.

Nick Chubb didn’t expect to be a Houston Texan. At least, not until he got the call on a quiet Saturday at home and was on a flight the next day. It happened fast — too fast, even, for the four-time Pro Bowler to fully process what it all meant. But now that he’s here, it’s clear this wasn’t a random landing spot. This was a calculated leap, one Chubb had been quietly considering from afar.

The reasons he chose Houston speak volumes not only about where Chubb is in his own career, but where the Texans are as a franchise.

For one, Chubb saw what the rest of the league saw the last two seasons: a young team turning the corner. He admired the Texans from a distance — the culture shift under head coach DeMeco Ryans, the explosive rise of C.J. Stroud, and the physical tone set by players like Joe Mixon. That identity clicked with Chubb. He’d been a fan of Ryans for years, and once he got in the building, everything aligned.

“I came here and saw a bunch of guys who like to work and not talk,” Chubb said. “And I realized I'm a perfect fit.”

As for his health, Chubb isn’t running from the injuries that cost him parts of the past two seasons, he’s owning them. But now, he says, they’re behind him. After a full offseason of training the way he always has — hitting his speed and strength benchmarks — Chubb says he’s feeling the best he has in years. He’s quick to remind people that bouncing back from major injuries, especially the one he suffered in 2023, is rarely a one-year journey. It takes time. He’s given it time.

Then there’s his fit with Mixon. The two aren’t just stylistic complements, they go way back. Same recruiting class, same reputation for running hard, same respect for each other’s games. Chubb remembers dreading matchups against the Bengals in Cleveland, worrying Mixon would take over the game. Now, he sees the opportunity in pairing up. “It’ll be us kinda doing that back-to-back against other defenses,” he said.

He’s also well aware of what C.J. Stroud brings to the table. Chubb watched Stroud nearly dismantle Georgia in the College Football Playoff. Then he saw it again, up close, when Stroud lit up the Browns in the postseason. “He torched us again,” Chubb said. Now, he gets to run alongside him, not against him.

Stroud made a point to welcome Chubb, exchanging numbers and offering support. It may seem like a small thing, but it’s the kind of leadership that helped sell Chubb on the Texans as more than just a good football fit — it’s a good locker room fit, too.

It appears the decision to come to Houston wasn’t part of some master plan. But in retrospect, it makes perfect sense. Chubb is a player with a no-nonsense work ethic, recovering from adversity, looking to write the next chapter of a career that’s far from over. And the Texans? They’re a team on the rise, built around guys who want to do the same.

You can watch the full interview in the video below.

And for those wondering how Joe Mixon feels about Nick Chubb, check out this video from last season. Let's just say he's a fan.


*ChatGPT assisted.

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