Saturday was it for the 2018 NFL Draft and Texans GM Brian Gaine continued down the path he started in the third round Friday night. He continued to select players of value that will be important to the 2018 roster.

One thing of note: in all the conversations I have heard in the media, conversations I have had with friends and co-workers, and internal thoughts regarding the roster; I don’t think I’ve ever thought about getting players to fit the dual role of depth at their position and special teams impact. From the look of this draft it’s a good thing the GM did.

Not only did he draft players who fit a need at their position, but he brought in valuable bodies to run the gauntlet on special teams. If you really think about it, the third round and beyond should be guys who can contribute immediately in that regard. If the Texans can solidify that aspect, the talent they have on the rest of the roster should improve along with their win/loss record.

They started strong in the fourth round by selecting wide receiver Keke Coutee out of Texas Tech at pick 103. Then they had to sit back and watch through the fifth round, but with the third pick in the sixth round (177) they chose Duke Ejiofor, the defensive end out of Wake Forest. Not to rest on their laurels they went out and took another tight end at pick 211, Jordan Thomas out of Mississippi State. They came right back three picks later (214) with linebacker Peter Kalambayi from Stanford. With their final pick of the draft they chose defensive back Jermaine Kelly from San Jose State.

Five picks, five potential contributors on day three of the draft. Special teams have long been a knock on the Texans overall team play. On more than one occasion field position felt like a vital part of the Texans’ losses. Getting athletic players who can contribute right away on special teams will be a huge upgrade in 2018.

On the down side, the Texans have taken on a lot of project players with respect to their position. Martinas Rankin, taken in the third round, is a project at offensive tackle and might not be ready for that role in his rookie year. Their third round tight end Jordan Akins has a lot of potential as a receiving tight end but his deficiencies at the line of scrimmage will need to be addressed right away. And Jordan Thomas in the sixth round? This guy will need a lot of work to eventually be a contributor at tight end.

Houston took a lot of athletic talent in this draft that fit a lot of needs. They lost 12 games last year because when their starters went down they didn’t have a well-rounded roster to support the replacements. This draft seems to be a direct attack on that issue.

It will be about three years before we know how to grade this class of incoming players but without a first or second round pick; I think the Texans did the best they could. I look forward to seeing these players compete in training camp for roster spots. Despite their position; special teams may be their immediate calling.

All in all, this looks like a solid draft for the Texans. They didn’t make any trades and picked the best value for the team at the position they were at. As a fan you can’t ask for much more. The depth at need positions will be better when training camp arrives and as a whole; special teams should improve.

For information on the first three picks, please check here.