Building The Defense Through All Three Levels

Texans Mock Draft Scenario – Three Picks on Night One

The Texans absolutely want to give Davis Mills every chance of realising his potential but this draft consists of depth at the interior offensive-line & a basic analysis of the draft show skill players at – tail-back and wide-receiver – can be found in abundance after the first round.

Across the next three drafts Caserio needs to extract maximum value for the Texans, if they are to build a roster that has talent collectively, developing together with continuity, an imperative for a performing defensive unit. The ability to stack talented players will be required to help balance that over-indexed turnover ratio achieved in 2021, if they are to avoid significant regression.

2022 NFL Draft – Round 1 Mock

• 1st Overall – Jacksonville Jaguars – Aiden Hutchison – Edge – Michigan
• 2nd Overall – New York Jets (Trade) – Kayvon Thibodeaux – Edge – Oregon

Hamilton is a unique prospect who can impact the defense on any play. His range, transitional, down-hill quickness, play recognition and football IQ are a rare blend. His wonky 40 times don’t translate to tape, his playing speed & fluidity is clear to see. Creating an identity is vital for the Texans. Does he fit the traditional tampa-2 system? Not necessarily, but not finding a role for a unicorn of a player, would say more about the coaching staff than it would the player. Hamilton is a ‘cannot pass-up’ prospect who is albeit a Rolls-Royce type-pick but any team would be lucky to have this future star, who could play 4 positions across the defense.

• 4th Overall – Detroit Lions – Sauce Gardner – Cornerback – Cincinnati
• 5th Overall – New York Giants – Ekem Ikwonu – Offensive Tackle – North Carolina State
• 6th Overall – Carolina Panthers – Evan Neal – Offensive Tackle – Alabama
• 7th Overall – New York Giants – Jermaine Johnson III – Edge – Florida State
• 8th Overall – Atlanta Falcons – Travon Walker – Edge – Georgia
• 9th Overall – Seattle Seahawks – Malik Willis – Quarterback – Liberty
• 10th Overall – New York Jets – Garrett Wilson – Wide Receiver – Ohio State
• 11th Overall – Washington Commanders – Trent McDuffie – Cornerback – Washington St.
• 12th Overall – Minnesota Vikings – Derek Stingley Jr – Cornerback – LSU

It would be remiss to disregard the Texans affixation on culture fits & Karlaftis checks those boxes. He’s relatively young in football-terms but his flashes in passing downs & against the run, give evaluators enough to be excited about that his best football lies ahead. His size at 266lbs/6’4″ also gives interior rush possibilities. He already fits the mold of a NFL lineman, it would be up to Jacque Cesaire &the defensive coaching staff to refine his processing of his hand-fighting technique to complement the already refined relentless motor/athleticism. Karlaftis, for his frame, can bend the edge surprisingly well but for every Wisconsin or Notre Dame tape, there is a Michigan State or Ohio State sprinkled in there. He posses a risk but also a huge potential pay-off type prospect, considering who’s come off the board at this stage.

• 14th Overall – Buffalo Bills – Kaiir Elam – Cornerback – Florida
• 15th Overall – Philadelphia Eagles – Devonte Wyatt – Defensive Tackle – Georgia
• 16th Overall – Philadelphia Eagles – Devin Lloyd – Linebacker – Utah
• 17th Overall – L.A. Chargers – Charles Cross – Offensive Tackle -Mississippi State
• 18th Overall – New Orleans – Trevor Penning – Offensive Tackle – Northern Iowa
• 19th Overall – Philadelphia Eagles – Andrew Booth – Cornerback – Clemson
• 20th Overall – Pittsburgh Steelers – Kenny Pickett – Quarterback – Pittsburgh
• 21st Overall – Kansas City Chiefs (Trade) – Jameson Williams – Wide Receivers – Alabama
• 22nd Overall – Green Bay Packers – Drake London – Wide Receiver – USC
• 23rd Overall – Arizona Cardinals – Jordan Davis – Defensive Tackle – Georgia
• 24th Overall – Dallas Cowboys – Treylon Burks – Wide Receivers – Arkansas
• 25th Overall – Baltimore Ravens (Trade)- Tyler Linderbaum – Guard/Centre – Iowa
• 26th Overall – Tennessee Titans – Chris Olave – Wide Receiver – Ohio State
• 27th Overall – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Zion Johnson – Guard – Boston College
• 28th Overall – Green Bay Packers – Arnold Ebiketie – Edge – Penn State
• 29th Overall – Kansas City – Cameron Thomas – Edge – San Diego State
• 30th Overall – New York Giants (Trade) – Kenyon Green – Guard/Tackle – Texas A&M
  

The Texans Trade the 37th Overall Pick, 107th Overall Pick, 183rd Pick & 208th Pick
For Cincinnati’s 31st Overall Pick & 136th Overall Pick

Trading up in the draft, was exhibited by Caserio last year, whilst Dean is a top 15-talent, he feasibly falls due to being undersized and his positional value. So trading back into the 1st round, to get the 5th year option on a player who slips is a viable option. Dean was the leader of that Georgia defense who can stay on the field for all three-downs. Added to his explosive play ability to attack the ball carrier, he can cover tight-ends and running backs on passing downs. A true day-1 MIKE-linebacker who could take a commanding role in the Texans defense very early on.

• 32nd Overall – Detroit Lions – David Ojabo – Edge – Michigan

The lack of faces to dawn the season tickets books was a question that was asked of Caserio, post the Watson trade. Picking up three day-one starters with a full season to grow before the team becomes competitive again, would certainly be a start to laying the foundations of a defensive unit in need of talent.

Credit to the UK NFL Fans Mock Draft who providing the picks, follow the full 7-rounds of the draft on Twitter:

With the 31st Overall Pick in the @UKFansMockDraft the #Texans select Nakobe Dean – Linebacker – Georgia pic.twitter.com/GAktW7p79z

— Turn Up For Watt? Podcast (@PodcastTexans) March 30, 2022