Expect O’Brien to think defense in early rounds
If Bill O’Brien is looking for an interior pass rusher in the second round of the draft, he’s in good shape after the way the first round transpired.
The Texans have the eighth pick in the second round, 40th overall, the draft choice acquired from Arizona in the trade for receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
The Texans’ three primary needs are on defense to improve their pass rush and coverage. There should be a lot of talent available when the Texans pick Friday night in the second and
third rounds.
Ideally, a defensive lineman would be good enough to play end in the Texans’ three-man front and move inside to tackle in passing situations.
If the priority is to take an interior defensive lineman who can get penetration and pressure the quarterback, the Texans should have options whether O’Brien stays at 40 or trades up or down.
The only defensive tackles taken in the first round were the two highest-rated prospects — Auburn’s Derrick Brown (Carolina) and South Carolina’s Javon Kinlaw (San Francisco). They were taken with the seventh and 14th picks.
After Brown and Kinlaw, the five leading candidates who could fit the Texans’ defensive line need are TCU’s Ross Blacklock, Auburn’s Marlon Davidson, Oklahoma’s Neville Gallimore, Missouri’s Jordan Elliott and Texas A&M’s Justin Madubuike. All are available going into the second round.
The Texans also have needs at safety and cornerback. They would like to get a safety to eventually pair with Justin Reid, a third-round pick in 2018 who’s been terrific. The Texans like for their safeties to be interchangeable.
No safety was drafted in the first round. Alabama’s Xavier McKinney was the top-rated safety going into the draft, and a team will get a steal in the second round if they select him.
Other safeties available are LSU’s Grant Delpit, Minnesota’s Antoine Winfield Jr., California’s Ashytn Davis, Lenoir-Rhyne’s Kyle Dugger, Utah’s Terrell Burgess and Southern Illinois’ Jeremy Chinn.
Six cornerbacks were drafted in the first round, but two of the highestrated — Alabama’s Trevon
Diggs and LSU’s Kristian Fulton — were passed up and should go high in the second round.
Other corners who could entice O’Brien on Friday are Utah’s Jaylon Johnson, Ohio State’s Troy Pride Jr. and Virginia’s Bryce Hall.
Without a first-round pick because of last year’s trade with Miami for offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil and receiver Kenny Stills, the Texans had two options on the first night of the draft — trade into the first round or be spectators.
As part of their due diligence, Bill O’Brien and executive vice president of football operations Jack Easterby talked to teams about moving up and moving down.
O’Brien, who has final say on personnel decisions, entered the draft with an eye on improving the defense. It would take a huge drop by an offensive player they had a first-round grade on to select a prospect on that side of the ball Friday.
Despite trading Hopkins, the Texans still have a lot of firepower on offense, especially with quarterback Deshaun Watson and the passing game.
Receivers Will Fuller, Kenny Stills, Brandin Cooks and Randall Cobb give them a lot of speed on the outside and inside. Tight ends Darren Fells and Jordan Akins are dangerous on short and intermediate routes. Running backs David Johnson and Duke Johnson are outstanding receivers who can line up in the slot or outside.
Improvement on defense must start up front. Ends J.J. Watt and Charles Omenihu and outside linebackers Whitney Mercilus, Brennan Scarlett, Jacob Martin and Duke Ejiofor give the Texans candidates to improve the rush from the outside.
With Jadeveon Clowney traded to Seattle last year and Watt missing eight regular-season games because of a torn pectoral muscle, the Texans had 31 sacks, down from 43 in 2019. O’Brien knows improving the pass rush is paramount.
In every draft, there’s always emphasis on outside rushers. Because quarterbacks like to take a quick drop and get rid of the ball fast, finding inside rushers is also essential to harassing the passer.
As much as the Texans’ pass coverage needs to improve, it starts with the front seven. Expect both areas to be bolstered with prospects in the next three rounds.