HOUSTON TEXANS
6-2, 213, Kentucky 6-6, 327, Northern Illinois 6-5, 252, San Diego State 6-5, 280, Texas 5-11, 187, Central Michigan 6-1, 234, Texas A&M
Grade: C
Houston addressed its biggest need in offensive tackle, but Howard and Scharping both come from lower levels of competition, and Howard is awfully raw to take in Round 1. The Texans could have had tackle Jawaan Taylor at No. 23 or tried to trade up slightly to get tackle Andre Dillard instead. They made a few nice picks elsewhere, but the value just seems to be lacking a bit.
Best pick
6-5, State 322, Alabama
Close behind offensive tackle, cornerback was Houston’s next-most glaring need, and the Texans got a good one in Johnson. He is long, has solid speed and is very comfortable in zone, making him a great fit in Houston’s Cover-4-heavy scheme.
Upside pick
A former water polo player, Warring first played football as a senior in high school, so he remains quite raw. He still managed 49 catches for 620 yards and six scores in a rotational role from 201718. He’s huge, fast and can even block a little bit. There’s plenty of untapped potential here. 6-0, 205, Ohio State 6-1, 239, Stanford 5-11, 213, Michigan State 6-2, 198, USC 6-4, 230, Tarleton State 6-4, 252, Mississippi State 6-7, 310, Utah 6-3, 307, Mississippi
Grade: B+
GM Chris Ballard traded down a few times to add picks in the middle rounds, and then capitalized on the volume. The defense got help at all three levels, especially on the edge and in the secondary, and the offense still gained a dynamite playmaker in Campbell.
Best pick
Several teams had Ya-Sin graded as their top cornerback, and he could have gone in Round 1. He has quality tools, with good size and speed, and is very instinctive. He will fit well in coordinator Matt Eberflus’ zone scheme, which implemented more wrinkles late in 2018.
Upside pick
Productive (90 catches, 1,063 yards, 12 TDs) despite not running an extensive route tree at Ohio State, Campbell impressed with his routes at the combine. His 4.31 speed could be deadly on turf.