Texans Build Around C.J. Stroud In Latest PFF Mock Draft
The Houston Texans won't have a first-round pick in 2024 after trading away the No. 23 pick to the Minnesota Vikings, but they'll still be looking to build around quarterback C.J. Stroud.
In the latest mock draft from Pro Football Focus, Houston added two offensive pieces and a top-level defender as it looks to take over as the face of the AFC South. With the No. 42 pick — acquired by the Vikings, along with a sixth-round pick and 2025 second-round pick — the Texans bolster their secondary with the addition of Iowa State defensive back TJ Tampa.
And No. 59, the Texans add another boundary receiver in Florida State's Keon Coleman. Houston later brought competition to the offensive line by adding All-Big 12 offensive lineman Cooper Beebe from Kansas State.
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Tampa, who last season notched seven pass breakups and two interceptions, should compete alongside former first-round pick Jeff Okudah for the No. 2 corner spot opposite Derek Stingley Jr. The attention, at least for now, is on the offense after Houston added Pro Bowl pass-rusher Danielle Hunter and linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair to DeMeco Ryans' second-year defense.
Coleman has the prototypical size teams look for in an "X" receiver on the boundary. Last season, after transferring from Michigan State to Florida State, the 6-3 pass-catcher was the No. 1 option in the Seminoles' passing game en route to an undefeated regular season.
Coleman, who caught 50 balls for 658 yards, scored a career-high 11 touchdowns. He was thought to be a first-round pick, but a less-than-stellar combine performance led to a dip in his overall status. While in Indianapolis, he posted a receiver-low 4.61 40-time and 10-foot-7 broad jump.
Bebee has played everywhere on the offensive line, including several snaps at center while helping the Wildcats transform into a staple of stability among Big 12 teams. He projects better as a guard over tackle, and anchors an offensive line known for the ability to run the football with ease.
Houston's run game was its Achilles' heel last season, which ranked 23rd nationally. The addition of Joe Mixon should be considered an upgrade, but he'll also have to live up to his three-year, $27 million extension if he expects to be the long-term answer in front of Dameon Pierce or potentially another option.
Stroud, who guided Houston to its first playoff win in four years, often played the savior role despite being the youngest member of the offense. His 4,108 passing yards ranked eighth among quarterbacks, while his 23:5 touchdown-to-interception ratio led the NFL.
Stroud, who won Offensive Rookie of the Year after becoming the fourth rookie passer to throw for over 4,000 yards in their first year, also led the league in passing yards per game (273.9).
"C.J. is a phenomenal player. Obviously, he was the Rookie of the Year, and that ain't by no fluke," Mixon said Thursday during his first press conference. "... With the quarterback we've got in C.J., like I said, he's phenomenal, and I know for a fact he's going to make that next jump, and that's in terms of their playoff wins. But obviously, we take them one game at a time."
The Texans ranked seventh nationally in passing yards behind stellar play from rookie Tank Dell, tight end Dalton Schultz, and breakout receiver Nico Collins. Collins, who became the third receiver in franchise history to total 1,200 receiving yards (1,208) in a single season, also is expected to be the No. 1 target moving forward.
Coleman, who previously served as the No. 2 weapon with the Spartans behind current Green Bay Packers star Jayden Reed, should serve as the reliable secondary option on the outside. Dell, who finished with seven TDs, likely would be relegated to the slot position.
