Texans Fortify Defense in 33rd Team's Three-Round Mock Draft
The Houston Texans will enter the NFL Scouting Combine scouring through prospects that may be the next star in the pursuit of a championship.
Of course, that means chasing down the Kansas City Chiefs, something that requires adding talent with serious upside. Can Houston do that in this year’s NFL Draft?
In the 33rd Team’s latest mock draft, general manager Nick Caserio takes three stabs at talents who could shrink the margins between the Texans and the elite competitors in the AFC.
Nov 18, 2023; Ames, Iowa, USA; Texas Longhorns defensive lineman Byron Murphy II (90) celebrates sacking the Iowa State Cyclones quarterback during the game at Jack Trice Stadium.
Mandatory Credit: Aaron E. Martinez-USA TODAY Sports
With the 23rd pick, Houston took a hometown talent. Texas Longhorns defensive tackle Byron Murphy II is a plug-and-play replacement for defensive tackle Sheldon Rankings.
Simply put, he’s an upgrade and adds upside to head coach DeMeco Ryans’ defense.
“Murphy is a high-ceiling interior defensive lineman who excels at stopping the run and rushing the passer,” Connor Livesay wrote. “Murphy has NFL-ready size, strength and athleticism and will be a difference-maker wherever he ends up.”
Murphy is all but a lock for the first round and would add pass-rush synergy to a unit that already boasts a superstar edge rusher. Pair Will Anderson Jr. and a starting edge (like bringing back Jonathan Greenard) with a legitimate force up the middle makes it easy to see each member of the defensive line’s production improvement. There’s only so much help a team can offer in pass protection.
At No. 59, the Texans pivot to the other side of the line of scrimmage. Just three picks after Washington teammate Ja’Lynn Polk was taken off the board, they took receiver Jalen McMillan.
McMillan, like Polk, played in the shadow of future first-round pick Rome Odunze but profiles as an ancillary weapon. He may not step in and be the dynamic threat Tank Dell is or as productive as Nico Collins. However, he has more juice than veteran Robert Woods and does enough to threaten vertically, allowing Collins to stray from the boundary.
Adding upside to a Houston offense is imperative given the quarterbacks lying on the path to a deep playoff run. The gap between McMillan and Woods/Noah Brown may not be massive, but is amplified by the margins the Texans are operating in.
Houston returned to its front seven with the 85th pick, landing Ohio State linebacker Tommy Eichenberg.
Breakout linebacker Blake Cashman may be lost to free agency, and while Christian Harris played well in the playoffs, there’s room for improvement at the defense’s second level.
Eichenberg might not be a full-time starter in Ryans’ defense, but few in this class are better at triggering downhill and fitting the run. He’s at his best here, rather than covering crossers – an issue that may sink his stock – but there’s value in a between-the-tackles, hard-hitting linebacker with the willingness to get his hands dirty.
