Texans Daily Mock Draft: Houston Builds 'DeMeco' Defense Early

Let the speculation begin.

Who is going No. 1 overall on April 25? Will the Chicago Bears give Justin Fields another season with Caleb Williams in reach?

Who is trading up for a quarterback to ease tension in the locker room? Which name will shoot up boards following the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis next month?

Welcome to NFL draft season, Houston Texans fans — a new feeling of draft season that is welcomed. Since 2019, Houston has either not had a first-round pick, or found itself picking in the top-five.

Thanks to the Will Anderson Jr. trade, Houston thwarted the Arizona Cardinals' plans of having two top-10 picks. Anderson, along with Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud, tripled the win total from a season ago to send Houston back to the playoffs as AFC South champions for the first time in four years.

Now, it's about building for the future. The Texans have over $57 million in cap space and a slew of marquee names hitting free agency. Depending on the moves made in March will determine the choices made in April.

But hey, it's the offseason, let's have some fun. The Texans have eight picks in this year's draft and could target a handful of plug-and-play starters early on to fill the void lost in the offseason.

Who should be on Houston's radar early? Here's the first Texans Daily mock draft of the offseason.

23. (Via CLE): DE Chop Robinson, Penn State

DeMeco Ryans' first season saw a defensive turnaround, especially against the run. Houston ranked dead last in run support the previous two seasons. One year under Ryans, Houston finished in the top 10, allowing just two running backs to finish with over 100 yards.

Jonathan Greenard and Sheldon Rankins are free agents after impressive campaigns. Both have said they'd like to return, but also know their value on the open market. According to Spotrac, Rankins' projected annual value is expected to be $9.9 million, while Greenard is expected to earn roughly $13.4 million.

Robinson exploded onto the scene once he arrived at Penn State. Last season, the Nittany Lions led all FBS schools in run defense, while Robinson totaled 7.5 tackles for losses and four sacks.

Houston would be betting on traits instead of production, but Robinson would give the franchise two building blocks off the edge with a double-digit sack trajectory on rookie contracts through likely 2028.

59. TE Ja'Tavion Sanders, Texas

What is the asking price for Dalton Schultz? The former Dallas Cowboys tight end was a security blanket at times for Stroud and became an essential part of the passing game. He's going to garner interest on a multi-year deal, but will Caserio be willing to spend the market value?

Sanders was arguably college football's second-most best tight end over the past two seasons behind Brock Bowers. He's a reliable target who can line up anywhere and turn short routes into substantial gains.

His run blocking is still a work in progress, but Sanders can create separation against defensive backs and linebackers to keep drives alive while using his speed to tack on a few more yards after the catch. A trio of Nico Collins, Tank Dell and Sanders could lead to nightmarish scenarios for defensive coordinators on third down plays.

85. LB Payton Wilson, NC State

Blake Cashman and Denzel Perryman are hitting the open market. Cashman is coming off a career season and wants to cash in. Perryman was a hit-and-miss at times from the MIKE position, so Houston could be looking for more consistency.

From a film standpoint, Wilson is the top linebacker prospect in the class. He possesses exceptional closing speed against the run, allowing him to close the gap ahead of offensive linemen. The reigning Bednarik Award Winner also features high instincts that make him a threat to blitz late or add value in coverage.

Injury concern and age — he'll be 24 as a rookie — aside, Wilson is the type of athlete needed in the middle to command Ryans' defense opposite Christian Harris. There's a risk with the selection, but the potential might be too good to pass up.

124. (Via CLE) CB Mike Sainristil, Michigan

Desmond King, Tavierre Thomas, and D'Angelo Ross are all free agents. The Texans could target a safety in free agency and move Jalen Pitre closer to the line of scrimmage. They also could bring in an interchangeable player that offers value across the secondary.

Sainristil does it all and does it everywhere. He's seen reps on the boundary, at safety, and excels when lined up in the nickel. The former Michigan star is at his best in coverage and is fluid when breaking on balls against receivers.

His size won't intimidate receivers, but his play style will. Sainristil plays possessed but doesn't lose the fundamentals when attacking in the open field. At worst, Sainristil offers special teams value and depth as a rookie with starting-caliber upside.

128. DL Mehki Wingo, LSU

One can never have too much depth in the trenches. Wingo started two seasons for the Bayou Bengals and showed his strengths when defending the run. He needs work in the pass-rushing department due to his size, but the traits are to buy into the upside while working under Ryans' technique.

161. WR Joshua Cephus, UTSA

Receiver is a need that Houston likely addresses in free agency. That doesn't mean the Texans won't target a pass-catcher. Cephus is the Roadrunners' all-time leader in catches and receiving yards and is coming off a career season. A 6-3 outside receiver with red zone potential could be a welcomed addition on Day 3.

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236. DB Mark Perry, TCU

In the late rounds, teams target traits. Ryans' 'Swarm' motto leans to the inclination that Houston is looking for physical players who will close the gap quickly. Perry was a tackling machine for the Horned Frogs and improved in coverage with four pass breakups in 2023. He also has impressive speed that would be beneficial on kickoffs and punts.

245. RB Jawhar Jordan, Louisville

With Devin Singletary hitting free agency, does Houston swing big at tailback? Even with the addition of a Saquon Barkley or Josh Jacobs, depth is essential due to their injury track record. Jordan is a "change-of-pace" back that offers the ability to create missed tackles in space. He's also averaged over 10 yards per catch out of the backfield in the final two seasons at Louisville.