Houston Texans 7-round mock draft lands five future starters

As you’ll see in an article later this week, this will be the most complicated draft to predict in the Nick Caserio era. Balancing needs, positional value, and Caserio’s draft strategy creates a tangled web of conflicting priorities. The Houston Texans’ biggest need, defensive tackle, has never been drafted by Caserio earlier than the sixth round.

Other needs such as running back, tight end, and center, don’t require early draft picks to find starters. While Houston is primed to once again trade out of the first round and acquire more draft capital, I cannot imagine many teams wanting to move into the first round this year. The below seven-round mock draft focuses on sticking and picking rather than predicting Nick Caserio’s moves.

This is the second-to-last seven-round mock draft of the offseason with one more to come the week before the draft kicks off. Round 1, Pick 28: Emmanuel Pregnon, OG – Oregon Pregnon was selected to the Texans in Matt Miller’s mock at pick 59, but Pregnon won’t last nearly that long. This pick is based on three expectations: SEVEN offensive lineman will be selected before the 28th pick.

Kayden McDonald will be off the board by 28. His draft momentum is accelerating too fast. Houston will not want either Peter Woods or Caleb Banks due to their poor pre-draft preparation.