ROUND 1, PICK NO. 23: ERIK MCCOY, IOL, TEXAS A&M
We have yet to enter into free agency, so perhaps the emphasis on this might change a little bit, but right now the Houston Texans need to center their entire draft strategy around fixing their offensive line. Injuries aside, their line play was not good enough in 2018, especially considering this needs to be the time they are developing Deshaun Watson as their young franchise quarterback.
McCoy had a great Senior Bowl week that put him on the map. He followed that up with one of the best combine performances for an interior offensive lineman. He definitely has a chance to sneak into the first round, especially to a needy team like the Texans.
ROUND 2, PICK NO. 54: YODNY CAJUSTE, OT, WVU
It’s not just on the interior where the Texans need to get better along the offensive line; the tackle play certainly could use a boost as well. Cajuste didn’t do much at the Combine, but he is a powerful offensive lineman who can play left tackle as his natural position.
ROUND 2, PICK NO. 55: KALEB MCGARY, OT, WASHINGTON
You think I’d pass up on a third offensive lineman with a good ceiling for the Texans if I had the chance? No way. That should tell you how much I think offensive line is a need for Houston.
As we all know, injuries happen, and you need guys to be able to come in and do their role to a level of competence. McGary, where he has some work to do as an offensive tackle, could be a potential starter earlier on or a great fill-in player in the meantime.
ROUND 3, PICK NO. 66: AMANI HOOKER, S, IOWA
The Texans might be looking for more than one starting defensive back in the upcoming draft, if they were to lose out on Tyrann Mathieu in free agency. If they do, drafting a player like Hooker to go into their deep safety rotation could play to their advantage. Hooker had a great Combine weekend with well above average athletic numbers in nearly every category. His tape also shows a good understanding of zone coverage roles.
ROUND 5, PICK NO. 161: MARK FIELDS, CB, CLEMSON
Another player who made some money for himself on Combine weekend was Clemson cornerback Mark Fields. Fields doesn’t get the notoriety that his teammate Trayvon Mullen does, but after scoring high in both the speed and strength tests at the Combine, he makes sense as a guy you take later in the draft and try to develop.
ROUND 6, PICK NO. 195: MIKE WEBER, RB, OHIO STATE
This running back class had a rough weekend at the Combine, but one player that stood out was Ohio State’s Mike Weber -- no player from the Buckeyes is slow, let’s just make that a universally understood right now.
The Texans already talked about how they are comfortable with their running back room, but Weber is similar stylistically to starter Lamar Miller, that could make him a preferred backup.
ROUND 7, PICK NO. 222: D’COTA DIXON, S, WISCONSIN
When Dixon ran a 4.81 in the 40-yard dash, it confirmed that he’s just not enough of an athlete to be a starter at the next level. But Dixon does so many other things well. He’s a smart player, he’s a determined player, he’s great in the locker room and he’ll give his all with a high motor to play special teams. You need guys like Dixon to build out the back end of your roster.