The Houston Texans won’t have a first-round pick for the next two drafts. In 2020, their first shot at acquiring college talent is at 57th overall, deep in the second round.
Based on Pro Football Focus’ top 100 big board, here are five players who could be there at 57th overall when the Texans are finally on the clock.
1. dl ross blacklock, tcu
The 6-4, 305-pound defensive tackle could be an option to add to the defensive line, but more so at defensive end in Houston’s 3-4 given D.J. Reader is 6-3, 347 pounds. Blacklock collected 25 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and nine tackles for loss in 12 games for the Horned Frogs. What the Texans would need to determine before taking Blacklock is how well he can rush the passer, as new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver will need to solve that problem from 2019.
2. lb akeem davis-gaither, appalachian state
The senior linebacker could fill the void Dylan Cole would leave behind if the Texans can’t work out a new contract with their special teams ace. That is partly the problem of taking Davis-Gaither at 57th overall: he would be a special teams player. The rookie wouldn’t be supplanting Benardrick McKinney or Zach Cunningham for an inside linebacker spot. The 6-2, 215-pound linebacker produced 101 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks, an interception, and eight pass breakups in 14 games for Appalachian State.
3. rb d’andre swift, georgia
The Texans would be making a commitment to get younger at running back, and that doesn’t seem to be Bill O’Brien’s philosophy, who has consistently had rushers in their mid to late twenties carry the rock for Houston. If the Texans were to go with Swift, they would be getting a 5-9, 215-pound running back who could carry the load and help out in the passing game. Swift carried 196 times for 1,218 yards and seven touchdowns for Georgia in 2019 while also catching 24 passes for 216 yards and a touchdown. Swift would be paired with Duke Johnson. Taking Swift would depend on what the Texans do with Lamar Miller and Carlos Hyde, who are both set to be free agents.
4. olb josh uche, michigan
The Texans have a problem with their pass rush. They finished tied with the Cincinnati Bengals for sixth-fewest in the NFL with 31. It can be argued that the absence of defensive end J.J. Watt and outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus having to carry the entire load produced a dearth of sacks. However, Father Time will ultimately chop block Watt and Mercilus. Why not prepare for the future? Why not bolster the couple good years with those two with an edge rusher that notched 7.5 sacks, 10.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and a pass breakup in 12 games? Throw in defensive end Charles Omenihu, a fifth-round steal from Texas in 2019, and the Texans could instantly boost their pass rush.
5. olb terrell lewis, alabama
If the Texans don’t like what Uche brings, then they can look to the SEC West and give Alabama’s Terrell Lewis a shot. The 6-5, 252-pound edge rusher collected 6.0 sacks, 11.5 tackles for loss, two pass breakups, and a forced fumble in his 10 games for the Crimson Tide. Houston needs help getting to the quarterback, and it would behoove them to evaluate whether or not Lewis helps achieve that objective.
