It is no secret that Houston Texans general manager Brian Gaine will be targeting offensive linemen. While the Texans have cobbled together answers at left tackle with a competition between Julién Davenport and Martinas Rankin and Seantrel Henderson at right, there are still questions at the offensive line bookends.
Enter Dalton Risner. The former Kansas State Wildcat would be the perfect answer to add depth to the tackle positions while also being a starter for years to come.
If Gaine does indeed select Risner he should be a day one starter. The former Kansas State tackle is not a lengthy tackle but is a power brute and does not mind moving people left or right.
Drafting Risner also adds depth to a very lackluster offensive line. The Texans truly do need all the help they can get, and if Risner is available at 23 Gaine has to pull the trigger. Protecting your franchise quarterback in Deshaun Watson should be a top priority.
Risner is also a character guy who knows that he will be coming into a veteran offensive line room and having to earn the respect of his new teammates before they endow him with any leadership. While it would be Risner’s dream to play for the Denver Broncos, it would be most Texans fans’ dream to have Risner protect Watson and lower that disastrous 62-sack number from 2018 that was the absolute worst in the NFL.
With Round 1 of the draft to kickoff April 25, it’s going to be interesting to see exactly what second-year GM Gaine will do, especially since this will be the first time since taking over for Rick Smith that he will have a first round pick.
