The Houston Texans gave away their first-round pick this year as part of a left tackle’s ransom to the Miami Dolphins for Laremy Tunsil. However, NFL.com can see the AFC South champions returning to Round 1 of the 2020 NFL Draft.
In Chad Reuter’s latest mock draft, the Texans make a trade with the San Francisco 49ers to get back into the first round with the 31st overall pick. Houston then uses that selection to address edge rusher.
PROJECTED TRADE WITH 49ERS. Bill O’Brien is not afraid to go after (or send away) players. If he hadn’t broken his fibula in November, Okwara would have received much more first-round talk this year. If the medicals are fine, the Texans will view him as a strong and agile edge rusher for the foreseeable future.
The trade would cost the Texans their second-round pick and their 90th overall pick in the third round. San Francisco would use those picks to take Texas A&M defensive lineman Justin Madubuike and Dayton tight end Justin Trautman.
The Texans finished the 2019 campaign tied with the Cincinnati Bengals for the sixth-fewest sacks in the NFL with 31. Part of that was due to the fact defensive end J.J. Watt spent eight games on injured reserve with a torn pectoral. The other part was the Texans’ pass rush was just not that dominant last season.
Adding Okwara would give Houston another young edge rusher to stack with defensive end Charles Omenihu, who is entering his second season, and outside linebackers Whitney Mercilus, Jacob Martin, and Brennan Scarlett.
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