The Houston Texans do not pick for the first time until No. 57 overall in Round 2 of the NFL Draft, but they can still fix pressing needs on the roster.
In the latest three-round mock at NFL.com, the AFC South champions address their pass rush first by taking edge rusher Curtis Weaver, a redshirt junior from Boise State. The 6-3, 265-pounder played outside linebacker his last two seasons at Boise State. Weaver produced 13.5 sacks, 19.5 tackles for loss, 52 tackles, three pass breakups, a forced fumble, and an interception in his 14 games in 2019. If the Texans can get that level of production from Weaver, he could become a decent successor to Whitney Mercilus.
In the third round, the Texans end up with a compensatory pick at 102nd overall. Houston then drafts running back Joshua Kelley, a redshirt senior, from UCLA.
Kelley carried 229 times for 1,060 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Bruins last season, and also caught 11 passes for 71 yards and a touchdown in his 11 games. Going the route of Kelley would indicate the Texans have decided to move on from running backs Lamar Miller and Carlos Hyde, both of whom are 29 years old and also without a contract. In the Bill O’Brien era, the coach has shown the propensity to go with an established, veteran runner atop the running back stable, whether it was Arian Foster, Miller, or Hyde, who came in an Aug. 31 trade to replace Miller, who had torn his ACL in the third preseason game.
Weaver would be a pick that could contribute immediately, and it would help the Texans’ cause if he could. The club finished 2019 tied with the Cincinnati Bengals for the sixth-fewest sacks in the NFL with 31. If Houston can get their pass rush back to a formidable level, it would help maintain their reputation as a stingy defense and also help their own quarterback, Deshaun Watson, have easier games to manage.
