The 2020 NFL Draft will be the seventh draft for coach Bill O’Brien, and his first as the full-time general manager for the Houston Texans.
Houston has managed to find impactful talent with their first selections to start off a draft class. There have been a couple of underachievers, but overall, the Texans have hit on their first available pick. Here is a ranking of all six initial selections from the O’Brien era.
6. CB Kevin Johnson, 1st round of 2015
The Texans were looking for a complement and possible replacement for cornerback Johnathan Joseph, but injuries compromised the former Wake Forest product’s time in Houston. Johnson had a promising rookie season where he started in 10 of his 16 games played, recording 54 tackles, three tackles for loss, nine pass breakups, and an interception. However, Johnson played 19 games over the next three seasons. Houston picked up his fifth-year option for 2019, but eventually cut him to save salary cap space.
5. G/T Tytus Howard, 1st round of 2019
If this list were constructed even two to three years in the future, it is possible that Howard would be higher on the list. The former Alabama State tackle made an immediate impact in his eight games for the Texans. Houston was finally able to open up the run game for Carlos Hyde, and improve the passing game by protecting quarterback Deshaun Watson. Howard broke his left hand late in preseason and missed Week 1, and an MCL sprain in Week 6 forced him to miss a few games before ultimately landing him on injured reserve in Week 13. Nonetheless, the state of the offensive line appears to be on the come with Howard.
4. WR Will Fuller, 1st round of 2016
Fuller was supposed to be the speedy complement to DeAndre Hopkins, and he has been in the 42 games he has played. The problem is he has missed 22 games, over a full season’s worth. When Fuller is on the field, he takes the top off of defenses, and having a capable quarterback in Deshaun Watson lobbing him deep passes makes the Texans’ passing game formidable. Fuller hasn’t played 14 games in a season since his rookie year. If he can do that in 2020, presuming Houston keeps him, the Texans would be one of the top-3 best teams in the AFC.
3. S Justin Reid, 3rd round of 2018
The Texans didn’t gave a first-round or second-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft as part of their trade-up for quarterback Deshaun Watson in 2017. However, Reid has played as well as a first-round pick. Already a leader of the secondary in just his second year, the Texans found a capable defensive back from Stanford at 68th overall. Whether that is due to Reid’s natural skill or soaking up the knowledge from older brother Eric Reid, the Texans have been the beneficiaries.
2. DE/OLB Jadeveon Clowney, 1st round of 2014
The Texans already had an NFL Defensive Player of the Year on the roster in defensive end J.J. Watt. Why not add another freakish edge defender opposite of him? Clowney was selected for three straight Pro Bowls from 2016-18, but his numbers never reflected what they should for a No. 1 overall pick. The former South Carolina Gamecock never produced a 10.0-plus sack season, and his offsides penalties at times were costly. Nonetheless, he did step up during Watt’s 2016-17 seasons when he only played eight total games due to injury. Clowney would still be considered No. 2 on the list because No. 1 is far and away deserving of the top spot.
1. QB Deshaun Watson, 1st round of 2017
The Texans were in a quarterback purgatory after Matt Schaub collapsed in 2013 and Bill O’Brien took over as coach in 2014. For the first three seasons, the Texans were posting consecutive 9-7 records with the likes of Ryan Fitzpatrick, Ryan Mallett, Case Keenum, Brian Hoyer, T.J. Yates, Brandon Weeden, Brock Osweiler, and Tom Savage under center. Watson took over in 2017, and though the team was 3-4, there was optimism until he tore his ACL on Nov. 2. The injury didn’t hold the former Clemson Tiger back, and he has collected two straight Pro Bowls and led Houston to consecutive AFC South titles. The Texans finally have their franchise quarterback under center and can use their salary cap space to acquire playmaking veterans and draft picks to add younger talent.
.jpg?w=600)
