Wednesday, April 13, 2022

Houston Texans 2022 NFL Mock Draft Roundup 7.0

Throughout the year and leading up to the 2022 NFL Draft, we will update our Houston Texans Mock Draft Roundup showing picks for the Houston Texans from several prominent sites and draft analysts.

The following are picks in recent mock drafts for the Texans:

ESPN - Mel Kiper (4/13)

3. Travon Walker, EDGE, Georgia

I don't think anyone outside the organization really knows what the Texans will do in Round 1. For this mock, I'm trying to think long-term with Houston, which just has to add some talent. Walker is a bit of risk in the top 10; NFL teams are betting that his physical tools will win out over his subpar college production (9.5 sacks in three seasons). Coaches want to try to maximize that upside. There is a lot of buzz on Walker going early.

13. Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State

I'm going to stick to my board here, and since my top-11 prospects have all been picked (plus Malik Willis), I'll move on to No. 12. Cross is a superb pass-blocker who needs some refinement in the run game -- because he just didn't get the reps to do so while playing for Mike Leach. Ultimately, if the Texans are going to give Davis Mills the 2022 season to prove he's their guy at quarterback, Mills needs a better right tackle. That could be Cross.

The Draft Network - Keith Sanchez (4/13)

3. Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon

Kayvon Thibodeaux has been one of the more scrutinized players in this draft and many are expecting his draft position to drop significantly because of that. But I believe the talent is too much for Lovie Smith, a defensive-minded coach, to pass up.

Smith is known as a player's coach, so I feel Smith will be able to work out any issue or concern and get the best out of Thibodeaux. Thibodeaux should reach his full potential as a guy who can become a Pro Bowl-level player.

13. Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa

The Texans need an identity and a presence on the offensive side of the ball, and I believe that Trevor Penning will bring exactly that to this team. Penning is a true enforcer in the run game and a great athlete.

Penning is a plug-and-play starter. If the Texans chose to help relieve some pressure off of their second-year quarterback Davis Mills by running the ball, I believe that Penning is the exact player to help facilitate that effort.

NFL.com - Lance Zierlein (4/12)

3. Evan Neal, OT, Alabama

Neal is big (6-foot-7, 350 pounds), athletic and technically sound. He can play both tackle or guard spots and would be the eventual starting left tackle if Laremy Tunsil were to move on.

13. Devonte Wyatt, IDL, Georgia

This could be a trade-in spot for a team looking to add QB. But if the Texans stand pat here, they could roll with Wyatt, a three-down talent with gap-winning quickness who has the run-stopping ability to play along with Maliek Collins.

CBS Sports - Will Brinson (4/12)

3. Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon

This pick could showcase the Texans' future intentions with Laremy Tunsil, although Neal/Ikwonu could easily play the right side of the line.

13. Jordan Davis, IDL, Georgia

Sure is easy to make the comparison between Vince Wilfork with the Patriots and Jordan Davis if he lands here with the. Texans. Adding Davis and a pass rusher would immediately make the Texans a much better team just by virtue of their defensive line improvements.

PFF - Anthony Treash (4/11)

3. Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU

The LSU corner could well be the best all-around athlete in this class. At The Opening showcase event in high school, the 6-foot-1, 195-pound cornerback posted a 4.3-second 40-yard dash and a 42.0-inch vertical -- jaw-dropping numbers for a high school athlete.

Stingley produced the best true freshman season of the PFF College era in 2019 when he posted a 91.7 PFF grade and recorded 21 combined interceptions and pass breakups, all while allowing a catch on just 38% of his targets. He is a top-five talent and the kind of leader Lovie Smith would love to have on his defense.

13. Jermaine Johnson, EDGE, Florida State

Johnson was the best player on the field for most of the Senior Bowl practices, impressing scouts so much that he opted out of the final day of practice and the game itself.

The 6-foot-4, 259-pound edge defender has over 34-inch arms and the tools to put them into action. He produced multiple pressures in every game he played for Florida State last season and ended the campaign with an 81.0 PFF grade.

ESPN - Jordan Reid (4/11)

3. Evan Neal, OT, Alabama

With arguably the worst roster in the NFL right now, the Texans are in a position to accumulate as much talent at premium positions as possible. Neal is a high-floor player who can play immediately and bolster an offensive line that already includes Laremy Tunsil and Tytus Howard.

13. Jordan Davis, IDL, Georgia

At 6-foot-6, 341 pounds, Davis is a wide-bodied interior defender with unheard-of physical tools at that size. I projected offensive tackle Evan Neal to Houston with its first pick, and general manager Nick Caserio could keep building up the trenches by selecting Davis.

Three-down value will be a big factor for Davis' draft range, but he has the potential to up his production. His presence impacts the 10 other players on the field with him, even if it doesn't always show up in the box score.

CBS Sports - Ryan Wilson (4/11)

3. Evan Neal, OT, Alabama

The QB job now belongs to Davis Mills, and adding O-line depth would make the most sense here, even with some high-quality edge rushers still on the board. Neal could very easily be OT1 in this class and he's a safe pick here at No. 3.

13. Drake London, WR, USC

Every receiver on the Texans' roster except Nico Collins has just one year left on their deal. The team got an offensive lineman with the No. 3 pick and here they get Davis Mills a downfield weapon. At 6-foot-5, London was a high-point-catch machine before his '21 season ended prematurely with an ankle injury. He reminds us some of his former teammate at USC, Michael Pittman, and London has all the tools to be WR1.

MORE TEAMS: All NFL Team Mock Draft Roundups

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