2024 Houston Texans 7-round mock draft Putting final touches on a contende
The have been one of the NFL's most aggre sive teams this offseason.They acquired star receiver and former Pro Bowl running back via trades. They made big free-agent investments in edge rusher , defensive lineman and linebacker . On paper, they've a sembled a team that's poised to be one of the AFC's elite.So what could be in store come draft time?Houston doesn't have a first-round pick after trading No. 23 overall in a deal with the last month, but the Texans do have three selections on Day 2: Nos. 42, 59 and 86. They also have two picks in the fourth, sixth and seventh rounds.ADVERTISEMENT Here is FOX Sports' seven-round mock draft for Houston:Round 2, No. 42 overall (via the Minnesota Vikings): Kamari La siter, CB, GeorgiaMeasurables: 5-foot-11, 186 pounds2023 stats (14 games): 8 PBUs, 37 tackles (3.5 for lo s), 0.5 sacks, who remains a free agent, isn't expecting to be back. That leaves a hole at starting cornerback alongside . The Texans have made low-risk, high-upside moves at the position in adding former top-10 picks and on one-year deals, but they must be thinking long-term at the position.La siter, an All-SEC second-team selection in 2023, showed his mettle against some of college football's best receivers. He allowed just a 38.5% completion rate in coverage last season, No. 1 in the SEC and fourth-best among FBS cornerbacks who played at least 299 coverage snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.Joel Klatts top 50 players in 2024 NFL Draft Rob Rang's top 100 prospect rankings | Joel Klatt's top Max Strus Jersey 50 prospect rankings | Top 10 QB prospects | Top 10 RB prospects | Top 10 WR prospects | Top 10 TE prospects | Top 10 OT prospects | Top 10 IOL prospects | Top 10 Edge prospects | Top 10 DT prospects | Joel Klatt's mock draftRound 2, No. 59 overall: T'Vondre Sweat, DT, TexasMeasurables: 6-foot-4, 366 pounds2023 stats (14 games): 45 tackles (8 for lo s), 2 sacks, 7 QB hits, 4 PBUs, 1 blocked kick (special teams)Despite the heavy investment upfront in free agency (Hunter, Autry), it would be shocking to see the Texans leave Day 2 of the draft without taking a defensive lineman. They need a starting-caliber defensive tackle after trading to the . The most significant addition to the spot has been ex- , who signed a one-year, $5.1 million deal in free agency.The Texans could have a prime opportunity to keep Sweat, viewed as one of the top defensive tackles in this year's cla s, in state. His recent arrest in Austin on a charge of suspicion of driving while intoxicated may fuel character concerns, dropping his stock. Houston must do its homework to make sure Sweat is a culture fit, but the franchise has strong leadership in coach DeMeco Ryans and several veterans on the defensive line.The former Longhorns star would be a tough prospect to pa s on if he's available in the 50s. He was the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and Outland Trophy winner, which is awarded to the nation's top interior lineman. At 366 pounds, he projects to be difficult for opposing offensive linemen to move, clearing up space and playmaking opportunities for his teammates.Round 3, No. 86 overall (via the Philadelphia Eagles): Ben Sinnott, TE, Kansas StateMeasurables: 6-foot-4, 250 pounds2023 stats (12 games): 49 catches for 676 yards and 6 TDsThe Texans re-signed starting tight end on a three-year deal, but they need depth behind him. Houston's TE2, , is set to hit free agency after the 2024 season.Sinnott had the fourth-highest athletic score among all tight ends who participated in the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine. The first-team All-Big 12 selection and third-team AP All-American would bring more pa s-catching value to a -led offense. He also has blocking upside as he played some fullback for Kansas State.Ben Sinnott scores a 15-yard TD vs. Iowa State Round 4, No. 123 overall (via the Cleveland Browns): Christian Jones, OT, TexasMeasurables: 6-foot-5, 305 pounds2023 stats (13 games): Starting all 13 games at right tackleExpect the Texans to dip into what's considered one of the deepest offensive tackle cla ses in years. Their No. 3 tackle, , departed in free agency to sign with the . Fant started 13 games for Houston last season.Jones, an honorable mention All-Big 12 in back-to-back seasons, makes sense as a potential replacement. He started 35 games at right tackle and 13 games at left tackle in his college career. Rob Rang: 2024 NFL Draft OT rankings: Scouting the best tackle cla s in 20-plus years Round 4, No. 127 overall: Dominique Hampton, S, WashingtonMeasurables: 6-foot-2, 215 pounds2023 stats (15 games): 109 tackles, 2 INTs, 9 PBUsThe Texans need a backup safety who could potentially grow into a starter, competing with free-agent acquisition .Veteran , who's entering a contract year, mi sed seven games last season due to injury, and had an up-and-down second season. That contributed to Houston's inconsistency in the back end. In 2023, the team allowed 60 explosive receptions (20-plus yards), sixth-most in the league, according to Sportradar.An honorable mention in the Pac-12 last season, Hampton led Washington in tackles. He has good length and speed for a safety (ran a 4.45-second 40 at his pro day), and built a reputation as an explosive striker as a tackler in college.Round 6, No. 188 overall (via the Minnesota Vikings): Marist Liufau, LB, Notre DameMeasurables: 6-foot-2, 234 pounds2023 stats (12 games): 44 tackles (6 for lo s), 3 sacks, 2 PBUs, 1 FF, FRThe top of the Texans' linebacker room is set (Al-Shaair, , ), but Houston could use some depth and special teams value at this point in the draft.A two-year starter at Notre Dame, Liufau has a burst and violence to his game that should make him valuable on Houston's high-ranked special teams unit as he develops on defense.Biggest NFL Draft sleepers and reachers Round 6, No. 189 overall (via the Buffalo Bills): Keith Randolph Jr., DT, IllinoisMeasurables: 6-foot-3, 296 pounds2023 stats (10 games): 49 tackles (4 for lo s), 1.5 sacks, 4 QB hits, 1 PBUAt Illinois, Randolph was top five in the FBS in tackles per game among defensive tackles. He would add more depth on the defensive line, which the Texans have made a priority this offseason.Round 7, No. 238 overall (via the New Orleans Saints): Jawhar Jordan, RB, Louisville Measurables: 5-foot-9, 193 pounds2023 stats (13 games): 181 carries for 1,128 yards and 13 TDsHouston's running back room is led by Mixon and , but Jordan could be a change-of-pace option, being that he's smaller than those two. He led the ACC with 6.2 yards per carry and brings value as a kick returner.TRADE! The Texans swap their final pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, No. 247, to the 49ers for a 2025 sixth-round pick.Ben Arthur is the AFC South reporter for FOX Sports. He previously worked for The Tenne sean/USA TODAY Network, where he was the Titans beat writer for a year and a half. He covered theSeattle Seahawksfor SeattlePI.com for three seasons (2018-20) prior to moving to Tenne see. You can follow Ben on Twitter at@benyarthur. Lauri Markkanen Jersey
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