The Houston Texans are seeking to upgrade their pass rush through the draft.
According to Justin Melo of the Draft Wire, the Texans used one of their 45 formal interviews to get a closer look at former Tennessee Volunteers linebacker Darrell Taylor.
What is interesting about the meeting with Taylor is that the Texans already had a meeting with him at the Senior Bowl.
“I like the staff and I think it was a great opportunity for them to get to know me, too,” Taylor said of the Senior Bowl meeting at the NFL Scouting Combine on Feb. 27.
Tennessee EDGE Darrell Taylor had formal meetings at the combine with the #Steelers, #Chiefs and #Texans, among others.
He also spent the day in Nashville yesterday with the #Titans. He met with several members of their staff.#NFLCombine | #NFLDraft
— Justin M (@JustinM_NFL) March 6, 2020
The Texans finished with 31 sacks on the season, tied with the Cincinnati Bengals for the sixth-fewest in the NFL. The only other playoff team in the bottom-10 of sacks was Seattle with 28 collected by the Seahawks’ defense, tied with the Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons for the second-fewest in the league.
Though the Texans wrapped 29-year-old outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus with a long-term deal and 30-year-old defensive end J.J. Watt is the face of the Texans’ pass rush, they have to collect younger talent and possible replacements.
If the Texans were to take Taylor, he would enjoy playing in defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver’s scheme.
“That’s what I see myself doing, playing in the 3-4, I’d love to rush the passer regardless, and I’d love to stop the run so I definitely see myself doing those things and becoming a great player,” said Taylor.
The Texans’ first pick of the draft is at No. 57 overall deep in the second round. If the Texans need to upgrade their pass rush, they will have to wait until that time to do so. The dearth of selections the Texans have in the draft puts an extra premium on their picks. If they feel Taylor can upgrade the pass rush, they will need to get him.