The Houston Texans have the No. 3 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft and various needs across their roster, and apparently offensive line is the most pressing among them.
According to Brad Spielberger from Pro Football Focus, the Texans fix their tackle situation with the selection of North Carolina State tackle Ikem Ekwonu at No. 3 overall.
It’s entirely possible Ekwonu is the first player off the board in this year’s draft, as he has posted three straight 80.0-plus season grades capped off with an elite 91.6 in 2021. Ekwonu’s technique is still a bit raw, as evidenced by issues in pass protection earlier in his college career, but he didn’t allow more than two quarterback pressures in any game in 2021 en route to a career-best 78.1 pass block grade.
Taking a tackle that high, whether Ekwonu or Alabama’s Evan Neal, suggests that the Texans have either traded two-time Pro Bowler Laremy Tunsil by the draft or intend to do so before finalizing their 53-man roster at the end of preseason. There is no logical way Houston takes another tackle, especially when the club is heavily considering keeping former 2019 first-round pick Tytus Howard at a bookend position.
Would the Texans move Ekwonu inside to guard? Even if Houston had Tunsil, Howard, and Ekwonu on the roster after preseason, it would then presume the Texans would look to let Howard walk after his contract expires at the end of the 2022 season.
The mock is nevertheless fascinating as chaos hits the draft right off the top with the Jacksonville Jaguars selecting defensive end Aidan Hutchinson from Michigan. At No. 2 overall, the Detroit Lions go with a quarterback and pick Liberty’s Malik Willis.
Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux goes No. 4 overall to the New York Jets. The New York Giants gets Neal at No. 5. Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton doesn’t go until No. 10 overall to the Jets, who have another selection thanks to their trading of safety Jamal Adams to the Seattle Seahawks.