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You knew when Bill O’Brien said it that the Houston Texans weren’t going to use every one of their seven picks in the 2020 NFL Draft.
“I think that this year with the unique position that we’re in, I truly believe that this is a veteran type of year,” O’Brien told reporters on April 16. “I think it’s going to be really difficult for rookies without offseason practicing on the field and being able to do all the things that you do during that five-week stretch after the draft and then training camp.”
The Texans traded two of their picks away and ended up making a total of five selections. Here are some grades on the Texans’ 2020 draft class.
2nd round (40th overall), DT Ross Blacklock, TCU
The run on offensive linemen, the three best receivers in the class going in the middle of the first round, and clubs placing an emphasis on quarterbacks allowed top level defensive talent to drop. Picking up the Missouri City Elkins’ product at No. 40 overall was great value. It was also sound decision making on O’Brien’s part to stand pat and make a selection to help the team, rather than back out of the pick and add more draft capital. With Blacklock, the Texans are well on their way to, not only replace free agent D.J. Reader, but have a better defensive tackle in a few seasons.
Grade: A