Nick Caserio says Texans will ‘have to be creative’ with no 1st, 2nd-round picks

Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio says the team must be creative when it comes to roster construction without a first and second-round pick.

The Houston Texans don’t have a first-round and second-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft.

Blame Bill O’Brien.

One of new general manager Nick Caserio’s jobs is to fix some of O’Brien’s mistakes, including constructing a roster without two premium picks in the top-100. However, the former New England Patriots director of player personnel sees the obstacles as just another challenge that arises each season.

“I think every year has its own set of challenges, and you have to try to just look at the assets you may or may not have in place and try to be as creative as possible at building a team,” Caserio said.” There’s no one set formula how to put a team together. It’s not going to come from one particular area. It’s going to be a combination of things.

“We’re going to have to be creative. We’re going to have to really invest and utilize the resources that we have, and just try to take advantage of the opportunities as they present themselves.”

If there is a bright spot to not having a first or second-round pick in the draft, it is because that was part of the price that needed to be paid to the Miami Dolphins for left tackle Laremy Tunsil, who has earned both of his Pro Bowl selections in the two seasons he has been in Houston. At least protecting quarterback Deshaun Watson’s blindside won’t be one of Caserio’s tasks to complete this offseason.