As much as fantasy football and highlights emphasize perimeter play, the NFL will always be about the trenches.
One of the ways the Houston Texans can accelerate their rebuild is to use their twin first-round selections on the offensive and defensive lines.
According to Tom Fornelli from CBS Sports’ latest mock draft, the Texans take Alabama tackle Evan Neal with their No. 3 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft.
The Texans still have Laremy Tunsil and now need a QB, but is there one worth taking here when you have more picks to come? Adding a potential franchise tackle makes a lot of sense. Neal can start at right tackle before eventually moving left.
The problem with taking Neal at that spot is what happens to former 2019 first-round pick Tytus Howard. The Texans are done experimenting with Howard as a guard and are content to play him at right tackle. Adding Neal would be a redundant pick and perhaps the Alabama product would have to kick inside.
Houston picked up No. 13 overall with their trade with the Cleveland Browns. The Texans use that selection to add a dominant edge rusher in former Georgia Bulldogs defensive end Travon Walker.
I spent all year asking “but have you seen their other guys” every time somebody brought up Georgia’s Jordan Davis, and Walker is one of those guys. While I love Jordan Davis as much as everybody else, I’d rather have Walker or Devonte Wyatt than Davis if I were drafting a defensive lineman from Georgia. Not the most polished pass-rusher, but strong and quick. For maximum awe, find tape of him dropping into coverage.
The Texans have not used two first-round picks in the same draft since 2004 when they selected cornerback Dunta Robinson at No. 10 overall and defensive end Jason Babin at No. 27 overall.