The Houston Texans needed help along the offensive line.
Mock drafts had the Texans going with former NC State guard-tackle Ikem Ekwonu as high as the No. 3 overall pick in Round 1 of the 2022 NFL draft. However, the Texans went with former LSU cornerback Derek Stingley three picks into the draft.
Ekownu went No. 6 overall to the Carolina Panthers. Alabama tackle Evan Neal went the very next pick to the New York Giants. Mississippi State tackle Charles Cross went No. 9 overall to the Seattle Seahawks.
The Texans were still targeting an offensive lineman, even after their trade back that moved them from No. 13 to No. 15. Houston turned in the card for Texas A&M guard Kenyon Green.
According to Luke Easterling from the Draft Wire, the Texans’ selection of Green warranted them a C grade.
The biggest surprise of the first round in terms of player value, the Texans move back a couple of spots before adding a versatile blocker to help improve the trenches on offense. Green can play both guard and tackle, and performed well against SEC competition, but seeing him as a top-15 pick is a bit unexpected. He’s not the best guard prospect in this draft, and might be an improvement over the other tackles still available.
Green solves the question of what happens to Tytus Howard. The former 2019 first-round pick from Alabama State will go back to right tackle and Green will take over one of the guard spots. Houston’s offensive line incontrovertibly upgraded after Thursday night.
The problem is the value of the pick, or even how they got there. If Houston had stayed put at No. 13 overall, they could have taken Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton, who ended up going to the Baltimore Ravens the very next pick. Even at No. 15, Houston could have executed another trade back to pick up more selections.
If Green can get Houston’s run game to an effective level, many will not remember the value disparity involved in his selection.
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