If Davis Mills is the answer at quarterback, at least for 2022, then the Houston Texans have two approaches to the draft: provide Mills more weapons, or bolster the defense.
According to Luke Easterling of the Draft Wire, who released his latest three-round mock, the Texans claim Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux with the No. 3 overall pick — only after the Jacksonville Jaguars take Aidan Hutchinson No. 1 overall and the Detroit Lions draft Kenny Pickett.
If Pickett’s still on the board, he probably goes here. If not, the Texans will get to steal whichever edge defender doesn’t go No. 1, either Hutchinson or Thibodeaux. Either would be a huge win for Houston, and in this scenario, they land a high-upside player who was the consensus top pick for most of the last two seasons.
After getting a dominant edge rusher in Round 1, Houston then takes another in USC’s Drake Jackson at No. 37 overall in Round 2.
General manager Nick Caserio adds a young running back with Michigan State’s Kenneth Walker at No. 68 overall in Round 3.
Houston uses their other third-round pick, which was acquired in the Bradley Roby trade to the New Orleans Saints, to ironically acquire another former Ohio State cornerback in Sevyn Banks at No. 80 overall (Round 3).