The Houston Texans need help along the offensive line, but a recent mock draft has the AFC South club selling out to fix tackle.
According to Michael Renner from Pro Football Focus, the Texans use their No. 3 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft to take take Alabama tackle Evan Neal.
The Texans go for the proverbial 10-year starter in Neal, who can pair up with Laremy Tunsil to protect whoever lines up behind center in Houston next season. The 6-foot-7, 350-pounder started at right tackle in 2020, so the transition should be seamless.
The trajectory of the mock draft starts with the Jacksonville Jaguars actually taking Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson with the No. 1 overall pick. Then, the Detroit Lions, who have been consistently linked with Hutchinson in every other mock, go off script from shoring up edge defender and go for Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton.
After the Texans take Neal in the mock, the New York Jets take North Carolina State tackle Ikem Ekwonu. Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux, another prospect who gets connected with Houston in mock drafts, goes No. 5 overall to the New York Giants as part of their trio of first-round selections.
If the Texans indeed take Neal, it may be because they have moved on from Tunsil, not necessarily that they want to find anyone to pair up with him. If Houston were looking to pair up tackles, Tytus Howard would be the one that would be getting the help. The Texans moved around the former 2019 first-round pick between guard and tackle throughout the season, and the Alabama State product found his groove playing left tackle.
Where Houston needs help along the offensive line is at interior positions. The Texans were the worst in the NFL with 3.4 yards per carry and 83.6 rushing yards per game.