If the Houston Texans only win four games in a 17-game schedule, as they are projected to do in 2021, they should assuredly land the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft.
With that premium selection also comes the trickle-down for Houston to take first-round talent that may have fallen early in the second round.
One player from the collegiate ranks the Texans should monitor throughout the 2021 season is Texas A&M defensive end DeMarvin Leal. The Converse Judson High School product is entering his junior year with the Aggies, and is the third-ranked returning edge defender going in 2021, according to Pro Football Focus.
Leal has a lot of power with his 6-foot-4, 290-pound frame, and it showed routinely this past season. He notched an 80.0-plus grade as both a run defender and a pass rusher in 2020, something only four other Power Five edge defenders accomplished this past year. Leal displayed improved hand usage and a deadly push-pull. He flashed exactly that in his performance against Florida, earning a career-high PFF grade.
Texas A&M's DeMarvin Leal is going to light it up in 2021 and beyond.
The former 5⭐️ was 1 of 5 Power Five edge defenders with a grade above 80.0 vs the run and as a pass-rusher in 2020. A lot of power, twitchy for a man his size and good hand usage with a deadly push-pull. pic.twitter.com/k6qvaL5qlT
— Anthony Treash (@PFF_Anthony) February 16, 2021
Leal was a consistent performer in 2020 with a single-game PFF grade north of 70.0 in nine of his 10 outings, which led to an 88.3 PFF grade for the season. He may be 290 pounds, but he sure doesn’t play like it with his athleticism and twitch. Needless to say, Leal is clearly living up to his five-star recruiting status.
If the Texans are still running the Tampa-2 scheme with a 4-3 base under Lovie Smith in 2022, they will need a down lineman that get get after the passer and also play the run. Leal would have the ability to upgrade the defensive end position beyond what the Texans are going to get in 2021 out of Jacob Martin and Whitney Mercilus, two former outside linebackers. While the Texans may address quarterback with their first-round selection, they need to find someone who can harass opposing passers with their second-round pick.