Houston Texans Mock Draft: Full 7-Round Predictions with Analysis

The NFL draft is almost here. It's a time where just one pick could instantly turn a team into a contender. A time where the best teams can solidify their spots at the top of the standings. A time where Super Bowl teams are built.

The Houston Texans come into this year's draft with very specific needs. The Texans have a lack of depth at the wide receiver, tight end, cornerback, linebacker, nose tackle, guard and fullback positions. In order to secure their spot at the top of the AFC South, the Texans must find a way to address all of these needs in the draft.

The Texans' current team is definitely a playoff contender; the right picks could send them over the edge to being a favorite for the Super Bowl. 

Here are my picks that I believe will turn the Texans into a clear Super Bowl-caliber team.

Round 1, Pick 26: WR, Stephen Hill, Georgia Tech

When Andre Johnson went down with a hamstring injury last season, the poor depth the team had at wide receiver was revealed. Jacoby Jones and Kevin Walter were unable to pick up the slack, and the Texans were forced to solely rely on their rushing game.

The Texans need a No. 2 wide receiver that can consistently contribute to the offense. Stephen Hill can do more than just contribute.

Hill is one of those rare wide receivers that has both size and speed. Hill became the fastest receiver at this year's combine when he ran a 4.36 40-yard dash time. Hill is already much taller than almost every defensive back with a height of 6'4", but he also posted the fourth-highest vertical jump at the combine. Hill could easily jump up and grab the ball over a defensive back in college, and he should easily be able to do it in the NFL as well.

Hill is a playmaker. Plain and simple. His speed allows him to break from defensive backs, and his incredible height and vertical jump allows him to jump up and grab the ball from the air.

In addition to his athletic skills, Hill provides something the Texans could not play without. Blocking. Hill has an apparent love for blocking, and he loves to contribute to the success of the running game. This is huge for the Texans, as their offense lives through the rushing attack.

Hill is a special player, and the Texans must snatch him up with the 26th pick.

Round 2, Pick 58: OLB, Ronnell Lewis, Oklahoma

When the 2011-2012 season ended, the Texans appeared to have one of the most stacked linebacker corps in the NFL. With Mario Williams, Brian Cushing, Connor Barwin, DeMeco Ryans and Brooks Reed, the Texas had absolutely no need at the linebacker position. 

This offseason, however, Williams left in free agency and Ryans was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles for a fourth-round pick. Now the Texans' depth at linebacker is weak, and they must draft one or two linebackers this April. The Texans need to find an outside linebacker who can be part of a three-man rotation with Connor Barwin and Brooks Reed.

Ronnell Lewis can play that part. Lewis showed at the combine that he could be a major contributor to any defense in the NFL, as he displayed that he was speedy, strong and explosive.

Lewis is an effective pass-rusher who can get at the quarterback on any given play. He is also extremely efficient as a run stopper and is great at filling in the gaps. This shows that although Lewis is a great 3-4 outside linebacker, he could also fill in as a 3-4 inside linebacker when necessary because of his hole-plugging ability. 

This is perfect for the Texans because they lack depth at both outside and inside linebacker. If the Texans draft Lewis, he will be able to be part of a three-man rotation at outside linebacker while also being able to fill in for Daryl Sharpton or Brian Cushing when needed.

Lewis to the Texans makes perfect sense.

Round 3, Pick 76: CB, Casey Hayward, Vanderbilt

The Texans desperately need a cornerback. Kareem Jackson is the starter going into next season, and he has not been the definition of a good corner in his first two seasons. He struggles in coverage, and he has trouble rotating his head and locating the ball. With the loss of Jasen Allen if free agency, the Texans lost a security blanket for Jackson. With no viable backup going into Week 1—other than last year's second-round pick, Brandon Harris—the Texans must look to draft a corner early in this year's draft.

Casey Hayward is exactly who they are looking for. Hayward is a ball hawk who is great at playing the ball in midair. He recorded seven interceptions last year for Vandy, including two in his team's bowl game. Hayward is the complete opposite of Jackson. He is exceptional at finding the ball and preventing the receiver from making a play. In addition to his ball skills, Hayward is very solid in coverage. He is able to change the momentum of a game at any moment while also being able to not let up any big pass plays.

The Texans are very weak at the cornerback position. They need a player who could fill in and play for Jackson if he starts to struggle. Hayward is very capable of playing a Jason Allen type role for the Texans next season.

Round 4, Pick 99: Joe Looney, G, Wake Forest

With the free-agency losses of Eric Winston and Mike Brisiel, the Texans find themselves heading into the 2012-13 season with two very inexperienced starters on the offensive line. While tackle Antoine Caldwell has started for the Texans on multiple occasions in the past and played very well, the inexperience of guard Rashad Butler should have Texans fans worrying. 

Butler has started four games in his NFL career, and he did not play well in any of them. While he has dedicated himself to improving drastically over the offseason, the Texans must find a viable backup for Butler if he becomes the weak link in the offensive line.

Joe Looney could be that and more. He is an extremely underrated prospect who could be a sleeper in this year's draft. Looney has the technique and skill set to be an excellent guard in the zone-blocking scheme that the Texans run. While Looney has very refined skills, he is also an athlete. He is able to get blocks on the second level, which would allow Arian Foster to break out a big run. Looney has a chance to become a successful starter early in his NFL career.

The Texans' depth at guard is questionable heading into next season, meaning it would make perfect sense for them to take Looney with this pick.

Round 4, Pick 121: Ryan Broyles, WR, Oklahoma

Once again, the Texans need to find receivers who can contribute consistently for the offense. While Jacoby Jones and Kevin Walter have their moments, they can sometimes disappear for weeks on end. In addition, the Texans do not have a receiver who can effectively play in the slot. They need to find a receiver in this draft who can play in the slot right away, and one who could consistently get open for Matt Schaub.

Ryan Broyles would have been a first- or second-round pick if he had not suffered an ACL injury on November 5th. However, Broyles claims to be in good health, and he believes he is up to full speed. He will be holding a private workout for NFL scouts just days prior to the draft.

When Broyles was not injured, he was arguably one of the best receivers in college football. He was a playmaker from the slot position, and he averaged well over a 1,000 yards per season. Broyles has a great combination of speed, hands and route-running ability, which makes him a very easy target for a quarterback to throw to. 

If healthy, Broyles could make an immediate impact for the Texans. Broyles has first-round talent, and he would be a steal here for the Texans.

Round 5, Pick 161: Nick Provo, TE, Syracuse

The Texans are in need of finding a tight end who could be a goal-line threat. Last year, that job was Joel Dreesen's, but he unfortunately chose to leave the team in free agency this offseason. Dreesen was a great target for Schaub in the red zone, and he was a constant threat whenever the team approached the goal line.

Nick Provo is very similar to Dreesen. He is a big tight end, and he has great hands. He is a receiving threat from anywhere on the field, as he had 571 receiving yards last year for Syracuse. Provo also proved he was a red-zone threat with his seven receiving touchdowns.

Picking Provo with this fifth-round pick would give the Texans an adequate replacement for Dreesen.

Round 6, Pick 195: Nicolas Jean-Baptiste, NT, Baylor

The Texans are in need of a space-filler at the nose tackle position. While Shaun Cody will be the starter going into next season, Nicolas Jean-Baptiste could provide relief coming off the bench.

At 335 pounds, Jean-Baptiste is an absolute beast. When at the top of his game, it is nearly impossible to run the ball past him. Also, he can just barrel through offensive linemen and get to the quarterback.

There are some concerns, however, about Jean-Baptiste that caused his draft stock to fall. He is not in the best shape, and he also does not use his hands well. In order to succeed in the NFL on the defensive line, using one's hands well is critical. 

Despite these concerns, Jean-Baptiste is a natural talent who, with some work, could develop as a capable NFL player. I have confidence that Wade Phillips will be able to work well with Jean-Baptiste and get him to drastically improve the aspects of his game that need improving.

If Jean-Baptiste could correct his flaws, he would be a late-round steal for the Texans.

Round 7, Pick 233: Cody Johnson, FB, Texas

When the Texans cut Lawrence Vickers this offseason, fullback became a need for the Texans. Last year's starter, James Casey, is returning, but he is not that effective in power situations. Also, Casey may be expected to take more of a tight end role this season with the loss of Joel Dreesen in free agency.

Therefore, the Texans will be looking to draft a guy who can contribute right away as a fullback. Cody Johnson is that guy. He is a big back, and he is a scary force as a lead blocker. In addition to his skills as a lead blocker, Johnson is very good handling the ball in short-yardage situations. At Texas, he was almost an automatic touchdown threat every time the team got on the goal line. 

Johnson could be an effective lead blocker for the Texans, and he could also consistently pick up first downs in short-yardage situations.