Houston Texans Mock Draft: Final 7-Round Predictions

The past three months of speculation have been fun, but tomorrow, Houston Texans general manager Rick Smith finally gets to work on what he’s good at: trying to address the biggest needs for his team on draft day.

Loaded with 10 picks, the draft is Smith’s oyster this year. The Texans could do with help at so many positions, and when No. 16 hits the clock on Thursday night, it’s anyone’s guess which way Smith decides to steer the ship.

If it’s a wide receiver, a defensive back or even a running back, the pick is likely to be a surprise. And that’s not discounting the chance of a trade some way or another.

It’s the final mock of 2015, and it’s the final chance for us to consider a few different ways the Texans might choose to go over the next few days.

Round 1

16: Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest

Johnathan Joseph is the shine on the Texans’ dull secondary, but with a serious salary-cap payout and only one year left on his contract, according to Spotrac, the Texans have to be thinking about how bleak the future might be if they don’t do something about it now.

Credit goes to Smith for re-signing Kareem Jackson, but if a guy like Kevin Johnson is still on the board at No. 16, the Texans should make it happen. A 6’0", 190-pound build is ideal for a cornerback, and Johnson’s coverage abilities make him just as good as, if not better than, potential top-10 pick Trae Waynes.

Johnson is a weapon in press man coverage, but he also looks superb when playing off the receiver. On short throws underneath, he makes the adjustments necessary to make a play on the ball, and even though he’s often described as “quicker than fast,” he still finds time to pay attention to the receiver's footwork and speed up or down.

On outside receivers, Johnson is at his best, forcing tight throws to the sidelines that can either result in a tipped pass or an incompletion. Zone coverage or man isn’t a problem, and since the Texans defense ranked 12th in yards allowed last season, having a trustworthy corner like Johnson makes all the more sense.

Remember, the Texans will now have to face Andre Johnson twice next year. The Texans managed only two interceptions against the Colts last season, so wouldn’t it be nice to have another strong corner to challenge Andrew Luck?

Round 2

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51: Benardrick McKinney, ILB, Mississippi State

The Texans want an inside linebacker for depth and insurance purposes. The amount of injuries in the middle of the Texans’ defense in the past few years has been ridiculous, and given just how deep this year’s class of linebackers is, Rick Smith shouldn’t have trouble finding a well-rounded player.

Teams like the St. Louis Rams and Denver Broncos are likely going to target linebackers early in this year’s draft. The Texans therefore will have to play their cards right if they want to land someone like Benardrick McKinney at the 51st spot.

What McKinney offers is pretty simple. He’s a thick-bodied, downhill type of guy who attacks the play head-on. He’s got great arm length that should help him force a few fumbles during his NFL career, and is the astute run defender the Texans are searching for early on.

Just like when the Texans drafted Jadeveon Clowney, McKinney’s physicality makes him hard to not like. He’ll deliver big hits on the ball-carrier, and is comfortable with interior blockers.

In Romeo Crennel’s 3-4 base defense, McKinney might fit better as an outside linebacker, only because of his 246-pound frame. The fun part is Crennel can spend all of training camp deciding what he wants McKinney to be, and since he now has experience rushing from the edge, McKinney is simply a dream on defense.

Round 3

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82. Bryce Petty, QB, Baylor

Bryce Petty is comfortably a second- or third-round pick, but at No. 82, the Texans might have to wait and see if a trade is required to draft him.

Even so, Petty is the next best quarterback available not named Mariota or Winston. Some have been critical since he comes from a Baylor offense that would probably be highly productive regardless of who is at quarterback, but Petty’s skill is definitely no fluke.

As far as smarts go, Petty is one of the most intelligent passers available this year. He can make quick decisions on the field, and has the accuracy in and out of the pocket to hit underneath throws to wide receivers.

At an NFL level, Petty will need to adjust to different formations, especially since the majority of Baylor’s plays started from the shotgun. Still, he’s got great ball placement and footwork, and even though Bill O’Brien doesn’t like starting young rookies, Petty could come into training camp and really put the pressure on Ryan Mallett.

Round 4

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116: Stefon Diggs, WR, Maryland

The Texans do need a wide receiver, but it’s not so urgent that they necessarily have to waste a first-round pick on one, since Cecil Shorts is likely to play in the slot anyway.

So what’s good about this year’s draft is there are a few guys the Texans can focus on in the mid-rounds who have a lot of raw, natural talent. Someone like Jamison Crowder could easily fall at this spot too, but like I’ve been saying for weeks, the Texans need to find a slot receiver who can play on special teams and return the football.

Stefon Diggs out of Maryland checks all of the boxes. He’s a dangerous player when given open space, and although he isn’t known for his speed, Diggs can break through arm tackles and give the Texans that yards-after-the-catch threat they’ve wanted for the past couple of years.

Diggs looks like a a fluent route-runner, and someone who could break ankles over the middle of the field. He’d be great on play-action passes, and he has the kind of athleticism to juke defenders in the opposite direction.

As far as returning kicks goes, Diggs averaged 28.5 yards on returns last season with a pair of touchdowns. Even if he primarily played a backup role at wide receiver for the Texans, Diggs could easily be the go-to returner on punts and kickoffs.

Round 5

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152: Blake Bell, TE, Oklahoma

Missing out on Maxx Williams, Clive Walford and Nick O’Leary is a pretty big possibility come the fifth round, but it doesn’t mean the Texans can’t find a promising backup tight end to complement Garrett Graham and Ryan Griffin.

The second tier of tight ends in this year’s class features a lot of guys with injury issues and lack of experience. Blake Bell’s stats don’t scream sleeper either, but he does have the blocking capability and ability to get into open space and look to make a play.

Graham and Griffin both put up lousy numbers last year, so a tight end who can produce some yards would be big. Bell shows the ability to get deep into coverage and challenge safeties, and as a former quarterback at Oklahoma, he has a feel for routes and field placement.

On the flip side, the Texans also need a tight end who can contribute big time in pass-blocking. Bell’s 252-pound frame would help, even if he only sees the field a few times a game in his rookie year.

175: Akeem Hunt, RB, Purdue

The Texans should be on high alert for a steal at the running back spot this year, and it’s probably going to come in the mid rounds.

Akeem Hunt could fall anywhere between the fourth and the seventh, and after a solid 2014 season at Purdue where he posted just under 1,000 yards, Hunt likely has the interest of many teams across the league.

Versatile is probably the best word to use when describing Hunt, since he can play three different positions rather well. As a running back he’s fire coming out of the backfield, and he is a serious threat as a receiver. Hunt also has kick return ability, and can break through tackles with power. Thirdly, Hunt can line up out wide as receiver, even though it’s unlikely we see that at the NFL level.

Hunt was never invited to the combine, but according to NFL.com’s Gil Brandt, “Hunt will be a draft choice, most likely in the late rounds.”

Rick Smith would be wise to give this pick huge consideration.

195: Gerod Holliman, S, Louisville

For a third-year player, D.J. Swearinger had a mildly productive season. Unfortunately for the Texans though, the entire safety position is in need of an overhaul, and with free agency so thin, addressing it in the draft is a huge priority.

Gerod Holliman led the nation with 14 interceptions last season, but statistics aside, his demeanor and attitude on the field would be refreshing to a Texans secondary that is in need of an attitude boost.

Romeo Crennel’s secondary has been accused of being soft recently, and Holliman’s play is everything but. Constantly looking for a big hit and physical battle, Holliman is the kind of player who can pop receivers and knock the ball loose, and put intimidation in the mind of quarterbacks.

What puts him in the fifth round instead of the first is tackling and poor decisions when a receiver is in open space. If the Texans are willing to take that problem on, they could be drafting a highly athletic safety with potential.

Round 6

211: Laurence Gibson, OT, Virginia Tech

According to NFLDraftScout.com's Frank Cooney, Laurence Gibson visited the Texans, even though the offensive line isn’t a huge concern entering this year’s draft.

There are the same questions surrounding Duane Brown’s future past 2016 though, so since the Texans do have extra picks to play with in the later rounds, picking up a tackle as a little added safety net isn’t a bad deal.

Gibson isn’t a flawless prospect, but he does have good foot placement and strength to get on the inside edge of opposing lineman. His hand placement needs some work, but since he wouldn’t be starting right away, he’d have plenty of time to learn and adapt.

Gibson added a small amount of weight before 2014, so at 305 lbs, he’s the ideal size to fill in as a backup, and he still has great movement through his hips.

216: Zack Wagenmann, DE, Montana

Zack Wagenmann is still raw in many areas, but he’s got long arms and great initial burst to challenge offenses and push past blockers.

Energy and commitment to the play are the fundamentals of Wagenmann’s game, and since posting the school record for tackles for a loss (52), Wagenmann could become a decent backup in the NFL.

At times he does have trouble containing the quarterback, and he does need to use his hands more, but Wagenmann could still be a productive project for the Texans while they wait and see what the future holds for Jadeveon Clowney.

Round 7

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235: Jake Smith, C, Louisville

The center position can’t be forgotten this year, and it’s crazy to think how many potential steals there are, likely to fall between the sixth round and undrafted free agency.

Teams likely know what Jake Smith has to offer, since he played in front of Teddy Bridgewater a season ago. Whether it’s at the center position or making a transition to guard, Smith is great on his feet and especially useful when it comes to setting up holes for a running back.

At the point of contact, Smith is like a rock, which is all good news for the Texans. Replacing the departed Chris Myers has posed a serious problem, and with the quarterback spot still unstable, having a reliable center for the future needs to happen.