Houston Texans Draft Picks: Results, Analysis and Grades

You’ve sat through all of the mock drafts, all of the team visits and all of the talk about who the Houston Texans should draft in 2015. Now, finally, the NFL draft is here.

Over the next few days, stay tuned to Bleacher Report and in particular this slideshow, as it details all of the Texans’ picks from the very beginning right through to the end of Round 7. Every time the Texans make a move, this slideshow will be updated, so you won’t miss a minute of important analysis and detail.

Just like last season, the Texans are loaded with 10 total picks, and given general manager Rick Smith’s fine form in recent years, you can expect a few blockbuster players to be heading to Houston after Rounds 1 and 2.

In case you forgot, the Texans have a ton of different needs, but here’s a refresher on the most important ones:

• A franchise defensive back to add depth and future insurance should the Texans decide not to renew Johnathan Joseph’s contract.
• A talented wide receiver to replace Andre Johnson who is comfortable in the slot.
• An inside linebacker to fill any future injury concerns.

While there are still a few other positions such as tight end, running back and center, these are the top three positions the Texans will likely target but perhaps not in that order.

In terms of top prospects the Texans may be considering, the list is long and kind of tiring. The following players could potentially be high on Smith’s list:

• DeVante Parker WR, Louisville
• Shane Ray DE/OLB, Missouri 
• Kevin Johnson CB, Wake Forest
• Eric Kendricks ILB, UCLA
• Breshad Perriman WR, UCF

All of the above players have shown they have the talent and potential to be selected at the No. 16 spot on Day 1 by the Texans. If you’re looking for a more in-depth look at prospects, be sure to check out the entire Texans Big Board.

That’s it for now, but be sure to stay glued to this page for full draft analysis and grades when Round 1 kicks off at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN or the NFL Network.

Round 1: Kevin Johnson, CB Wake Forest

Go ahead and welcome cornerback Kevin Johnson into Romeo Crennel’s defense.

The NFL draft went pretty much as planned on Thursday night, right up until the Houston Texans pick at No. 16. As the Miami Dolphins went ahead and chose DeVante Parker at No.15, the Texans decided to steer away from wide receiver like many predicted, and instead general manager Rick Smith chose a defender for the second straight year.

With Trae Waynes already heading to the Minnesota Vikings, the Texans looked to add some security at the position behind Johnathan Joseph, who has only one year left on his contract.

Although Joseph is an experienced veteran, Johnson is likely to see a decent amount of playing time in 2015. He’s the kind of cornerback who is going to excel in zone coverage but also shows strong physicality in press man-coverage.

Underneath throws and outside receivers are no trouble for Johnson, and his footwork and rhythm from the beginning of the play can really dictate the pace of a receiver.

If there’s a small flaw in Johnson’s play, it might be his tackling, but overall the Texans targeted one of their most pressing needs heading into next season, and even though they still search for a wide receiver, there are plenty of guys likely to fall into Day 2 tomorrow.

Grade: A

Round 2: Benardrick McKinney, ILB, Mississippi State

Anyone who was disappointed in Rick Smith's Day 1 drafting should have been happy with the Texans' Round 2 pick. 

It took a smart trade to get him, but the Texans can now say they have some depth at the inside linebacker spot. The only thing is, keeping Benardrick McKinney out of a starting role might be difficult in the long term. 

McKinney has been compared to Brian Cushing, so it's not hard to see why the Texans were high on him. His legs are like tree trunks, and with a serious downhill game, he's likely to line up on the edge and give quarterbacks hell. 

The Texans gave up a lot to get McKinney. It took their original second-round pick, a fourth-round pick and a sixth-rounder to get him, but there's tremendous upside to McKinney's game. He's a sure tackler who rarely misses, and on blitzes, McKinney could make things hard for offensive linemen if he figures out how to use his hands a little bit better. 

It's hard to see the negatives with this pick, even though the Texans could have found a wide receiver in the second. The Texans now have a linebacker who can probably contribute on special teams, though, and will no longer have to sweat if Cushing falls down injured again. 

Grade: A-

Round 3: Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State

Suddenly, things are heating up for the Texans. 

An hour after drafting McKinney in Round 2, Smith traded again—this time shipping DeVier Posey, a fifth-round selection and a seventh-rounder to move up to the No. 70 spot for Jaelen Strong.

For Strong to fall as late as he did, it's a steal on Smith's part, and the Texans now have a guaranteed slot receiver who is likely to move high on the depth chart. 

Strong's lack of speed may have turned teams away in the second round, but the Texans are gaining a wide receiver who is a serious threat in the red zone, as well as in double coverage. Down the sidelines Strong proved last season he can challenge some of the most physical cornerbacks, testing Marcus Peters during a trip to Washington. 

On third down, Strong should also be a likely target for whoever is at quarterback next season. He's got reliable hands and good body control, meaning he could break into the open field easily. 

Grade: A

Round 5: Keith Mumphery, WR, Michigan State

Leon Halip/Getty Images

The Texans went back to back in the fifth round, drafting another wide receiver a day after selecting Jaelen Strong.

It's hard to label Keith Mumphery as a steal just yet, but the Texans likely fell in love with his run blocking and strong route running. Realistically, the need to draft another wide receiver wasn't huge, but clearly the Texans see Mumphery as a potential fit in the slot.

Again, the Texans haven't drafted a guy with tremendous speed, and with the depth chart so busy at the position, Mumphery is probably looking at time on special teams rather than in the offense. 

Grade: C+

Round 6: Reshard Cliett, OLB, South Florida

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

With their first sixth-round selection, the Texans went ahead and drafted some depth at the outside linebacker spot. Since Mike Mohamed still has something to prove, Reshard Cliett was the pick, a prospect people probably know little about.

Cliett didn’t participate at the combine, so his skills are a little unknown still. He played on some awful teams at USF, and on highlights, he looks to be a highly determined player who can lay a serious pop on the ball-carrier.

Disruptive is probably the word to describe Cliett. He had six sacks and 7.5 tackles for a loss last season.

Grade: B

Round 6: Christian Covington, DT, Rice

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

It’s scary to think that the Texans could have just drafted a potential first-round pick had Christian Covington decided to stay in school one more year.

This is easily the Texans’ best shot at a “steal” in 2015. Covington shows a good low center of gravity and has great hands to disrupt passing lanes and make a huge impact on screen plays once he pushes past tackles.

At 289 pounds, Covington could definitely add some weight if he wants to compete for a starting job one day. For his size, though, his quickness is still a big upside.

Grade: B+

Round 7: Kenny Hilliard, RB, LSU

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Kenny Hilliard fought during his entire career at LSU to find a spot in the Tigers’ rotational running back system. Unfortunately, he fell to the third spot, which means he has a lot to do if he wants to prove scouts wrong.

Hilliard’s speed is his best point, and he could help contribute in the receiving game. The problem is his lack of playing time and inability to break tackles, something that could be helped if he sheds some of his weight.

As a former teammate of Alfred Blue’s, Hilliard will have some competition if he wants to make the roster.

Grade: C