Houston Texans Mock Draft: Updated Day 3 Predictions

General manager Rick Smith spent plenty of time on the phone during Day 2 of the NFL draft and, as a result, the Texans now have Benardrick McKinney and Jaelen Strong to call their own, but only four draft picks left.

In trades with the Cleveland Browns, the Texans gave up their No. 116 spot (fourth round) and 195 spot (sixth round) to jump up in the second. The New York Jets also walked away with DeVier Posey and the Texans’ No. 152 (fifth round) and 229 (seventh round) selections.

The move was huge for the Texans, and it has earned them a solid A overall for the draft. With four selections remaining now, the Texans can simply look to add depth at their weak spots, or perhaps keep strengthening the defense.

With most of the fun now over, let’s not forget how important these later rounds can be. There’s steals to be had, and with needs still at tight end, center and even running back, Rick Smith can’t afford to relax.

Round 5

No. 175: Blake Bell, TE, Oklahoma

The Texans will have to sit by as the fourth round passes, and after Clive Walford fell to the Oakland Raiders in the third, it’s difficult to know what kind of tight ends will still be available by the 175th pick.

If Blake Bell is still available, though, the Texans should go ahead and use the pick. As a former quarterback at Oklahoma, Bell is reasonably new to the position, but he’s picked it up well and comes across as a very coachable prospect.

Blocking is where Bell is at his best, and at 252 pounds, he’d be a good third-string backup behind Garrett Graham and Ryan Griffin. His hands need some work, but in the red zone, Bell was a threat for the Sooners the entire season.

Round 6

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

No. 211: Josh Robinson, RB, Mississippi State


Akeem Hunt should be the guy the Texans are high on if they want to draft a running back late. By the sixth round, though, a lot of the top talent may be gone, but that isn’t to say Josh Robinson isn't worth the pick.

It's unfortunate that Robinson hurt is chances of being drafted higher with a poor performance at the combine. He ran a slow 40 time but finished with 1,203 yards last season at Miss. St and 11 touchdowns.

Robinson, unlike a lot of late-round prospects, is a legitimate receiver in the air. He had 370 yards next to his name last season on 28 receptions and is the kind of player that can cut laterally and make defenders miss.

No. 215: Laurence Gibson, OT, Virginia Tech

Displaying a high football IQ, Laurence Gibson is a physical offensive tackle that could serve as some depth to the Texans. During his time at Virginia Tech, he was noted for his strong hips and awareness in zone blocking, and even though he could use some strength up-top, Gibson rounds out as a sixth-round selection.

Gibson added a little weight before 2014, and he might need to put on even more pounds if he is to gain some strength overall. Currently, though, he’s a quick offensive tackle that gets to the edge and makes a block, and since the Texans showed interest earlier this month, he’s a prospect Smith could be looking at.

Round 7

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

No. 235: Max Garcia, C, Florida

The need here is to replace Chris Myers, and since Max Garcia is already a well developed center, watching him fall into the seventh could be a steal for the Texans.

Garcia was loved at Florida, and he was the core part of their offensive line. He gets on the inside of defensive tackles with ease, and as an experienced center who’s played in many big games, he’s constantly aware of spin moves and heavy rushes.

The Texans’ offensive line is in pretty fair shape. But they need some competition at the center spot, and Garcia has an attitude that every team should want. He’ll get in the face of any defender and is quite a loud presence on the field.

So why is he a seventh-round pick?

Garcia has a tendency to remain stiff through his legs, and he doesn’t get as low as guys like Jake Smith. Still, he’s powerful and experienced on the blind side, which are two big positives.