2017 NFL Draft: Houston Texans 5 First-Round Targets Post Free Agency
After free agency has come and gone some teams have seen their needs change, will it affect the Houston Texans first round targets in the 2017 NFL Draft?
With the scouting combine and and free agency now passed, the sole focus for all 32 teams is the upcoming 2017 NFL Draft. For many teams the moves made during free agency may have severely altered their game plans when it comes to attacking the draft. The Houston Texans may not necessarily be one of those teams.
The one big move they made was trading quarterback Brock Osweiler. In what was essentially a salary dump—straight NBA style—they sent Osweiler and a second-round pick to the Cleveland Browns for some salary relief and a mid-round pick.
Beyond that move it was just more losses for Houston. Outside linebacker John Simon signed with the Indianapolis Colts, safety Quintin Demps headed to the Chicago Bears and cornerback A.J. Bouye moved on to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Now short at those positions, Houston may see their needs change slightly. Will it be enough to alter their plans with the first overall pick? Maybe, but whether it does or not here is a look at five players they could very well target with the 25th overall pick.
Dec 28, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes tight end David Njoku (86) dives for the end zone to score a touchdown against the West Virginia Mountaineers during the second half at Camping World Stadium. The Miami Hurricanes defeat the West Virginia Mountaineers 31-14. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
5. David Njoku, TE — Miami
With their first round pick the Houston Texans could choose to bolster a position that wasn't necessarily a weakness in 2016. The tight end group was awful for two seasons in a row before 2014 third-round pick C.J. Fiedorowicz had a good campaign last year.
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The third-year pro from Iowa had 54 receptions for 559 yards and four touchdowns. He improved tremendously from his 2015 season in which he had just 17 receptions for 167 yards and one score.
In addition to his receiving, Fiedorowicz was also an able blocker. He has all the tools to be an every-down tight end, even if he will never be one of the tops in the game at the position.
So if he did fine, why look at Miami tight end David Njoku in the opening round? Because Houston likes to employ two tight end sets frequently. They hardly use a fullback which means that even if Njoku isn't their number one tight end, he still could start regularly.
He also brings a much more versatile skill set to the table than Fiedorowicz. Njoku ran well at the combine but did even better with athletic tests such as the vertical and broad jump as well as the three-cone drill. He is also a willing blocker, who isn't great but can improve. Drafting Njoku isn't the worst idea for Houston.
Nov 26, 2016; Madison, WI, USA; Wisconsin Badgers linebacker T.J. Watt (42) during the game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Camp Randall Stadium. Wisconsin won 31-17. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
4. T.J. Watt, OLB — Wisconsin
This name surely sounds familiar. The face of the Houston Texans since being selected 11th overall in the 2011 NFL Draft has been defensive end J.J. Watt out of Wisconsin. He is a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and is the only player in NFL history to record 20-or-more sacks in two separate seasons. He missed most of 2016, but should be back with a vengeance in 2017.
What better way to get him fired up for a return than to draft his little brother T.J. Watt? Of course the younger Watt isn't just a candidate because his brother plays for the team, but he really is a sensational football player.
The 6-4, 252-pound outside linebacker sat out his freshman season and played in just eight games during 2015. Last season, he broke out in his one year as a full-time player. The Badgers edge rusher recorded 63 tackles and 11.5 sacks for a loss.
Watt then performed well in many areas of the scouting combine. He finished as a top performer in his position group in the vertical jump (38 inches), broad jump (128 inches), three-cone drill (6.79 seconds), 20-yard shuttle (4.13) and 60-yard shuttle (11.20). He would not only replace John Simon, who left for the hated Colts, but would be quite the upgrade.
Nov 25, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders quarterback Patrick Mahomes (5) passes against the Baylor Bears in the first half at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
3. Patrick Mahomes II, QB — Texas Tech
While the T.J. Watt pick may just be a fun dream, the likelihood of the Houston Texans selecting a quarterback in the 2017 NFL Draft feels much more real. If they decide to do that in the first round, they should look at Texas Tech's Patrick Mahomes II.
His strengths as a quarterback are pointed out very well by Sports Illustrated's Chris Burke, who likened Mahomes to Detroit Lions starting quarterback Matthew Stafford in his SI scouting report:
The Mahomes experience is a bit like watching someone slice a banana with a playing card—you're not entirely sure how it happened, but it looks cool as hell. The Texas Tech product was a human highlight reel at the college level, consistently churning out big plays both with his arm and his legs. Despite his mobility (and 22 career rushing touchdowns), Mahomes works to keep his eyes downfield in search of a throwing lane. While he obviously can scramble, he seemingly prefers to do so only as a last resort or if a clear gap opens.
The fear with Mahomes is that, despite throwing 11,252 yards in roughly two and a half seasons, he is a product of his system. The air raid offense he is a part of rarely produces quality NFL players. There is an outlier for every "fact," though, and Mahomes seems to be that outlier. He has all the tools to succeed at the next level and would be a great choice at 25.
Sep 3, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide offensive lineman Cam Robinson (74) in action during the game against the USC Trojans at AT&T Stadium. Alabama defeats USC 52-6. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
2. Cam Robinson, OT — Alabama
Offensive line was a sore spot al season for the Houston Texans. Starting left tackle Duane Brown seemed to be battling nagging injuries all season long. They also lost second-round pick Nick Martin for the whole year to an ankle injury. The hope is he can return and start in the middle of the O-line in his second NFL season.
The worst injury, though, happened to right tackle Derek Newton. He tore the patellar tendon in each knee and word on his progress isn't being made too public. It's a tough injury to recover from when it's one knee, but two feels like a serious uphill climb.
Newton could be out to start the 2017 season and may not even be himself again when he does return. Houston may then need to draft as if he isn't there at all. With that philosophy they need to consider adding the 6-6, 322-pound Cam Robinson from Alabama.
He started three seasons at left tackle for the Tide and is one of the highest ranked guards. The issue that keeps him around until pick 25 though is that he doesn't project as a left tackle in the NFL. For Houston that's fine as they would be happy to keep Robinson at right tackle for as long as Duane Brown is playing on the opposite side.
Nov 4, 2016; East Hartford, CT, USA; Connecticut Huskies safety Obi Melifonwu (20) intercepts a pass intended for Temple Owls wide receiver Ventell Bryant (1) in the second quarter at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
1. Obi Melifonwu, S — Connecticut
This is a position of strong need now since the Texans lost starting safety Quintin Demps. The feeling has to be that they plan to draft someone here rather than going into the season with 2016 fifth-round pick K.J. Dillon, Corey Moore and Eddie Pleasant battling for the starting safety spot opposite Andre Hal.
One player they could look to is Connecticut safety Obi Melifonwu. At 6-4 and 224 pounds, Melifonwu has amazing size for the position. He isn't lacking in speed though as the lengthy safety hit an impressive 4.40 in his 40-yard dash at the combine.
He's also coming off a season in which he simply exploded. Melifonwu recorded 115 tackles and four interceptions for the Huskies during his senior campaign. This was after recorded no more than 88 tackles in a single year and having four interceptions in his first three seasons at UConn.
His ability to fly all over the field was on full display week after week and he has only flown up the draft boards since the season ended. In Houston he surely would be a starter from Day 1 and would re-strengthen their secondary which just lost two key pieces in Demps and Bouye.
