Houston Texans

2017 NFL Draft: Houston Texans Late-Season 7-Round Mock Draft

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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An early look at a full Houston Texans 7-round mock draft for the 2017 NFL Draft as the team sits at 6-6 with a shared lead of the AFC South

This team was supposed to be much better than this. After back-to-back 9-7 seasons the Houston Texans went out and solved their biggest issue. They signed a quarterback they thought would be their franchise guy.

Brock Osweiler left the defending champions, the Denver Broncos and inked a four-year deal worth $72 million. So far the results have been lass-than-favorable.

Osweiler has been a turnover machine and is averaging an abysmal 5.77 yards per pass attempt on the season. His quarterback rating is a low 74.2 and he is showing little signs of improving.

He has been far from their only problem this year, but the team has to feel let down by the return on their investment. At 6-6, they’re tied for first place in the AFC South, but hardly look like a threat should they make the post season.

That means it’s just about time to look forward to what the team can do come the 2017 NFL Draft. Thanks to the guaranteed $37 million in their quarterback’s contract, they won’t be able to do much there. They will however have their star defensive end J.J. Watt back from injury and can get more weapons to help make Osweiler look better. Here is how that draft could unfold.

Oct 3, 2015; Winston-Salem, NC, USA; Florida State Seminoles offensive lineman Roderick Johnson (77) lines up during the second half against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at BB&T Field. Florida State defeated Wake Forest 24-16. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Round 1 Pick 14: Roderick Johnson, OT — Florida State

Houston had what looked like a decent offensive line on paper during training camp. Their bookends at tackle were Duane Brown and Derek Newton. They had former second-round pick Xavier Su’a-Filo and free agent acquisition Jeff Allen at guard. At center was rookie second-round selection Nick Martin out of Notre Dame.

Then Martin went down with an ankle injury and was replaced with Greg Mancz, a second year-player who was undrafted in 2015. Brown then began to struggle with injury issues, but as he regained health the team lost their right tackle, Newton.

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Newton suffered a torn pattellar tendon in each knee and there’s now genuine concern if he can ever return, and if so how effective he will be. Replacing him has been veteran Chris Clark, who was acquired late last preseason from the Broncos.

This makeshift line hasn’t been great and can be blamed for a lot of their offensive troubles. Which is why Houston decides it’s time to get some stability and youth on this unit.

With the 14th overall pick Houston grabs Florida State offensive tackle Roderick Johnson. Listed at 6-7 and 311 pounds, Johnson is an absolute monster. He has been a starter since late in his freshman season and has dealt with some of the best pass rushers in the NCAA.

His selection could open things up quite a bit in the running game while also helping to give their big quarterback some time to push the ball further than his 5.77 yard per pass average so far this season.

Nov 19, 2016; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Richard Lagow (21) is tackled by Michigan Wolverines defensive end Taco Charlton (33) in the second half at Michigan Stadium. Michigan won 20-10. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Round 2 Pick 14: Taco Charlton, DE — Michigan

Once J.J. Watt went down injured the team really fell apart on defense. It isn’t so much that they’re bad, they just don’t come up with those big stops and they aren’t anywhere near as feared as they were with number 99 lurking across from the offensive line.

The team needs Watt to return, but they also need someone else who can wreak havoc. Enter their second round pick, Michigan’s Taco Charlton.

Born with the name Vidauntae Charlton, he later became known as Taco, although no one knows why. One thing that’s for sure, he does love having a name that stands out. Here’s what he told Tony Paul of The Detroit News about his name:

“Definitely, it’s always Taco Tuesdays, it’s Taco Tuesdays on Thursdays, it’s a lot of tacos,” said Charlton, who enjoys using the taco emoji on social media. “I’ll try to be a Taco Tuesdays on Saturdays this year, and the next level you’ve got the Sundays and Mondays. Right now, I’ll definitely take those Taco Tuesdays. It’s a great thing to kind of build off my name.

Taco Sunday doesn’t sound too bad, right? The 6-6 defensive end weighs in at 272 pounds and would fit great opposite Watt. In four seasons for the Wolverines, Charlton has 86 tackles and 18 sacks. 2016 has been especially good for the senior lineman as he has recorded 35 tackles, 11.5 for a loss and nine of his career sacks.

Nov 19, 2016; Lawrence, KS, USA; Texas Longhorns running back D’Onta Foreman

Round 3 Pick 14: D’Onta Foreman, RB — Texas

With their third round pick a solid player falls a bit thanks to having just one year of good production at the collegiete level. But what a year it was.

Texas running back D’Onta Foreman rushed for 2,028 yards and 15 touchdowns during his junior season with the Longhorns and has decided to forgo his senior season and turn pro. The talented back is listed at 6-0 and 238 pounds, which makes him an ideal compliment to current Texans running back Lamar Miller.

Another big free agent signing, Miller has been worth the money for Houston. He should easily pass the 1,000-yard mark for just the second time in his career. As a featured back for Houston, Miller has 903 yards rushing on the season.

More of a shift back, Miller has just three rushing touchdowns on the season and one receiving. Foreman could provide a bruising back that would be able to get the ball in the end zone when the defense stacks the box. He would be just as useful on key short-yardage situations to extend drives.

He also could spell Miller for a drive or two each game which could keep Miller from being as banged up as he has been this season. It would lead to defenses wearing down as well as tackling someone as big as Foreman takes it’s toll.

Oct 14, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; Duke Blue Devils running back Jela Duncan (25) runs the ball against Louisville Cardinals safety Josh Harvey-Clemons (25) during the second quarter at Papa John

Round 4 Pick 14: Josh Harvey-Clemons, S — Louisville

This pick would truly help the Houston Texans. They have a need for a playmaker in the defensive backfield that can run with tight ends. Louisville’s Josh Harvey-Clemons can do just that. At 6-4 and 228 pounds he is tall enough to match up with any tight end, and thick enough to deliver some crushing hits.

The senior is considered to be the perfect fit for a hybrid type of player. He could be used in safety formations as well as in linebacking roles. Defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel would have a field day dreaming of the possible ways to use the talented rookie.

He has 225 career tackles, four interceptions, three forced fumbles and 11 pass deflections. So why would Harvey-Clemons drop to the fourth-round? That would be because he was kicked off the Georgia football team following the 2013 season for reported marijuana use (per Rob Rang of CBS Sports).

Since then it appears Harvey-Clemons has learned his lesson. He had no more red flags pop up while at Louisville and stayed for his senior season to finish up his degree in criminal justice. Houston typically stays away from players with any red flags, but this one could be different with there being several years of good behavior in-between the action and the day of the draft.

Nov 5, 2016; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson (54) celebrates as he runs off the field following their 10-0 victory over the LSU Tigers at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Round 5 Pick Pick 14: Dalvin Tomlinson, DT — Alabama

The Houston Texans keep trying to get a nose tackle. They selected Louis Nix III out of Notre Dame in 2014, only to cut him in 2015 after he failed to ever see the field in a regular season game.

Free agent Vince Wilfork came over the same year Nix was cut, which led the team to believe they would be fine at the position. The former Patriot made more noise for dressing in overalls during an episode of ‘Hard Knocks’ than anything he did on the field though. Sadly, that trend has continued this season.

Behind the ineffective big man is rookie fifth-round pick D.J. Reader. He may still have some upside, but nothing is certain there. For that reason, they try and find some depth here. Where better to look for defensive help than the Alabama Crimson Tide? Head coach Nick Saban runs a pro-style offense and defense and his players come into the league ready to play.

Here, Houston grabs one of Saban’s defensive tackles in hopes he can become an anchor in the middle. At 6-3 and 305 pounds, Dalvin Tomlinson is a load. He isn’t as big as a traditional nose tackle, but Houston runs a slightly different version of the 3-4 and often employs tackles closer to 300-pounds.

As a senior, Tomlinson recorded 54 tackles and three sacks. In Houston, he could move up depth charts quick as they need some help on the interior of their line.

Oct 1, 2016; Fort Worth, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) throws during the game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Round 6 Pick 4: Baker Mayfield, QB — Oklahoma

A lot of fans would probably prefer to see a quarterback taken much higher. That’s not going to happen just yet as Brock Osweiler is cemented in as the starter thanks to his huge contract. This team is simply stuck with him for better or worse. Of course, the hope is he can improve. Head coach Bill O’Brien has done wonders in the past with the likes of Ryan Fitzpatrick and Brian Hoyer, which gives them some hope.

If the quarterback struggles just as bad next season, that’s when you may see the team draft a quarterback early on and begin the grooming process. This year, they simply take a guy who could compete for the third spot while also being there if the team is unable to keep backup Tom Savage beyond next season.

That selection is Baker Mayfield, who played in 2015 and 2016 at Oklahoma after transferring over from Texas Tech. A walk on for Tech, Mayfield played well enough to get the Sooners attention.

After heading to Oklahoma he began to flourish. He threw for 7,369 yards with 74 touchdowns and just 15 picks during his two seasons there. His completion percentage increased each season he played and, as a senior, he completed 71.2 percent of his passes. He would be a project at the next level, but could have some upside.

Sep 12, 2015; Morgantown, WV, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers defensive lineman Noble Nwachukwu stops Liberty Flames running back Desmond Rice during the second quarter at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports

Round 7 Pick 14: Noble Nwachukwu, DE — West Virginia

In the seventh round, teams just throw darts at a board and hope they stick. Often times, they don’t, but that doesn’t mean you quit trying. For Houston, they go for a third defensive lineman in this draft, in the hopes they can move from some of the disappointments from 2016. Maybe in the process of moving on, they can find a diamond in the rough.

They attempt to do that here with West Virginia’s defensive end Noble Nwachukwu. A redshirt senior, Nwachukwu started every game his final three seasons as a Mountaineer and showed some promise as a defender.

In 2015 he recorded 37 solo tackles (47 total) and eight and a half sacks. He followed that up with 34 more tackles and four sacks in 2016.

He comes in slightly undersized at just 6-2, but is a stout 275 pounds. He is built to hold up against the rush, but could do well as a pass rusher as evidenced by his flashes during his junior campaign. It would be an uphill climb to make the team for any seventh-rounder, but with the struggles this defensive line had with Watt gone, there could be some open spots available.

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