4 players Texans can’t pass up at No. 67 overall in Round 3
The Houston Texans enter Friday night, the second day of the 2021 NFL draft, ready to make their first selection.
The Texans won’t get to do so until Round 3 at No. 67 overall. By that point, some premium talent will have come off the board.
Nevertheless, general manager Nick Caserio and director of college scouting James Liipfert have done their homework to ensure the the Texans maximize their value in the third round.
“Our staff, James Liipfert and his staff and our area scouts, we have done a lot of work,” said Caserio. “We have done a lot of information. Again, when you’re watching a team, you might think, ‘Okay, this player is going to get picked in the first however many picks.’ But when you’re watching that team and evaluating that school, it’s not like you’re going to go through your evaluation process and say, ‘well, we don’t have a first or second round pick, this player is not going to be there, so we are not going to worry about him.’ It’s kind of negligent or irresponsible.”
Here are four picks the Texans need to take if they are at No. 67 overall.
1. Alabama DL Christian Barmore
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There would have to be some kind of red flag for Barmore to fall that far, but if he did, the Texans ought to find a way to make it part of his Battle Red Uniform. Barmore produced 8.0 sacks as a defensive tackle in 2020. The Texans already took Ross Blacklock the year prior, but Barmore would provide competition and would develop into a force at the three-technique defensive tackle.
2. Texas EDGE Joseph Ossai
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The Texans had success finding Charles Omenihu in Round 5 of the 2019 NFL draft, and his former teammate in Ossai would provide the Texans another young edge defender. Ossai has experience playing with his hand in the ground, which would make him a good fit for the Texans' new Tampa-2 scheme with a 4-3 front. The 6-4, 253-pound defensive end collected 5.5 sacks and three forced fumbles in his final season at Texas in 2020.
3. Oklahoma C Creed Humphrey
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The Texans have older options at center such as former Seattle Seahawks center Justin Britt, but they need a younger player to assume the position and anchor the offensive line for years to come. Humphrey has experience playing center and would be a nice player to have as part of the retooled offensive line under new offensive line coach James Campen.
4. Oklahoma EDGE Ronnie Perkins
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Perkins also had 5.5 sacks for the Sooners in 2020. The 6-3, 247-pound edge rusher also has experience playing as a down lineman, which would make him suitable for the Texans' new defensive scheme. Among the prospects listed, Perkins is probably close to what will be available for the Texans when they pick. The key to making the Texans competitive quickly is to generate a pass rush, and addressing the defensive line at No. 67 overall is how you do it.
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