Texans go all-defense in third round of latest ESPN mock draft
The attention of every Clutch City sports fan will be upon Round 1 of the 2023 NFL draft as the Houston Texans possess twin picks in the round.
However, the first round isn’t the only round during the initial two days that the Texans have double selections. Houston also has picks at Nos. 65 and 73 in Round 3.
According to Mel Kiper from ESPN, the Texans use their No. 65 pick to take Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell.
Off-ball linebackers have less value in today’s NFL as teams throw the ball much more than they run it, but Campbell is a really good player. He showed off his physical tools and change-of-direction skills at the combine. Houston needs impact players in this draft.
The Hawkeye would be another linebacker to add to the corps that already boasts Christian Harris, Christian Kirksey, Garret Wallow, and Denzel Perryman. Adding Campbell would start to challenge other linebackers for a spot on the roster.
Kiper uses the Texans’ second third-rounder to take LSU defensive tackle Jaquelin Roy.
This is the last of Houston’s five picks in the first three rounds, and we’ve gotten it a quarterback, wide receiver, edge rusher and inside linebacker so far. Why not more help along the spine of the defense? Roy is a nose tackle who can push the pile.
At 6-4, 315 pounds, the Texans could use Roy as a three-technique as new coach DeMeco Ryans’ scheme will still have 4-3 elements to his defense. Houston already has Maliek Collins and Roy Lopez on the roster and also signed Hassan Ridgeway and Sheldon Rankins in free agency. Grabbing another defensive tackle could cause some crowding.
Houston’s first-round selections included quarterback C.J. Stroud at No. 2 and receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba at No. 12. The Texans used their Round 2 selection (No. 33 overall) to take Georgia Tech defensive end Keion White to provide adequate edge defense.
