The Houston Texans are still in the middle of a rebuild, and the 2022 NFL draft presents an opportunity for general manager Nick Caserio to truly take the “best player available” with Houston having six picks in the top-110.
One player the Texans ought to keep in mind as they get into the depths of day two or even the early parts of day three is former Georgia Bulldogs defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt.
According to Sam Monson from Pro Football Focus, Wyatt is one of the more underrated prospects entering the draft — such is the case from playing on an immensely talented Georgia defense that was the catalyst for the team’s national championship.
Last season, Georgia’s defense was ridiculous, stocked full of athletically gifted NFL-caliber players. Players like Jermaine Johnson II even had to transfer away from the program just to get the opportunity to showcase their play.
Because of all of that talent, attention seems to be getting drawn away from Wyatt, who generated the best PFF grade of any defensive lineman on the team and the second-best grade of any Georgia defender.
While Jordan Davis could get drafted in the top half of the first round because of the potential of the player he could become, Wyatt is already a wrecking ball. He was the best-graded defender at the Senior Bowl and is a prototypical player in terms of traits.
Wyatt provided the Bulldogs with 39 combined tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, a pass breakup, a fumble recovery, and two forced fumbles through 13 games.
Houston could pair Wyatt with former sixth-round pick Roy Lopez to have a young tandem along the defensive line’s interior. Wyatt would also excel in the Texans’ Tampa 2 scheme that benefits from disruptive defensive linemen.
“It’s a penetrating, disruptive front, and we’re trying to generate pressure with four guys,” defensive line coach Jacques Cesaire told reporters on Feb. 22. “That’s what we’re trying to do: four guys coming off the run, 60 play, 60 times without any compromise. And, so, that’s what you’re going to see come Sunday.”
