General manager Nick Caserio’s first official draft may have been in 2021, but the 2022 NFL draft was the first chance he had to significantly address issues across the Houston Texans’ roster.
The Texans entered the draft with the most selections with 13, but Caserio leveraged the picks to build packages and take specific players.
According to Chris Trapasso from CBS Sports, the Texans’ 2022 class ranks as the eighth-most impactful from last month’s draft. Leading off was former LSU cornerback Derek Stingley, taken with the No. 3 overall pick in Round 1. First-round guard Kenyon Green from Texas A&M, second-round safety Jalen Pitre from Baylor, former Alabama third-round linebacker Christian Harris, and former Florida running back Dameon Pierce were listed as impactful rookies.
Stingley was my No. 1 cornerback and I had a first-round grade on Pitre, as a slot defender. He’s more nickel corner than pure safety. Harris plays to his 4.44 speed and is sudden in his movements. He needs to work on his tackling reliability. Pierce will be the feature back by November at the latest. There aren’t many runners with his combination of compact size, natural power, and lightning-quick feet.
All four of the players listed have the potential to take over starting jobs on Opening Day. For Harris and Pierce, they will have to work with a stable of veterans to earn their playing time. However, with more reps and consistency, they should be able to man starting roles by the end of the season.
