As the NFL offseason approaches the singularity of the 2022 NFL draft, there is a quickening of mock drafts upon the sports world.
The Houston Texans are the subject of many mock drafts thanks to their twin Round 1 picks, which invite a myriad of possibilities to add premier talent.
According to Luke Easterling from the Draft Wire, the Texans use their No. 3 overall pick to take Cincinnati cornerback Ahmad Gardner. It isn’t that far of a stretch given that the Texans brought in Gardner for a visit.
The Texans need just about everything, so this pick is about prioritizing overall talent and value. While a pass rusher would certainly make sense, Gardner’s rare combination of size, length and athleticism could give him the edge, after not allowing a single touchdown in his entire college career.
Houston misses out on Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton, who goes No. 7 overall to the New York Giants. However, the Texans manage to add a pass rusher at No. 13 overall.
After grabbing a shutdown corner at No. 3 overall, the Texans add an explosive edge defender to spearhead the vital pass rush for Lovie Smith’s defense. Johnson backed up his impressive film with a dominant performance at the Senior Bowl, and has all the tools to be an impact player at the next level.
In the rest of the draft, the Texans do find their young safety in Georgia’s Lewis Cine at No. 37 overall in Round 2. Cine should at least be a successor to Justin Reid if nothing else.
In Round 3, the Texans use their No. 68 overall selection to grab Alabama receiver John Metchie, who is making tremendous progress from his ACL injury he sustained in the SEC Championship Game. Houston also uses their No. 80 overall pick in Round 3 to take Minnesota tackle Daniel Faalele to shore up their swing tackle situation.
