With the Houston Texans not needing a quarterback — at least not in 2022 — the club is in advantageous position to add the best players available in Round 1.
Houston has a proprietary pick at No. 3 overall and also a selection at No. 13 overall thanks to a trade with the Cleveland Browns last month. The Texans can add impactful players to the roster without having to worry about addressing quarterback, a situation the Carolina Panthers find themselves in at No. 6 overall.
According to Luke Easterling from the Draft Wire, who released his latest mock draft, the Texans go ahead and use their No. 3 selection to pick the best cornerback in the draft in Cincinnati’s Ahmad Gardner.
The Texans could easily take the next-best pass rusher here, but after seeing two of them come off the board already, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them opt for the best prospect at another premium position. Gardner has a rare combination of size, length and athleticism for the corner spot, and didn’t give up a single touchdown in his entire college career.
Jordan Davis and Jermaine Johnson are still on the board, but the Texans get anxious and decide to make a deal with Washington to move up to No. 11 overall to select Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton.
Yes, Lovie Smith’s defense could use an edge rusher, but the chance to move up just two spots and land perhaps the best overall player in the draft here might be too enticing. Adding both Gardner and Hamilton to this secondary would be huge, giving them two young playmakers with elite range and playmaking ability.
Washington picks up an extra mid-round pick as part of the price for Houston moving up two spots to take Hamilton.
The selections of Gardner and Hamilton would give the Texans a formidable backend for the future.
