The Houston Texans are embarking on a memorable run with quarterback C.J. Stroud playing above his rookie status and receivers such as Nico Collins and Noah Brown having career seasons. Even rookie Tank Dell’s weekly development provides optimism as to the future.
Nevertheless football is about projection as much as it is living in the moment, and the Texans have to keep looking ahead, even as it involves positions of strength.
According to Jeff Risdon from The Draft Wire, who released a two-round mock, the Texans use their No. 23 overall pick to take South Carolina wideout Xavier Legette in the 2024 NFL draft.
Legette almost looks like a tight end with his size, but he’s got a lot of A.J. Brown to his game. Adding around C.J. Stroud seems like a smart way for GM Nick Caserio to roll here.
In terms of young receivers under contract, the Texans would be packed. Next season will be the last year for Collins. Not only will Dell enter his second season, but so will sixth-rounder Xavier Hutchinson. The Texans will also have the third year with John Metchie. If Houston added Legette, they could fully phase into a younger receiving corps all on their rookie contracts.
If the Texans wanted to go defense, a nearby defender that might make sense is Miami defensive tackle Leonard Taylor, who goes No. 25 overall to the Seattle Seahawks. The 6-2, 305-pounder could be an effective replacement depending on where the team sits with Sheldon Rankins and Hassan Ridgeway at the end of the season.
