:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/29789851/20131228_jla_mb2_393.0.jpg)
With free agency set to begin tomorrow, Mocking The Draft has released their latest prediction for the 2014 NFL Draft. This one's a three round extravaganza. Who do they have your Houston Texans taking? I'm glad you asked.
1. Houston Texans - Teddy Bridgewater, Quarterback, Louisville
Central Florida quarterback Blake Bortles and South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney have become the favorites for the No. 1 pick. But Teddy Bridgewater is the best quarterback in the draft. Maybe the Texans prefer Bortles, but at this point it seems foolish to rule out Bridgewater. It’s the time of year when smoke screens are being thrown up at a rapid pace, and it’s tough to tell what teams are actually thinking. Houston badly needs a quarterback, so this mock will keep it simple and give the Texans the top quarterback on the board.
Yes. I like that. I like that a lot.
33. Houston Texans - Antonio Richardson, Offensive tackle, Tennessee
After finding their quarterback of the future with first pick, the Texans add some depth to the offensive line, which was a weakness for them a year ago. Antonio Richardson is an athletic tackle who is a bit rough around the edges. Thus, he’s available at the top of the second round.
While it's feasible the Texans could address the offensive line in the second round, I don't think it's likely. As for Richardson himself, here's a less than glowing scouting report from Lance Zierlein. I haven't watched Richardson at all, so I won't pretend to know anything about him. I will note, however, that a prospect who leads a learned eye to be "concerned that many of Richardson's issues are physical and cannot be improved much with coaching" doesn't exactly scream "FIRST PICK OF THE SECOND ROUND" to me.
65. Houston Texans - Billy Turner, Offensive tackle, North Dakota State
After the year Houston had blocking in 2013, adding two offensive linemen isn’t out of the question. Billy Turner can play just about every position on the offensive line, so he’s a nice option here.
As doubtful as I am about the idea of the Texans taking an offensive tackle in the second round, I am even more dubious about the notion of them taking offensive linemen back-to-back in the second and third rounds in 2014. Zierlein doesn't think that Turner can play right away, and he theorized that Turner may eventually be moved to guard. Again, not exactly a ringing endorsement for the first pick of the third round.
Your reaction to this mock, BRB?