If the Texans want to go anywhere this season, they need to protect Deshaun Watson. And if they want to protect Deshaun Watson, they need to improve their offensive line depth. With the 80th overall pick in this draft, that’s exactly what Brian Gaine just did with Mississippi State tackle Martinas Rankin.
Texans draft Mississippi State offensive lineman Martinas Rankin
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) April 28, 2018
Rankin is a possible conversion project to guard or center (though our own Matt Weston believes Rankin can easily survive at offensive tackle), which means he will be competing with either Senio Kelemete, Zach Fulton, Jeff Allen, Seantrel Henderson, or Nick Martin for a job. As of now, it’s hard to determine if Rankin will (or even should) start as a rookie, but he at the very least gives Bill O’Brien some options, which is more than we could say last season.
What say you, BRB? Is Rankin the offensive lineman you had in mind going into tonight’s draft, or was there someone else you had in mind?