A History Of Texans’ Third Round Draft Picks

Historically, third round picks in the NFL Draft don’t always turn out to be the greatest players of all time. However, guys like Travis Kelce, Russell Wilson, Hines Ward, Steve Smith Sr., Dan Fouts and Joe Montana were all third rounders. Can Nick Caserio strike that sort of gold in next week’s NFL Draft? Maybe..

Your Houston Texans have yet to land a Hall of Famer in the third round, but that certainly doesn’t mean it can’t (or won’t) happen.

List of Houston Texans Third-Round Draft Picks

2002 (expansion draft): Aaron Glenn

2002: Fred Weary, Charles Hill

2003: Antwan Peek, Seth Wand, Dave Ragone

2005: Vernand Morency

2006: Charles Spencer, Eric Winston

2007: Jacoby Jones

2008: Steve Slaton

2009: Antoine Caldwell

2010: Earl Mitchell

2012 DeVier Posey, Brandon Brooks

2013: Brennan Williams, Sam Montgomery

2014: C. J. Fiedorowicz. Louis Nix III

2015: Jaelen Strong

2016: Braxton Miller

2017: D’Onta Foreman

2018: Justin Reid, Martinas Rankin, Jordan Akins

2019: Kahale Warring

2020: Jonathan Greenard

From that list, several names jump out as solid additions to the Texans’ roster. Guys like Charles Spencer, Eric Winston, Steve Slaton, Brandin Brooks, C.J. Fiedorowicz, Justin Reid, and Jordan Akins have all done a lot to help the team’s fortunes.

If his position group wasn’t so crowded with great players, Slaton would have made the Top Five Running Backs in Houston Texans history list. Eric Winston did make the Top Five Offensive Linemen list; Brandon Brooks barely missed it.

Two of Houston’s Top Five Tight Ends were taken in the third round: Fiedorowicz (CJF-350!) and Jordan Akins. While Fiedorowicz’s career ran short due to injury, Akins is still going strong.

However, only one player hit the #1 spot on the charts.

Not unlike the 2021 draft, in 2018 the Texans didn’t have a pick in the first or second round (apparently Bill O’Brien never thought those two picks were valuable). When the time to grab a player rolled around in the third, former Texans general manager Brian Gaine nabbed Justin Reid—a player many believed was the biggest steal of the entire draft. With Reid firmly entrenched in the pole position of the Top 5 Safeties in Houston Texans history, it’s safe to say we agree.

The range of mock draft predictions for the Texans this year is all over the map. From Houston calling the name of wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown to cornerback Benjamin St-Juste, no one seems to have a consensus on just what name Nick Caserio will turn in when Houston’s pick comes due. Maybe the Texans get another Morency or maybe they get a Montana. Either way, barring a crazy trade, we’ll all have to wait until the 2021 NFL Draft hits the third round next Friday to know for sure.

Who was your favorite Houston Texans third-round pick? Have a player you really want the Texans to take next week?