2022 NFL Mock Draft: The Houston Texans Select...

The Houston Texans were without a first or a second round pick last weekend because of Bill O’Brien’s trade to acquire Laremy Tunsil from the Dolphins. While everyone else was able to improve their football team, the Texans were stuck indoors, staring longingly at their left tackle and living vicariously through the antics going on outside their doors.

The good news? The final payment has been made. Houston has paid their punishment. Now there is future draft capital ahead.

Houston is going to be slotted at the top of any NFL Draft talk going forward. The 4-12 team will be without Deshaun Watson. It has a sad and decrepit roster living in his wake. The Texans don’t think they are tanking, but they are going to be losing a lot of football games in 2021.

In honor of the mock drafts we have just read through day after day after day, here’s one last one. Then we can put these in a drawer until next season, when the Texans are 1-6 and we are arguing about Spencer Rattler or Sam Howell or Malik Willis while Davis Mills is out there giving it his all.

With the first pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Dane Brugler with The Athletic has the Texans taking:

1. Houston Texans — Spencer Rattler, QB, Oklahoma

The future in Houston for Deshaun Watson is uncertain, which could put the Texans in the quarterback market next offseason, especially if they own the No. 1 pick. In his first season as a starter last year, Rattler made plenty of mistakes, but he got better as the campaign progressed. He should continue that development under coach Lincoln Riley.

Glare upon the impending future. Gasp at the atrocities soon to be committed. Because before you know it, September will be here soon.