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

February is the most fetid month, but soon it is coming to an end. Bringing back longer days, bright light, and flowers the color of Luby’s desert aisle. With the end of our worst month also comes the NFL Combine (next week), where young men will be in their tight shirts and panties, running and jumping for older men, all to prove they should be given millions of dollars right out of college.

The Houston Texans have multiple options with the third overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. They can pray one of the top pass rushers falls to them. They could bolster the tackle position after trading Laremy Tunsil. They coulsd select a Swiss army knife in Kyle Hamilton. They could trade down to bolster their draft capital. This week is another mock draft, and this one comes from Austin Gayle from Pro Football Focus. He has the Texans selecting:

3. Houston Texans: OT Ikem Ekwonu, NC State

Big Board Rank: 6

At 6-foot-4 and 320 pounds, Ekwonu has guard-tackle versatility but earned a legitimate shot to start his NFL career at offensive tackle after his spectacular 2021 campaign at left tackle with the Wolfpack. He earned a 91.6 overall grade and 93.8 run-blocking grade across more than 800 offensive snaps this season, the latter of which ranks sixth among all single-season marks for Power Five tackles since 2014. He’s a true road-grader in the run game with improved polish and footwork in pass protection. A player with his skill set shouldn’t fall past the first 10 picks in the draft.

In the second round, he has the Texans grabbing a wide receiver:

35. Houston Texans: WR Jahan Dotson, Penn State

Big Board Rank: 38

Ekwonu has been described a lot like Mekhi Becton, but without the elephantine frame and hopefully a better work ethic. Houston could take a tackle they can move to guard. This scenario is also based on the two best pass rushers dropping off the board immediately.

Following Ekwonu in this mock, Houston adds another young pass catcher at a position where they have a singular good player in Brandin Cooks.

What do you think of this hypothetical draft class? Let it be known in the comments below.