Alabama’s Jarran Reed could add some much-needed depth to Houston’s defensive line at the very least

The 2015 Texans decided to take the road less traveled to the playoffs in 2015. They started four different quarterbacks (Mallett, Hoyer, Yates and Weeden), lost their star running back Arian Foster for the year to an Achilles injury and had a revolving door of wide receivers playing opposite of DeAndre Hopkins. They were able to overcome these shortfalls by relying on their defense and J.J. Watt to keep them in games and not require the offense to score at will (something they could not do).

They ended up finishing the year 9-7, which was good enough to win the AFC South and earn them their first playoff berth since 2012.  Their quick playoff departure was largely attributable to the implosion of Brian Hoyer, who turned the ball over four times against the Chiefs.

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2015 Draft Picks

• Round 1, Pick 16 – Kevin Johnson (CB – Wake Forest)
• Round 2, Pick 43 – Benardrick McKinney (LB – Mississippi State)
• Round 3, Pick 70 – Jaelen Strong (WR – Arizona State)
• Round 5, Pick 175 – Keith Mumphrey (WR – Michigan State)
• Round 6, Pick 211 – Reshard Cliett (LB – South Florida)
• Round 6, Pick 216 – Christian Covington (DT – Rice)
• Round 7, Pick 235 – Kenny Hilliard (RB – LSU)

Overall, the Texans graded out fairly well among draft experts. They were able to select the best player available on their draft board in Johnson, which was not necessarily an immediate position of need given the fact that the Texans have Jonathon Joseph and Kareem Jackson. McKinney had mixed reviews as some felt he was a one-dimensional player, and others felt that Eric Kendricks would have been a better selection.

Wide receiver was a big position of need given that the depth behind Hopkins was almost non-existent, so the Texans needed to address this position in the draft. They did so by drafting Strong, who dropped down many teams boards due to injury concern and off the field concerns, as well as Keith Mumphrey, who also contributes on special teams. Covington also added depth behind the newly signed Vince Wilfork and provided much-needed depth at the defensive tackle position.

Hilliard was nothing more than a lottery ticket pick and to provide another body in camp as he did not make the roster and was signed to the practice squad instead. Overall, the Texans were able to select positions of need but did not do so at their detriment by choosing the best player available on their board in most situations.

2016 Draft Picks

The Texans changed the landscape of their draft entirely in free agency. It was likely they would have to take a quarterback, and running back very high in the 2016 draft.  Instead, they signed QB Brock Osweiler away from Denver, and RB Lamar Miller away from Miami. This will help to solidify their offense and give them much more flexibility in the upcoming 2016 draft.

• Round 1, Pick 22
• Round 2, Pick 52
• Round 3, Pick 85
• Round 4, Pick 119
• Round 5, Pick 159
• Round 5, Pick 166
• Round 6, Pick 195

Top Draft Needs

Wide Receiver
The Texans addressed their uninspiring offense in free agency with the signing of Osweiler and Miller, but it should not stop there. They need to add a big-play threat to their passing attack opposite Hopkins. They currently have Strong (who may face discipline from the NFL for an off-season arrest) and Cecil Shorts, who are solid receivers but do not offer the big play potential Bill O’Brien is looking for.

Potential Fit:

• Corey Coleman (WR – Baylor)
• Will Fuller (WR – Notre Dame)
• Sterling Shepard (WR – Oklahoma)

Offensive Line
Star left tackle Duane Brown tore his quadriceps tendon at the end of the season and is currently rehabbing to be ready for the start of the season. They also lost starting right guard Brandon Brooks and starting center Ben Jones.

However, in free agency they replaced Brandon Brooks with Jeff Allen and Ben Jones with Tony Bergstrom. It is likely that Jeff Allen will start at guard, but Tony Bergstrom will likely have to compete with either a rookie or with Greg Mancz, who ended the 2015 season on injured reserve, but the Texans are very high on.

Potential Fit:

• Ryan Kelly (C – Alabama)
• Nick Martin (C – Notre Dame)
• Taylor Decker (T – Ohio State)

Defensive Line
The Texans lost Watt’s line-mate in Jared Crick during free agency to the Broncos. Not only do the Texans have very minimal depth on the defensive line, they just lost a starter.  This a position they must address at some point in the draft.

Luckily for Houston, this has been touted as one of the best drafts in terms of defensive lineman depth in recent years. The options they have are plenty, and they could wait in the draft and still get a solid talent on the line.

Potential Fit:

• Jarran Reed (DE – Alabama)
• Chris Jones (DE – Mississippi State)
• Austin Johnson (DE – Penn State)
  

Alex Haeussler is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Alex, check out his archive and follow him on Twitter @alexhaeussler.