Texans have many needs to address with 2 first-round picks

Posted April 22, 2022 7:00 am

By The Associated Press

2, 13. HOUSTON TEXANS (4-13)

LAST SEASON: The Texans won just four games for the second straight year in a season that was lost with QB Deshaun Watson sitting out amid a trade request and 22 lawsuits alleging sexual assault or harassment. With Watson out they started Tyrod Taylor at QB to open the season, but injuries and ineffective play led to third-round pick Davis Mills starting 11 games. The rookie improved as the season progressed, but it wasn't enough to get the team on track and coach David Culley was fired after just one season.

FREE AGENCY/TRADES: Traded Watson to Cleveland for a package including three first-round picks, including No. 13 in this draft. Lost S Justin Reid in free agency. Signed free agents QB Kyle Allen, OT Cedric Ogbuehi, RB Marlon Mack and LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin.

THEY NEED: QB, CB, OL, DE, WR.

THEY DON'T NEED: K, P.

POSSIBLE FIRST PICK: Alabama OT/G Evan Neal; Oregon DE Kayvon Thibodeaux; Cincinnati CB Ahmad Gardner; North Carolina State T Ikem Ekwonu.

OUTLOOK: The Texans moved to full rebuilding mode last season with Watson sitting out and GM Nick Caserio trading or releasing the team's few remaining stars. Houston got a huge haul in the Watson trade and Caserio will have a chance to add some talent in this draft with two first-round picks. Houston has so many needs that it's difficult to predict what he'll do with those picks. But it will be a big draft for the Texans after they didn't have a first-round pick in either of the last two drafts. New coach Lovie Smith, the team's former defensive coordinator, would probably be happy if one of their top picks goes to beefing up the defensive line after Houston was last in sacks last season with just 32.

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FILE - Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) scrambles against the Cincinnati Bengals during an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, in Houston. Cleveland's blockbuster trade for the legally entangled quarterback became official Sunday, when the Browns finalized the complex deal and released statements from owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam explaining their decision to add him to their roster following the team's own extensive investigation. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith, FIle) The Associated Press

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