A look at the Texans 2021 draft

The Houston Texans entered the 2021 NFL Draft with eight picks - none in rounds one and two thanks to Billy O’Brien.

New GM Nick Caserio and coach David Culley were hamstrung from the get-go. The Texans finished 2020 with a 4-12 record. QB Deshaun Watson has requested a trade and now faces more than 20 sexual assault and misconduct lawsuits, and will never play for the Texans again.

ROUND 3

No. 67: Davis Mills, QB, Stanford

Dane Brugler’s analysis: The Texans drafting a quarterback with their first pick in this draft is fascinating, but Mills is a good player. Arguably the best middle of the field passer in the draft, he is a loose passer who throws a pretty ball. The durability of his left knee is a concern and only 11 career starts is an issue, but he has NFL starting potential.

No. 89: Nico Collins, WR, Michigan

At 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, the Texans finally have a tall target for whomever is throwing the ball.

Dane Brugler’s analysis: The Texans traded up to answer their holes at receiver, drafting Collins ahead of a few other receiver-needy teams. A big, fast athlete, he isn’t the most sudden player and will struggle to separate, but his speed and ball skills are starting-worthy traits.

ROUND 5

No. 147: Brevin Jordan, TE, Miami

Dane Brugler’s analysis: A fluid mover for his size, Jordan quickly enters his route and doesn’t break stride at the catch point, tracking the ball and carrying his speed to be a seam-buster (63.3 percent of his career receiving yards came after the catch). While he gives terrific effort as a blocker, he lacks ideal size and strength in this area, which lowers his margin for error vs. NFL defenders. Overall, Jordan needs to become more detail-focused as a blocker and route-runner, but he has the athleticism and ball skills to be a three-level pass-catching threat. He projects similar to Irv Smith as a “move” tight end prospect.

No. 147: Garret Wallow, LB, TCU

Dane Brugler’s analysis: A three-year starter at TCU, Wallow was the SAM linebacker in head coach Gary Patterson’s 4-2-5 base scheme. A high school safety-turned-college linebacker, he was a high-volume tackler (16 games with double-digit tackles) and his 295 tackles ranked fourth-most in Patterson’s 20-season tenure. Wallow fills the stat sheet with his active play style, play speed and nose for the football. While he has the lateral range to work around blocks, he has some limitations with his length and change of direction, which will dent his tackling batting average versus NFL blockers and ball carriers. Overall, Wallow lacks ideal size and redirect skills, which especially shows in coverage, but his speed, toughness and closing burst will be an immediate fit on special teams as he competes for defensive reps as a run-and-hit linebacker.

ROUND 6

No. 195: Roy Lopez, DT, Arizona

Dane Brugler’s analysis: Roy Lopez III was an All-State center and defensive tackle at Tempe’s Mesquite High School and he finished his senior year with 17.0 tackles for loss and 6.0 sacks. He was also a two-time state champion heavyweight wrestler. A two-star recruit, Lopez committed to New Mexico State over Utah State and was an immediate starter on the defensive line. After redshirting in 2019 due to a leg injury, he transferred to Arizona for his final season, starting all five games as a nose tackle in the Wildcats’ three-man front. The son of a coach, Lopez is easy to spot on film with his long, blonde hair, but also his energy. He plays low off the snap with the body flexibility and active hands to stack blocks (his wrestling background translates). He will occasionally be engulfed by power and struggles versus double teams. Overall, Lopez isn’t consistently disruptive, but he has terrific agility, contact balance and upper-body strength to be a one-gap nose in a four-man front.