The NFL Draft annually represents an opportunity for bad teams to accumulate talent. Talent barren rosters have the chance to add dynamic players that will serve as the faces of the league moving forward. Look no further than the 2021 Cincinnati Bengals, who found their primary building blocks Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase in the 2020 and 2021 first round, as great evidence of that representation. Hope.

In recent years, some teams have adopted a specific strategy. Beyond simply drafting talented players, teams have looked to identify specific weaknesses and address them. Using the first two to three rounds to catapult a previous weakness into the strength of a team, the players selected are able to serve a purpose well beyond the sum of their parts.

Beyond simply drafting the names on the back of the jerseys, NFL teams can draft an identity.

Look at the 2019 Carolina Panthers as an excellent example. After finishing 31st out of 32 teams for points score against during 2019 campaign, the Panthers opted to go all-in on defense. First-round defensive tackle Derrick Brown, second-round selections in defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos and safety Jeremy Chinn, with fourth-round cornerback Troy Pride all made significant contributions to the 2019 season.

Their first four selections turned their weakness as a team into one of the league’s more respectable units, with further steps taken forward during the 2021 campaign. The quality of young defensive players in Carolina was such that they were considered prominent contenders to trade for quarterback Deshaun Watson.

This series will explore multiple scenarios for if general manager Nick Caserio and the Houston Texans decided to draft their own identity. The depth of players in the 2022 draft means that quality starters can be found at nearly every position group in the first three rounds.

To begin, what if the Texans wanted to be able to run the ball in 2022? The team finished dead last in yards gained last season with 1,422 yards and no running back finishing with over 3.5 yards per carry.

Everyone talks about how important the offensive line is and how necessary their play will be for Davis Mills & Pep Hamilton to succeed. What if Houston made the ground game their identity:

3- Ikem Ekwonu 13- Tyler Linderbaum 37- Breece Hall

How would you feel? #WeAreTexans

— John Crumpler (@TexansDoc) March 27, 2022

Houston, here’s your running draft. In this scenario, using their four first selections, Houston immediately upgrades their ability to run the ball and creates viable opportunities for Davis Mills.

Although Ekwonu is technically listed as a tackle when discussed, buzz has grown steadily about his ability to step in immediately as one of the league’s best guards. Rather than replace Tytus Howard at right tackle, Ekwonu could instead slide in next to Laremy Tunsil and play the left guard position. One of the draft’s best talents, Ekwonu would guarantee excellent protection for the blindside of Davis Mills and help to cover up some of Tunsil’s deficiencies in the run game when offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton wants to run weak side.

To me, the “Ikem Ekwonu is a guard” conversation is not about any lack of ability at tackle.

It’s about the belief that at guard he could be a young Will Shields rather than a young Donald Penn if he stays at tackle.

One option could be very good, the other option could great.

— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) March 25, 2022

Some will say this is an overdraft for Johnson. It’s not. Johnson is widely regraded as the draft’s best guard and put on one of the more dominant performances in recent memory at the 2022 Senior Bowl. Playing right guard next to Howard, the 315-pound mauler from Boston College could help to create a tremendous push for Houston’s run game.

Zion Johnson is a OG prospect in the 2022 draft class. He scored a 9.74 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 32 out of 1215 OG from 1987 to 2022. https://t.co/nNM0bYY5SM #RAS pic.twitter.com/Yv7VZEVjGA

— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 28, 2022

Together, Johnson and Ekwonu with returning center Justin Britt would make for a far improved offensive line compared to the 2021 campaign. Five legitimate starters would give a running back a true opportunity to succeed in the 2022 season. The only question remains, who would that back be?

Hall is beginning to near a consensus as the best running back in the 2022 draft. The Iowa State product ran for over 1,400 yards in both the 2020 and 2021 seasons with 21 and 20 touchdowns in each campaign respectively. Houston has thus far neglected to add to their running back group, with Rex Burkhead currently standing as the most talented player at the position.

Hall would represent a workhorse back that could take advantage of everything offensive coordinator Hamilton may want to try in 2022. His vision and burst (4.39 40 time) are the perfect skillset to work with Houston’s first round investment into their interior offensive line.

With their first selection in the third round, Houston double dips and takes a player who will help both their run blocking scheme and Mills in the passing game. McBride is the best tight end in the 2022 draft and would pair perfectly with 2021 draftee Brevin Jordan for the two-tight end sets that Hamilton covets.

McBride is a great blocker and would add a ferociousness to the tight end room that Houston is currently lacking. Combine his ability to open up running lanes for Hall with holding linebackers accountable with stout route running, the Texans would have an excellent selection.

Those four selections combined with the schematic acumen of Hamilton could certainly ensure Houston would not finish last in the rushing category in 2022. How the fans would respond to a more vanilla draft, as the league turns to be more passing oriented, would be interesting.

There is no doubt the Texans would have created an identity stronger than anything observed over the past two years.

Sign up for the Texans Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning

Houston Texans offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton gives credit to general manager Nick Caserio for the selection of running back Dameon (...)

The Houston Texans' contract for RB Dameon Pierce impacted other NFL teams signing fourth-round picks. Nick Caserio explains why Pierce got (...)

The Houston Texans have signed former Alabama linebacker Christian Harris, their third-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft.

Sign up for our newsletter and get every update delivered to your inbox!

Please re-enter your email address.

You'll now receive the top Texans Wire stories each day directly in your inbox.

Powered by WordPress.com VIP

Please enter an email address.

Please check your email for a confirmation.