Texans Bolster Pass Rush, Secondary in Two-Round ESPN NFL Mock Draft

Matching C.J. Stroud's prowess on offense with a potent defense is the Houston Texans' best chance to be elite in 2024. Did they meet those needs in Matt Miller's mock draft?

With quarterback C.J. Stroud under center, the Houston Texans probably won’t have to worry much about their offense very much. There’s some fine-tuning to be had, sure, but fans should expect the lion’s share of this off-season’s resources to be spent on the other side of the ball.

In 2023, the unit was good enough to bail out the offense during some of its lesser moments. It ultimately finished just 14th in expected points added per play. Plagued by explosive plays and picked apart by a more talented unit when it mattered most, general manager Nick Caserio has his work cut out for him.

In ESPN’s latest mock draft, Matt Miller took two rounds to address Houston’s defense.

Alabama defensive back Kool-Aid McKinstry (1) gestures in celebration after Tennessee failed to convert a 4th down in the fourth quarter of a football game between Tennessee and Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023 :: © Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

With the 23rd pick — which the Texans own from their trade with the Cleveland Browns — Miller has Houston taking Alabama corner Kool-Aid McKinstry.

“McKinstry was a consistent playmaker throughout his college career …” Miller wrote. “He will have to answer questions about his true speed at the combine, but his three years of tape tell me he’s a first-rounder.”

McKinstry would give Houston two boundary corners with legitimate star potential. Pairing him alongside Stingley would give head coach DeMeco Ryans the confidence to shut down any receiving corps.

However, a secondary is often only as good as the pass rush it complements.

With the hypothetical No. 59 pick, the Texans took Miami defensive tackle Leonard Taylor III.

“The Hurricanes’ defense asked Taylor to play primarily mode tackle in 2023, which limited pass-rush opportunities,” Miller wrote. “But the tape shows the quickness and instincts to be a productive gap player.”

As Miller noted, defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins — who played well this year — is a free agent. That doesn’t mean he’s a priority to bring back.

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Taylor would be younger, cheaper, and more dynamic than Rankins. The pass-rush synergy that comes from pairing a strong tackle with edge rushers Jonathan Greenard and Will Anderson Jr. could help make Houston even more threatening.