Texans Create 'Fearsome Cornerback Duo' In Latest ESPN NFL Mock Draft

The Houston Texans could use some secondary help, and ESPN has them doing just that with their first pick of the upcoming NFL Draft.

With Super Bowl LVIII in the rearview mirror, all 32 NFL teams are now shifting their focus to the offseason. The Texans, in particular, are poised to make significant moves with ample cap space and draft capital at their disposal. 

One area in which the Texans hope to make those improvements will be in pass defense, where they ranked in the bottom half of the league, giving up 234.5 yards per game.  And while they got everything they could out of their secondary unit, bolstering it further this offseason will be crucial to their success next season.

With that in mind, ESPN's Field Yates has the Texans doing just that with their first pick of the upcoming NFL Draft. 

Per Yates, the Texans will pick Missouri standout cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr., who will help form a 'fearsome' cornerback duo in Houston. 

"Rakestraw is one of my favorite guys to watch in this entire class, as he seems to find just as much joy in lining up man-to-man opposite a top wide receiver as he does delivering bone-crunching hits in run defense," Yates said. "Pairing him with Derek Stingley Jr. could give Houston a fearsome CB duo."

With the impending free agency of cornerbacks Steven Nelson, Tavierre Thomas, and Kris Boyd the Texans face pressing defensive needs at the corner, and Rakestraw could be a tremendous fit in Matt Burke's defense. 

2024 NFL Mock Draft: Can Texans Build Elite Cornerback Duo?

Known for his physicality and toughness, Rakestraw ended his four-year career at Missouri with 107 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 24 pass deflections, three forced fumbles, one sack and one interception

In fact, Rakestraw was part of one of the best cornerback duos in the entire country at Missouri alongside Kris Abrams Draine who helped lead the Tigers to a top-10 season and a Cotton Bowl win in 2023.

Should the Texans indeed pick Rakestraw, he will have an opportunity to do something similar alongside Derek Stingley Jr. in Houston.