The Texans started the 2022 draft with 10 picks. After wheeling and dealing in the 1st round, they picked up 3 more to give them a total of 13. The trade they made in the 1st round to pick up those extra picks had no effect on Day 2, other than they could use some of those picks to move back into round 2 or 3, which is exactly what happened.
The Texans keep #37 and stay with another local kid. With the 5th pick of the 2nd round, #37 overall, Texans 3rd pick of the draft, the Texans select Baylor DB Jalen Pitre. So they go with another DB over getting a pass rusher here. Pitre is another Houston area kid from Stafford, playing his high school ball at Stafford High. Pitre was a LB his 1st 3 years at Baylor, was redshirted and moved to the defensive backfield in 2020 where he made 1st team All Big 12 and had 2 INT, both pick 6's. Last year with the Bears, Pitre was 1st team All-American and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.
And with the 44th overall pick, 12th in the 2nd round, the Texans go back to offense and select WR John Metchie III from Alabama. So for the 2nd time in as many drafts as Caserio has had with the Texans, he trades multiple picks for a WR. Last year Caserio gave up 3 picks, including a 4th rounder this year, to take WR Nico Collins. Now he's giving up 3 picks to go get Metchie. That's 6 picks for 2 WRs. And Metchie may also be a reach as well as he was an early 3rd round projection. And of course, the Texans had an early 3rd round pick.
And with the #75 pick, 11th in the 3rd round, the Texans stay at Alabama and take LB Christian Harris. With a 4.4 40, Harris has got some speed. Harris played through a shoulder injury in 2020 and still led the Tide in tackles, and had 7 tackles for loss and 4½ sacks. Last year Harris dropped to 5th in tackles for the team, but had 11½ tackles for loss and 5½ sacks. Half of Harris' 10 career sacks have come in SEC championship games and College playoff games.
The Texans started day 2 with 3 picks. Their own at #37 overall (5th in the 2nd round), their own at #68 (4th in the 3rd round), and the pick they got for trading Bradley Roby to the Saints last year, #80 (16th in the 3rd round). Many thought the Texans would be looking at RB at #37, if they kept it, but that was out the window when the Jets jumped one pick in front of them to take the RB that was likely targeted (Breece Hall).
 |
| Jalen Pitre - Baylor |
The Texans keep #37 and stay with another local kid. With the 5th pick of the 2nd round, #37 overall, Texans 3rd pick of the draft, the Texans select Baylor DB Jalen Pitre. So they go with another DB over getting a pass rusher here. Pitre is another Houston area kid from Stafford, playing his high school ball at Stafford High. Pitre was a LB his 1st 3 years at Baylor, was redshirted and moved to the defensive backfield in 2020 where he made 1st team All Big 12 and had 2 INT, both pick 6's. Last year with the Bears, Pitre was 1st team All-American and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.
Pitre is said to have a high football IQ and even though he's a bit undersized, he's a big plus in run support. That smaller size may be what allows him to knife through traffic and get to the ball carrier. That size could end up being an issue in the NFL though. Pitre is likely to play safety, maybe some nickel in Lovie Smith's defense.
Pitre may have been a bit of a reach, projected to go towards the end of the 2nd round, not to mention a bit of a surprise that the Texans continue to pass on pass rushers. I mean, the Texans are certainly desperate for DBs, as they are for nearly all positions, but all the DBs in the world won't make much difference if you don't have a good pass rush, which the Texans don't.
GM Nick Caserio, who evidently has the Cleveland Browns #1 on his speed dial, is on the phone again with the Browns to make a trade to move back up into the 2nd round. The Texans give up their 3rd round pick (#68), their 4th round pick (#108), and a 4th round pick they got in Day 1 from Philly (#124), to move up to #44.
 |
| John Metchie - Alabama |
And with the 44th overall pick, 12th in the 2nd round, the Texans go back to offense and select WR John Metchie III from Alabama. So for the 2nd time in as many drafts as Caserio has had with the Texans, he trades multiple picks for a WR. Last year Caserio gave up 3 picks, including a 4th rounder this year, to take WR Nico Collins. Now he's giving up 3 picks to go get Metchie. That's 6 picks for 2 WRs. And Metchie may also be a reach as well as he was an early 3rd round projection. And of course, the Texans had an early 3rd round pick.
Metchie is another injury concern, suffering an ACL tear last December. Of course, players recover well from ACLs these days so it isn't really too much of an issue. Metchie is far from being a local kid. Born in Taiwan, moving to Ghana, then migrating to Canada by the time he was 6 years old. He played high school ball in Maryland before heading to the Crimson Tide.
Playing behind some stud WRs at Alabama the last 2 years, Metchie held his own. 916 yards on 55 catches and 6 TD in 2020 with Devonta Smith at WR1, who went 10th overall last year. In 2021 Metchie led the Tide with 96 receptions, more than Jameson Williams had who went #12 Thursday night, and was 2nd behind Williams with 1,142 yards and 8 TD. So that begs the question, does Metchie need a top WR1 on the field with him to succeed? Shouldn't be an issue for now with Brandin Cooks expected to be here for a couple of more seasons.
Next up for the Texans, Caserio is back on the phones, this time it's with the Broncos, and again the Texans use one of the picks (#162) they got moving back to #15 in Day 1, to move up in the 3rd round. They give up #80 and that pick at #162, a 5th rounder, to move up 5 spots to #75.
 |
| Christian Harris - Alabama |
And with the #75 pick, 11th in the 3rd round, the Texans stay at Alabama and take LB Christian Harris. With a 4.4 40, Harris has got some speed. Harris played through a shoulder injury in 2020 and still led the Tide in tackles, and had 7 tackles for loss and 4½ sacks. Last year Harris dropped to 5th in tackles for the team, but had 11½ tackles for loss and 5½ sacks. Half of Harris' 10 career sacks have come in SEC championship games and College playoff games.
Harris is likely to play WILL LB (weakside) for the Texans where he can chase and hit and play faster. Coverage is not Harris' strong suit. His instincts and vision will cause him to misread blocking and get out of position. Not sure if Harris sees a lot of snaps in 2022, never mind starting, which starters is what you're hoping to shoot for in the 1st 3 rounds.
This is another situation where I wonder if Harris wouldn't have lasted 5 more picks where Caserio wouldn't have had to give away picks to get him. The next 5 teams did not take a LB, but then again, Harris was no longer on the board, so you never know.
So that will do it for the Texans on Day 2. They started the draft with 5 picks in the first 80 and end up making 5 selections in the first 75. They started the draft with 10 picks, they've made 5, and still have 5 left for Day 3. They get things started really early on Day 3 as they have the 2nd pick in the 4th round.
Comments
Post a Comment