Years in the making, the Houston Texans have finally reached a solution to the Deshaun Watson saga. As a result, they vastly increased their number of draft picks ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft. After finally trading Watson to the Cleveland Browns in a shocker, the Texans now have a bevy of draft selections to help dramatically improve their roster.
The Texans secured their asking price in terms of picks in the 2022 NFL Draft and beyond in the trade from Cleveland. Here’s where they stand now.
Houston Texans draft picks in 2022
- Round 1 | Pick 3
Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU - Round 1 | Pick 15 (from MIA via PHI)
Kenyon Green, G, Texas A&M - Round 2 | Pick 37
Jalen Pitre, S, Baylor - Round 2 | Pick 44 (from CLE)
John Metchie III, WR, Alabama - Round 3 | Pick 75 (from DEN)
Christian Harris, LB, Alabama - Round 4 | Pick 107 (from DET via CLE)
Dameon Pierce, RB, Florida - Round 5 | Pick 150 (from CHI)
Thomas Booker, DT, Stanford - Round 5 | Pick 170 (from TB via NE)
Teagan Quitoriano, TE, Oregon State - Round 6 | Pick 205 (from GB)
Austin Deculus, OT, LSU
Houston already had quite a haul of draft choices prior to the trade, as they were set to pick four times in the first 80 selections. They already owned the third overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft as well as three early Day 2 selections. It was safe to say they were expected to come out of the draft with a dramatically improved roster. Derek Stingley Jr. dramatically changes their secondary for the better with his pick at No. 3.
Now, after adding six new picks courtesy of the Browns, they’re in the conversation with the Philadelphia Eagles as the best candidates to emerge from the draft as winners given their capital. Houston then owned Cleveland’s first-round pick, No. 13. They received four other draft picks from Cleveland: first-round picks in 2023 and 2024, as well as a 2023 third-round pick and a pair of fourth-round picks: one in 2022 (No. 107) and one in 2024.
Houston wasn’t done with draft trades, either. They opened draft week by sending a sixth-round pick (No. 183) and a seventh-round selection (No. 245) to the New England Patriots in exchange for a fifth-round pick (No. 170). And followed that up on draft day by accepting a big trade from the Philadelphia Eagles that gave them pick Nos. 15, 124, 162, and 166 in exchange for pick No. 13. Houston then selected Kenyon Green with pick No. 15.
Houston Texans 2022 NFL Draft team needs
As much as they may like Davis Mills, the Texans need to secure a face of the franchise at team sports’ most important position: quarterback. Their secondary needs reworking and their receiving corps needs more than one new option.
Not listed as one of their top needs, however, is the offensive line group, despite the fact that Houston’s front five could use reworking at just about every position opposite Laremy Tunsil.
- Quarterback
- EDGE
- Cornerback
- Wide Receiver
- Safety