2024 NFL draft: Texans go mostly defense in new 4-round mock

Barring a trade back into the first round, the Houston Texans will be looking to draft a lot of players in the “sweet spot,” as head coach DeMeco Ryans so eloquently put it.

After general manager Nick Caserio traded the No. 23 pick to the Minnesota Vikings for two second-round picks, the Texans will target players in the middle rounds of the draft after – an area that Ryans said at the NFL owners’ meeting this week is rife with talent.

“We feel like in this draft there’s a large amount of players probably in that second to third, fourth round — a lot of guys right there that can really help our team,” Ryans said. “That’s where the, I say, the ‘sweet spot’ of the draft is this year.”

Houston’s had success in the past there, too, with Nico Collins, Tank Dell and Christian Harris all being taken on Day 2. This time, though, the Texans have some glaring needs in the secondary, the interior of the defensive line as well as a slight need at wide receiver.

NFL.com draft analyst Chad Reuter recently released a four-round mock draft, of which the Texans have five selections. Houston will pick at Nos. 42, 59, 86, 123 and 127. Here are Reuter’s picks for Houston.