Every player drafted with 42nd overall pick in the last 20 years

The Houston Texans will have plenty of time to decide what direction they’ll turn with their first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft since they won’t be on the clock until midway through the second round.

After trading away their first-round pick to the Arizona Cardinals last April to acquire Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson Jr. at No. 3, the Texans traded their other first-rounder picked up in the Deshuan Watson deal from the Cleveland Browns to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for future draft captial.

At the time, it seemed foolish to move down 19 spots, but the 2025 second-round pick was later used as the centerpiece in the trade for Buffalo Bills Pro Bowl receiver Stefon Diggs.

Diggs might as well be considered the Texans’ first-round pick. And thanks to the trade back with Minnesota, Houston now owns two second-round selections at pick No. 42 and pick No. 59.

The No. 42 selection has been a wild card over the past two decades. There’s no real baseline as to what position or type of player could be made available or the prognosis in the pros. Last year, the pick ended up being a promising young pass-catcher for Jordan Love in the Green Bay Packers’ offense. Two years ago, the Vikings traded up for a defensive back who’s started twice since heading to US Bank Stadium.

What about the rest of the crew? Here’s a look at every player drafted 42nd overall in the last two decades dating back to 2004.