Texans Secure Big Needs, Major Talent in Final Mel Kiper Mock Draft

There might not be a team whose first-round pick has a bigger impact on the rest of the draft board than the Houston Texans and what they ultimately end up doing with the second overall pick.

It has become one of the most unpredictable picks in the first round with Houston linked to both defensive pieces as well as potential trades down the board to gain more draft capital. 

In Mel Kiper's final mock draft he has the Texans doing the former and selecting Alabama outside linebacker Will Anderson Jr. after passing up on a potential quarterback. 

"I struggled with what to do here. Are the Texans really going to pass up a quarterback here?" Kiper wrote. "Will they trot out Davis Mills again next season? Could they find a veteran passer via trade (or take one with their other first-rounder?)"

"I'm hearing Houston will take an edge rusher, either Anderson or Tyree Wilson (Texas Tech), unless it throws everyone a curveball. I like Anderson much more than Wilson, and that's the direction I'd go."

The Texans undoubtedly need help on defense as last season they were 27th in scoring defense after allowing opponents to score 24.7 points per game. After bringing in DeMeco Ryans as the new coach, Anderson could be the move here.

Of course, there is no shortage of reasons to like Anderson if you're Houston. His final season at Alabama saw him record 51 total tackles with 17 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. However, those numbers were a "down" year for the Alabama prospect.

His best season came in 2021 when he was all but unstoppable for opposing offenses. Anderson's 2021 season was nothing short of dominant with 101 total tackles with a staggering 31 tackles for loss and 17.5 sacks. Simply put, taking him at No. 2 overall makes a lot of sense for the Texans. 

As for the elephant in the room regarding the quarterback situation in Houston, well, that also gets addressed in Kiper's final mock. Despite passing on a quarterback with the second pick the Texans still get their guy as Florida's Anthony Richardson slides down the board to them at No. 12 overall with their second first-round pick. 

Even though they passed on a potential franchise quarterback for Anderson, the Texans still are able to get their guy in Richardson. While there are questions about how his game will translate to the NFL, this would be a good haul for Houston. 

Richardson threw for 2,549 yards with 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions in his final season while completing 53.8 percent of his passes. However, he is also an elite runner who rushed for 654 yards and nine touchdowns as well. 

With a pair of first-round picks the Texans will play a large part in how the board ultimately ends up on night one. If they walked away with arguably the best player in the draft in Anderson and a potential franchise quarterback in Richardson, well, those two picks could go a long way in furthering the rebuild. 

You can find Connor Zimmerlee on Twitter @Connorjz98

Want the latest in breaking and insider news for the Houston Texans? Click Here

Follow Texans Daily on Twitter and Facebook

Make sure to subscribe to our daily podcast @LockedOnTexans today! Click here To Listen.

Want even more Houston Texans news? Check out the SI.com team page here.