Way-too-early Houston Texans 2024 NFL Draft preview

The 2024 NFL Draft is April 25-27 in Detroit. Here is the first-round order, per Tankathon. 

Much of the Houston Texans' success in 2023 can be attributed to its excellent 2023 draft class which yielded Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud, Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson plus guard Juice Scruggs and receiver Tank Dell. Here's an early look at how the Texans might replicate their draft success from a year ago.

2023 record: 11-6 | First-round pick: No. 23 | Team needs: CB, DT, RB

Potential first-round picks: Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia; T’Vondre Sweat, DT, Texas; Blake Corum, RB, Michigan

Houston’s secondary allowed 4,793 passing yards, 20 touchdowns and a passer rating against of 95.3 this past season, per Pro Football Focus. Of the five cornerbacks to play 200 or more coverage snaps for the Texans in 2023, Derek Stingley Jr. was the only one to allow a completion percentage below 55, which is where Lassiter can make an impact. 

The Georgia star's completion percentage allowed in 2023 was just 38.9 and he surrendered a mere 8.5 yards per reception with a passer rating against of 48.3. Lassiter has the tools to develop into a solid shutdown corner in the NFL and form an excellent 1-2 punch with Stingley Jr.

The Texans boasted the sixth-best run defense in the NFL in 2023, but they allowed 229 rushing yards and two touchdowns in their 34-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC divisional round, so shoring up the defensive line with a big-bodied run-stuffer might not be a bad idea should they opt not to focus on their secondary in the first round.

Sweat is exactly that at 6-foot-4 and 362 pounds. Not only does he have the measurements, but he can run, too. Sweat’s 40-yard dash time was clocked at 5.27 seconds at the combine, which is nearly unheard of for a player his size. Sweat did it all in 2023 while anchoring the Longhorns defensive line. He totaled 29 pressures, 24 hurries, 22 run stops, five passes defensed, two sacks and a run-stop percentage of 13.5, per PFF. Sweat is the kind of player who can have an Aaron Donald-like impact on a game.

If the Texans would prefer to look for an offensive upgrade in the draft, they have a need at running. Devin Singletary will be a free agent this spring and Dameon Pierce had an underwhelming sophomore season, averaging just 2.9 yards per carry while totaling 416 yards and two touchdowns the season after flirting with 1,000 yards as a rookie.

Corum was a do-it-all back at Michigan over the last two seasons. He rushed for over 1,200 yards both years and scored a combined 45 touchdowns (27 in 2023) on the ground. He also had double-digit receptions each of his last three years and would make an excellent change-of-pace back should Houston re-sign Singletary or roll with Pierce in a committee approach.