(SportsRadio 610) - With the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft just three days away, a few insiders are noting the Texans' interest in a specific wide receiver.
The Texans currently hold the No. 3 and No. 13 overall picks, though general manager Nick Caserio has expressed interest in possibly dealing either pick.
One particular position group the Texans are targeting in the first round is wide receiver, which is littered with talent in this draft class.
Ohio State wide receiver Garrett Wilson is the latest name high-profile NFL insiders are floating as a possibility for Houston, whether it be trading up from No. 13, or picking him at No. 3.
Peter King in his weekly Football Morning in America column predicts the Texans trading the 13th pick and a third-rounder for the 9th pick from the Seattle Seahawks, then selecting Wilson.
"And so here comes the run on receivers. Houston leapfrogs the Jets to get the franchise receiver for Davis Mills (who has a chance this year to win this job) or whoever the Texans pick next year to be the franchise passer," King wrote. "There’s a lot of love for Wilson in the league, even though he never led Ohio State in receiving in any of his three years and he’s a lean (6-0, 183) receiver who probably won’t play much heavier. He played the slot in 2020 and outside last year, so teams have plenty of tape to see him play all over the field in different offenses. Team like his ability to get open and to make things happen after the catch.
"I look at Houston’s draft this way. Post-Watson, the Texans need some franchise players. If they come out of this draft with a long-term left tackle and a top receiver who can be counted on for the next five to eight years, it’s a profitable draft. Plus: GM Nick Caserio has the 37th overall pick, and he could use that on a second-level cornerback (Washington’s Kyler Gordon?) to attack another need area."
Here is The Athletic's NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler on Wilson at No. 3:
"They could go with a defensive lineman, offensive lineman, corner. I've heard whispers that Garrett Wilson is in play at No. 3. I think that there's so many different directions that Houston could go with those two picks. And I'm just interested in what's their plan. ... It just feels like the Texans have been in limbo forever."
And finally, Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer mentions Wilson as a name to watch for Houston, though he admits it being a guessing game in trying to get a beat on Caserio's thinking.
This is what Caserio said last week when I asked what he thought about the wide receiver market, how it measures up with their resources and needs.
"Our job is to understand the depth of the draft top to bottom," Caserio said. "Some positions just by supply and demand are going to have more players than others at those positions. It doesn’t mean they are not good players. It just means that certain positions have more players but just because there are more players doesn’t mean that they are all created equal. That player and that position versus another position, well maybe if we pick this player here but the supply at this position is a little less than you may be more inclined to take this position now or vice versa. You try not to pigeonhole yourself.
"Most important is to have as much depth and understanding at each position as possible even on down-fitted players that you don’t think are going to get drafted. We spend as much time on that group probably as anything, including the top of the draft. You have to be careful about quote-unquote what your needs are or what people perceive your needs to be, and then just picking players based on your needs. Pick good football players that are going to enhance your overall team and give yourself the opportunity to put together a sustained team over the course of however many years."
Related
The Texans' general manager spoke exclusively with Payne & Pendergast on Monday morning to discuss the draft.
Brandon Scott is the senior digital content coordinator for SportsRadio610.com. Follow him on Twitter @brandonkscott .