(SportsRadio 610) - Texans general manager Nick Caserio's scouting department has a lot more work to do than it did a year ago.
Without a first- or second-round pick in 2021, it automatically eliminated at least 60 players who would be available to Houston.
But for the first time since 2019, the Texans have picks in the first and second rounds, including the No. 3 overall.
While Caserio has been open about his willingness to trade Houston's top pick, that will depend on the market for it, and there will be players available at No. 3 who could presumably help the Texans immediately.
Among them are group of underclassmen: juniors Evan Neal (OT), Kayvon Thibodeaux (Edge), Ickey Ekwonu (OT), Kyle Hamilton (S), Tyler Linderbaum (C), George Karlaftis (Edge), and redshirt sophomore David Ojabo (Edge), among others who could be available at No. 3
Caserio told reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Tuesday that he does not expect anything that happens there to impact the team's philosophy on what to do with the pick.
But with a wider pool of players to choose from, there is more information gathering to be done.
"The group that probably is most pressing are the underclassmen because this is really the first opportunity to spend extensively face-to-face," Caserio said. "A lot of them were at an all-star game. I would say you're kind of in the infantile stages."
Caserio reiterated his willingness to be flexible with the pick, "whatever means necessary, whether it's trade, whether it's move back in the draft, whether it's move up ... whatever it is, we're going to explore all avenues."
If the No. 3 pick is traded, those discussions won't heat up until closer to the draft April 28.
Brandon Scott is the senior digital content coordinator for SportsRadio610.com. Follow him on Twitter @brandonkscott .