Many predict the Texans will select either a wide receiver or pass rusher with the first-round pick, especially after losing starters Andre Johnson and Brooks Reed this offseason.
But what if the Texans went for a wild card player? One that wasn't one of these two positions but was too good to pass up?
With the NFL Draft less than three weeks away, the Texans options at No. 16 are still wide open.
Here are the top three wild card players that might be a fit for Houston, according to Texans sideline reporter and analyst John Harris:
- Todd Gurley – RB, Georgia
A running back, you ask?
"Just because you have one, doesn't mean you can't use another one," Harris said on Texans Radio.
Any position is fair game for an upgrade, he added.
Before his ACL tear and November surgery, Gurley (6-0, 222) was a surefire early pick. Now, he may be available to the Texans at No. 16. He didn't work out at the Combine because he was just a few months out from his surgery, but he could still be the first running back selected in this year's draft.
"I think Arian Foster in the slot as a slot receiver is a tremendous option," Harris said. "What if you have Gurley staying in the backfield and Foster out in the receiving game and you put both players out on the field at the same time? I think this staff would like to be able to do something like that because Gurley can handle his own."
- Trae Waynes – CB, Michigan
It's hard to pass up the fastest defensive back in the draft, especially if he's still hanging around at No. 16. Trae Waynes ran a 4.31 40-yard dash at this year's Combine and recorded a 38-inch vertical.
"I love the way that guy battles and competes in press coverage and there could be a run on corners," Harris said. "Some think Kevin Johnson from Wake Forest is ahead of Waynes; I'm not going that far. I think Waynes is a more complete player. He reminds me a little bit of Kareem Jackson. Kareem had some struggles early on but he was too smart, too competitive, and too good of a full all-around football player to not eventually succeed."
- La'El Collins – OL, LSU
The Texans re-signed starting right tackle Derek Newton, drafted guard Xavier Su'a-Filo last year, not to mention will see the return of their starters in Brandon Brooks, Duane Brown, and Ben Jones. Still, at 6-4, 305 pounds, Collins can help fortify the offensive line.
"This one is a little bit of a stretch, but hard not to like him," Harris said of drafting Collins in the first round. "Especially if he bumps inside to guard. It is hard not to like that guy."
But would he fit? That's the big concern with drafting Collins, considering the return of Su'a-Filo and Brooks. His athleticism might make him too tempting to pass up at No. 16 though.
"That guy is a masher," Harris said. "He will absolutely hammer guys at the point of attack."
The 2015 NFL Draft takes place Thursday, April 30 to Saturday, May 2.
Check out all the top 100 draft prospects on The Harris 100 powered by Toshiba.
