The Texans own the third overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, but they might trade out of it. General Manager Nick Caserio offered up that possibility during last week's press conference at NRG Stadium.
If Houston stays at three, a lot of mock drafters believe Alabama offensive lineman Evan Neal will become a Texan. Six mocks out of 19 (31.6%) this week projected Neal to the Texans. With the Crimson Tide, the 6-7, 350-pound Neal racked up 13 starts at left guard as a freshman in 2019. The next year he started 13 times at right tackle for the eventual National Champions. In 2021, he was a consensus All-American left tackle, where he started all 15 games.
A pair of talented defensive backs were also popular picks for Houston as well. Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton (21.1%) was mocked to Houston by four different experts, while LSU cornerback Derek Stingley, Jr. (21.1%) was also a Texan choice in four mock drafts.
Overall, Houston currently has four picks in the Top 80, and nine selections overall.
The NFL Draft begins Thursday, April 28 in Las Vegas.
| MEDIA OUTLET | PLAYER | LAST UPDATED |
|---|---|---|
| ESPN (MEL KIPER, JR.) | OL EVAN NEAL, ALABAMA | 1/19/2022 |
| SPORTING NEWS (VINNIE IYER) | OL EVAN NEAL, ALABAMA | 1/19/2022 |
| NEWSDAY (NICK KLOPSIS) | OL EVAN NEAL, ALABAMA | 1/18/2022 |
| PRO FOOTBALL FOCUS (AUSTIN GAYLE) | OL EVAN NEAL, ALABAMA | 1/17/2022 |
| CBS SPORTS (KYLE STACKPOLE) | OL EVAN NEAL, ALABAMA | 1/14/2022 |
| PRO FOOTBALL FOCUS (MICHAEL RENNER) | OL EVAN NEAL, ALABAMA | 1/10/2022 |
| CBS SPORTS (CHRIS TRAPASSO) | S KYLE HAMILTON, NOTRE DAME | 1/19/2022 |
| CBS SPORTS (RYAN WILSON) | S KYLE HAMILTON, NOTRE DAME | 1/18/2022 |
| USA TODAY (LUKE EASTERLING) | S KYLE HAMILTON, NOTRE DAME | 1/13/2022 |
| THE DRAFT NETWORK (JOE MARINO) | S KYLE HAMILTON, NOTRE DAME | 1/9/2022 |
| CBS SPORTS (JOSH EDWARDS) | CB DEREK STINGLEY, JR. LSU | 1/20/2022 |
| COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS (PETE FIUTAK) | CB DEREK STINGLEY, JR. LSU | 1/18/2022 |
| THE DRAFT NETWORK (KYLE CRABBS) | CB DEREK STINGLEY, JR. LSU | 1/17/2022 |
| THE DRAFT SCOUT (MATT MILLER) | CB DEREK STINGLEY, JR. LSU | 1/11/2022 |
| THE ATHLETIC (DANE BRUGLER) | DE KAYVON THIBODEAUX, OREGON | 1/19/2022 |
| SI.COM (ZACH PATRAW) | DE KAYVON THIBODEAUX, OREGON | 1/17/2022 |
| ATHLON SPORTS (BRYAN FISCHER) | OL IKEM EKWONU, NC STATE | 1/13/2022 |
| FOX SPORTS (JASON MCINTYRE) | QB MATT CORRAL, OLE MISS | 1/12/2022 |
| BLEACHER REPORT (SCOUTING DEPT) | DE AIDAN HUTCHINSON, MICHIGAN | 1/10/2022 |
