Here's How the Texans Can Trade Up to the First Round and Solve Their Edge Rusher Problem

As we know, Houston Texans head coach and general manager Bill O'Brien loves making trades.

This offseason alone, DeAndre Hopkins was sent packing in a trade many thought the Texans got fleeced in, and then sent a second-round pick to the Rams in exchange for Brandin Cooks. Running back David Johnson was also acquired in the shuffle of draft capital and bad contracts.

Last year, O'Brien. traded his 2020 first for left tackle Laremy Tunsil, but Houston should consider trading back into the first round this April?

The original thought was that the Texans would draft a Hopkins replacement, but that was before the Cooks deal. Now they seem almost overstocked at wide receiver. Instead, Houston should look to address the EDGE rusher position that is vital in their 3-4 defense, a spot that was vacated by trading Jadeveon Clowney last season.

With this being a somewhat shallow position in the 2020 draft, the Texans might have to move their 40th overall pick they got from the Arizona Cardinals, plus some lower picks, to jump into the back end of the first round in order to draft an impactful EDGE rusher. Players like LSU's K'Lavon Chaisson, Iowa's A.J. Epenesa and Penn State's Yetur Gross-Matos should be some of the top options available if Houston elects to trade up.

Currently, Brennan Scarlett sits across from Whitney Mercilus on the Texans depth chart. Scarlett has 5.5 sacks throughout his four year career. Since Jadeveon Clowney left Houston, they have been lacking an EDGE player of his caliber. In 2020, O'Brien needs to find a legitimate long-term replacement.

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Michael Obermuller is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Michael Obermuller also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username king_mizzard. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.