3 Most Likely Texans Draft Targets With the 3rd Overall Pick

The Houston Texans were able to pull off a few major upsets during what was a rebuilding year for head coach David Culley's team. The front office heads into the offseason with a lot of work to do in order to shape a squad that hopes to compete in a tough AFC South division.

The Texans have an opportunity to grab an elite talent in the upcoming NFL Draft after finishing the year with a 4-13 record. With that being said, here are three of the most likely draft targets for Houston with the No. 3 overall pick.

Houston Texans NFL Draft

1. Evan Neal, OT (Alabama)

The Texans had a gaping hole on the offensive line all year thanks to the thumb injury suffered by Laremy Tunsil. Tunsil's future with the team remains up in the air and drafting Evan Neal is one way to solve the issue. Neal is capable of playing both tackle positions and has allowed just 25 pressures during his last two seasons at Alabama. The 6-foot-7, 350 pound blocker has the skillset to start from day one and act as a reliable protector of quarterback Davis Mills. Mills was sacked a ridiculous 31 times in his 13 games played this year. He cannot keep taking on that kind of wear and tear if the Texans want him to be their starter.

2. Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE (Oregon)

There's a possibility that defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux falls to the No. 3 spot and the Texans would be smart to scoop him up in that case. The Oregon standout has the speed and athleticism to make an immediate impact along Houston's defensive line. Thibodeaux racked up 19.0 sacks and 3 forced fumbles over three college seasons (30 games played). His dominance was fueled by an excellent ability to change his direction in order to get into the backfield. Adding Thibodeaus to the mix would surely improve a pass rush that only posted 32.0 sacks this season (T-No. 27 in NFL).

3. Ikem Ekwonu, OL (NC State)

Another name that jumps off the page when looking at potential offensive lineman targets is NC State's Ikem Ekwonu. Ekwonu played the tackle position during his time with the Wolf Pack, but is also capable of moving over to guard if need be. That versatility would come in handy for a Texans' offensive line that graded as on of the most inconsistent in the league, according to ProFootballFocus. Mills showed some potential toward the end of the year and giving him a trusted offensive line should be one of Houston's top priorities this offseason. Drafting Ekwonu at No. 3 overall could be the front office's best way to show some trust in Mills.

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Larry Rupp is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Larry Rupp also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username phillyfan424. 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.