PFF is putting together team-specific draft boards for all 32 NFL franchises using our draft rankings and evaluation of how each player fits in specific schemes.
Included are three ideal targets for each team with their first-, second-, and third-round picks, along with a team-specific draft board [scroll down to bottom of article] that includes every player in PFF’s draft rankings.
Here is the entry for the Houston Texans:
Round 1 (22nd overall)
Sterling Shepard, WR, Oklahoma
With the Brock Osweiler signing, it’s all about finding offensive weapons to complement WR DeAndre Hopkins on the outside. Shepard is the draft’s best slot receiver, and he posted the highest overall grade last season among FBS targets, so his shifty route-running is a much-needed addition to the Houston offense.
Vernon Butler, DE, Louisiana Tech
Butler is a nice fit in a 3-4 scheme, and he could go anywhere from the middle of the first round into the early second. There’s little talent at defensive end opposite J.J. Watt, and Butler can play the run and push the pocket as a pass-rusher.
Another defensive line option, Reed is a better fit than Butler at nose tackle, but he’s also versatile enough to play DE in a 3-4 scheme as well. When aligned head-up on opposing offensive linemen, our No. 2 graded interior defensive lineman brings excellent technique to the table, and he can finish plays, as his nation-leading run-stop percentage of 13.4 percent can attest.
Round 2 (52nd overall)
One of our favorite prospects in the draft, Kaufusi is not a fit for every team, but he’s another option for the Texans on the defensive line. He has the frame to play defensive end, and he was excellent as a pass-rusher (fifth in the nation) and against the run (fourth in run-stop percentage).
Jerell Adams, TE, South Carolina
The best all-around tight end in the draft should have a number of teams targeting him in the second round. Adams handles defensive ends in the running game as well as any tight end in the class (ninth-best run-block grade) and he has some wiggle at the top of his routes that allows him to get open up the seam while creating big plays (led class by forcing 10 missed tackles).
Houston has run a lot more power up front under Bill O’Brien, and Garnett is the best pulling guard in the draft. His +33.1 run-block grade ranked second in the nation, and while he has some work to do in pass protection, he’s better than the other power-blocking guards in the class.
Round 3 (85th overall)
Another good 3-4 defensive end option, Lowry played both on the edge and on the inside at Northwestern, where he posted the nation’s 10th-best overall grade. He was the third-best bull-rusher in the class (one pressure every 25.9 rushes) and he’ll be a great value for 3-4 teams in the third round.
Braxton Miller, WR, Ohio State
If the Texans don’t grab Shepard in the first round, this would be a good spot to take a chance on Miller, who still has to grow at the position, but has the athleticism to separate in the slot. Miller is dynamic with the ball in his hands—he just needs to tie up his inconsistent route-running.
Henry may be gone by this point, but if he’s available, he provides a nice complement to newly-signed Lamar Miller. Henry’s downhill style is a good fit for Houston’s offense, and it’s just another offensive weapon to ease the burden on Osweiler.
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