Alabama State's Tytus Howard has a good blend of abilities and is tough to beat when his hand placement is sound in pass protection. (1:01) Breaking down the Houston Texans' 2019 draft class. Round 1, No. 23 overall: Tytus Howard, OT, Alabama State My take: Taking a tackle was absolutely the right move for the Texans, who had made it a priority to find someone who can protect franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson after he was sacked an NFL-high 62 times last season and faced a 41 percent pressure rate. Howard is athletic, with a lot of potential, but it remains to be seen whether he will make an immediate impact on the offensive line. The Texans already have a right tackle in Seantrel Henderson but clearly hope Howard can be a difference-maker right away. The last -- and only -- time the Texans have taken an offensive lineman in the first round was when they selected tackle Duane Brown in 2008, and Houston hopes Howard can follow a similar path as the former All-Pro lineman. 2019 NFL DRAFT COVERAGE What you need to know from Rounds 1-7: • Pick-by-pick analysis » • Kiper's grades » | McShay's best picks » • Team-by-team analysis » | Takeaways » • Best undrafted » | Fantasy reax » • More NFL draft coverage » Another versatile lineman: Howard said the Texans believe he can play at both tackle positions and guard. Texans coach Bill O’Brien and general manager Brian Gaine often talk about how important versatility is to them when they build a roster, especially when they think about the offensive line for game day. Howard started all 11 games at left tackle in 2017, but in 2018 moved back to right tackle -- where he played in his first two seasons -- and earned first-team All-SWAC honors. Packing on the pounds: Howard has gained nearly 100 pounds since high school. He was a high school quarterback and was a walk-on tight end who redshirted in 2014. Howard credited his weight gain in part to his fiancée's cooking, noting he particularly likes her homemade chicken spaghetti. Howard was measured at 6-foot-5 and 322 pounds at the combine. play 1:02 NFL draft profile: Lonnie Johnson Jr. Lonnie Johnson Jr. is a big press/zone corner out of Kentucky with above-average length and average top-end speed. Round 2, No. 54 overall: Lonnie Johnson Jr., CB, Kentucky My take: With Johnson's selection, the Texans added some much-needed depth to their secondary after the team ranked 28th in pass defense a year ago. Johnson has the height (6-foot-2), weight (213 pounds) and speed that general manager Brian Gaine likes and he will join a group that lost cornerbacks Kareem Jackson and 2015 first-round pick Kevin Johnson this offseason. Lonnie Johnson will compete with Bradley Roby for the chance to start alongside Johnathan Joseph. Johnson spent three years in junior college before playing two seasons at Kentucky. In 26 career games, including 18 starts, Johnson had 64 tackles, 12 pass breakups, one interception and two blocked kicks. play 1:04 NFL draft profile: Max Scharping Northern Illinois offensive tackle Max Scharping has the frame, lateral quickness and balance to succeed in a zone-heavy scheme. Round 2, No. 55: Max Scharping, OT, Northern Illinois My take: By taking Scharping in the second round, the Texans continue to add talent on the offensive line after Watson was hit hard last season. The addition of Scharping gives head coach Bill O’Brien another versatile offensive lineman. The 6-foot-6, 327-pound offensive lineman played right tackle and right guard during his first two seasons before moving to left tackle. Scharping redshirted his freshman year at Northern Illinois before starting 53-straight games and playing all 998 offensive snaps in 2018. This is the first time the Texans have taken two offensive linemen in the first two rounds, according to ESPN Stats & Info. play 0:57 NFL draft profile: Kahale Warring San Diego State tight end Kahale Warring is a developmental tight end with average size, slightly below-average length and excellent top-end speed. Round 3, No. 86 overall: Kahale Warring, TE, San Diego State My take: In the third round, the Texans showed they were picking the best available player instead of picking for need by drafting a tight end. Houston already has four tights ends -- Ryan Griffin, Jordan Akins, Jordan Thomas and Darren Fells -- including two (Akins and Thomas) who were 2018 draft picks. Gaine said the Texans felt Warring has “a ton of upside” because of his speed and “good ball skills.” By adding a tight end in the third round, this could mean that Griffin will be competing for his job this spring and training camp. Round 5, No. 161 overall: Charles Omenihu, DE, Texas My take: The Texans have a strong front seven, but don’t have a ton of depth at the position. At 6-foot-5 and 280 pounds with 36-inch arms, Omenihu has the body type that Gaine and O’Brien are looking for at the position. The 2018 Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year could compete with Joel Heath and Angelo Blackson for snaps this spring. Round 6, No. 195 overall: Xavier Crawford, CB, Central Michigan My take: The Texans continue to add depth at cornerback by selecting Crawford in the sixth round. The Central Michigan corner doesn’t have the size that second-round pick Lonnie Johnson Jr. does, but Crawford was a first team All-MAC selection last season. Crawford played outside and nickel in his college career. Round 7, No. 220 overall: Cullen Gillaspia, FB, Texas A&M My take: O'Brien said the Texans will start Gillaspia at fullback, a position the team did not carry on the roster last season. Gillaspia’s biggest impact should be on special teams, an area he excelled in at Texas A&M.<doc-sep>Your Houston Texans have finally made their first selection in the 2019 NFL Draft. Everyone assumed, me included, the top three tackles will be gone by the time the Texans selected. Josh Allen went to Jacksonville. Chris Lindstrom went to Atlanta. Carolina took Brian Burns. Minnesota took Garrett Bradbury. Everything broke perfectly into place. Then the Eagles traded up to where Baltimore was and took Andre Dillard, the best pass blocking tackle in this class. He’ll back up Jason Peters and learn how to run block for a bit. At Pick #23, the Texans could have taken Cody Ford, Jawaan Taylor, or another tackle or cornerback. Instead, the Texans drafted Tytus Howard. The tackle from Alabama State who supposedly impressed everyone at the Senior Bowl. Wow. I just... Wow.<doc-sep>Day 3 of the NFL Draft is upon us. The Houston Texans have added quality thus far. Let’s take a look at players to watch for on Day 3. We are now through the first two days and three rounds of the 2019 NFL Draft. Seemingly good players have unceremoniously fallen down the draft board and players who the most reputable draft experts didn’t even have notes got drafted. That’s the NFL draft ladies and gentlemen. The Houston Texans watched offensive linemen start to come off the board before them in the first round before they were able to land their guy at tackle in Tytus Howard from Southern Alabama. He’s a raw prospect with tremendous potential to protect Deshaun Watson for years to come. The second round saw, perhaps, more value than the first round with plenty of trades to go getting guys slipping down the draft board. The Texans opted to stand pat and keep both of their selections at 54 and 55. They added two potential difference makers in cornerback Lonnie Johnson, a big, athletic player, and offensive lineman Max Scharping, a four-year starter with tons of experience. The Houston Texans next selection came at 86th overall in the third round. After double dipping in their biggest need, offensive lineman, and filling the need of a young, athletic corner, there were plenty of spots the team could have gone. They wound up opting to select tight end Kahale Warring, a huge, athletic player oozing with potential, from San Diego State. You may be able to see a trend here, this new Texans regime loves the things you can’t coach, size and athleticism. They currently have three additional selections on Day 3 of the NFL Draft, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see more picks like this. So, let’s take a look at some players to keep an eye on throughout Saturday.<doc-sep>
The Houston Texans selected Tytus Howard with the 23rd overall pick. Let’s take a look at five guys they should target with their three day 2 selections. Well, ladies and gentlemen, the first round of the NFL draft came and went. There were some huge surprises, both of the good and bad variety. There were players who went earlier than expected and players who fell out of the first round that no one expected. When the Houston Texans were getting close to being on the clock, offensive linemen started to come off of the board. The Eagles wanted their guy and leapfrogged the Texans to take Andre Dillard. So, when it was Houston’s turned they reached a little for that coveted left tackle spot and took Tytus Howard out of Alabama State. This was a surprising pick, to say the least, but it was done with the goal of keeping the Texans franchise quarterback, Deshaun Watson, upright far more often than he was in 2018. He is an athletic monster with a ton of potential. So, the Houston Texans were able to fill their biggest need in round one which opens them up to go elsewhere the rest of the draft. Fortunately, there were several positions that had guys fall that the Texans could use some reinforcements at. The Texans have three picks on day two of the draft. They have their own picks 55th overall in the second round, which is the 23rd pick of the round, and 86th overall in the third round, which is the 22nd pick of the round. Additionally, they have Seattle’s second round back at 54th overall. Let’s take a look at five guys they may target on day two.