The Texans traded their first-round pick to the Vikings this year and aren’t scheduled to select on the opening night of the 2024 NFL Draft. But that doesn’t mean they won’t find quality talent in the second round, where Houston has two picks — at Nos. 42 and 59.
Defensive tackle is a position in which the Texans could look to add talent after the trade of Maliek Collins and departure of Sheldon Rankins. Even with the additions of Denico Autry, Folorunso Fatukasi, Mario Edwards and Tim Settle, Houston needs to add more youth and upside at the position.
Here are four defensive tackles the Texans could target in the second round.
Full draft target breakdowns: RB | TE | OL | DB | DT | LB | EDGE
Texans 2024 NFL draft DT targets
Johnny Newton, Illinois
Measurables: 6-foot-2, 304 pounds | 32.5-inch arms | 6-foot-4 wingspan
Newton didn’t participate at the NFL Combine while he recovered from surgery for a Jones fracture in his foot. That, combined with a wingspan of less than 2-inches over his height, didn’t do Newton any favors this draft season.
He has a unique ability to stack lineman then quickly pull away, sending them falling face forward as he flies by. Newton possesses combative hand swipes and ability to flatten rarely seen in defensive tackles.
Newton also possesses great balance, is rarely on the ground and gets his arms up in the passing lanes. He avoids cut blocks well with agile feet. Newton's grip-and-rip technique is deadly as he may put more linemen on the ground than any other tackle in this class.
Summation: I have a first-round grade on Newton but there’s a chance he slides into the second-round. But if he makes it, Houston should consider him with their first second-round selection. Newton can truly be special as a pass rusher from the 3-technique with his ability to put linemen on the ground and quickly flatten in pursuit of the quarterback.
Michael Hall Jr., Ohio State
Measurables: 6-foot-3, 290 pounds | 33.5-inch arms | 6-foot-9 wingspan
Hall Jr. has a great slap-and-swim move to leave linemen grasping air. He stacks and sheds with ease and plays quickly and violently. He drives back linemen with length and power and effortlessly stacks and sheds at will.
Hall Jr. played mostly out of position in 2023 at the 1-technique, which limited his production. He tallied 7.5 tackles-for-loss and 4.5 sacks in 2022, but only managed two tackles-for-loss and 1.5 sacks in 2023. But that's why we watch the tape. He’ll be a much more productive pro at the 3-technique, in which he can line up in the gap between the offensive guard and tackle.
Michael Hall Jr
— Jayson Braddock (@JaysonBraddock) March 17, 2024
6'3 / 290
6'9 1/8" WS pic.twitter.com/egffih1wdm
Summation: Houston could consider Hall Jr. with the No. 42 pick in the draft or wait and see if he’s still around at No. 59. Hall Jr. would be the top choice of the four options listed here, tough, as he would give the Texans better length and play against the run than Newton with a better pass rush than T’Vondre Sweat and the ability to play three downs.
T’Vondre Sweat, Texas
Measurables: 6-foot-5, 366 pounds | 33.5-inch arms | 6-foot-9 wingspan
Combine numbers: 5.27 40-yard dash | 1.80 10-yard split |26-inch vertical | 8-foot-2 broad jump
When you see the 366 pounds, your initial thought is that he’s a 3-4 nose tackle. The film and his timings at the NFL Combine for his size show a guy that can give you more than taking up a double-team as a rock in the middle of the line.
Sweat works to play low despite his size. He’s an unmovable object in the middle of the defense that requires a double-team. Sweat possesses a slow but powerful chop that he combines with a power slap that jolts opposing linemen, allowing him to push the pocket with his massive frame and wingspan and altering passing lanes as shown with his four pass defensed in each of the last two seasons.
He has surprising get-off as shown in his Combine timings and measurements. It’s not just in drills though as he possesses the ability to get across the face of offensive linemen and has a surprisingly quick sidestep. Sweat’s effort is elite for a man who weights more than 350 pounds as you’ll see him pursue and factor in plays down the field are all the way to the boundaries.
How can you not love T'Vondre Sweat?
— Jayson Braddock (@JaysonBraddock) March 28, 2024
Murphy II at the nose, Sweat out wide & then gets back in the play downfield! pic.twitter.com/dwJyhTDIDG
Summation: The Texans met with extensively with Sweat during Texas' Pro Day but they'll need to factor in his future snap counts. It doesn't help that he was arrested for DWI earlier as well. The other defensive tackles that the Texans could take in the second-round are going to play more as three-down defensive linemen. How does Houston weigh that against him being a matchup problem, every down he is on the field?
Braden Fiske, FSU
Measurables: 6-foot-4 | 292 pounds | 31-inch arms | 6-foot-4 wingspan
Combine numbers: 4.78 - 40-yard dash | 1.68 - 10-yard split | 3.5-inch vertical | 9-foot-9 broad jump | 26 Bench Reps
Fiske was the 2024 NFL Combine star with his drills and timings. The only negative from his time there came from measurements, as seen in the arm length and wingspan listed above.
He’s active and aggressive every snap of the game. Fiske wins with his tenacity and motor and his willingness to fight through double teams versus the run. He can stack linemen and peek into the backfield, then sheds the block with a vengeance to make the tackle.
He’s dangerous on the T-E stunt due to his ability to set and then flip hips to redirect attention to the quarterback. The fluidity to flip his hips around and pursue is unique to him at the defensive tackle position in this class. Fiske has an unique ability to seemingly move forward and laterally simultaneously while not losing force in his attack.
If you're going to sum up Fiske in 2 words, I'd say balanced & relentless.
— Jayson Braddock (@JaysonBraddock) March 17, 2024
Believe he gets draft 2nd half of the 2nd round. Can't see him making it to the 3rd pic.twitter.com/1QWbTlBNIW
Summation: This is the type of player that not only DeMeco Ryans would love but any coach due to his never-ending motor. The issue with Fiske is similar to that of Newton. Both don’t have the typical length that the Texans look for in their defensive linemen. The question then becomes, does the prospect supersede the parameters or vice-versa?
