Texans' 2024 NFL draft targets should include these 5 DBs

Jayson Braddock

•
Texans' 2024 NFL draft targets should include these 5 DBs image

Minnesota Safety Tyler Nubin and Rutgers Cornerback Max Melton

Houston enters the month of the 2024 NFL draft without a pick on the opening night. But, the Texans are slated to select twice in the second round when Day 2 kicks off. There are several directions the Texans could choose to go, but adding young and cheap talent to the defensive back group should be a primary focus.

At the cornerback position, Houston opted to re-sign Desmond King and bring in Myles Bryant to provide interior coverage for the group. Houston replaced 2023 starting outside cornerback Steven Nelson Jr. with two players who were both top-10 picks in the 2020 NFL draft but haven’t lived up to their draft potential in Jeff Okudah and CJ Henderson. Re-signing Nelson may still be in the cards, though.

Jalen Pitre and Jimmie Ward are the Texans' current starting safeties. Ward has missed almost five games a year since 2016, including 12 games over his past two seasons. Houston has some depth behind the duo but none have much upside or talent.

Here are two cornerbacks and three safeties the Texans could look to add in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft.

Full draft target breakdowns: WR | RB | TE | OT | EDGE | DT | LB

Texans 2024 NFL draft DB targets

Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Missouri, CB

Measurables: 5-foot-11 | 183 pounds | 32-inch arms | 6-foot-4 wingspan

Combine numbers: 4.51 40-yard dash | 1.54 10-yard split

Rakestraw Jr. should be valued much higher than the reported consensus and he could end up being the second-highest-rated cornerback in this class. Even still, draft analysts routinely list him as available in the early-to-mid second round.

He won’t last until the Texans' second pick at No. 59, but he could be available in the area of Houston’s No. 42 pick. If Rakestraw Jr. is there, he should be the selection as he has the versatility the Texans seek with his ability to play press or off-man as well as zone coverage at a high level.

The reason Rakestraw Jr. could be available for Houston is due to a less-than-desirable 40-yard dash time and the lack of interceptions throughout his career. He’s only recorded one interception in 35 games but did have 12 passes defended in 2022. He could be a second-round steal for the Texans.

Max Melton, Rutgers, CB

Measurables: 5-foot-11 | 187 pounds | 32-inch arms | 6-foot-5 wingspan

Combine numbers: 4.39 40-yard dash | 1.51 10-yard split | 40.5-inch vertical | 11-foot-4 broad jump

As is the case with Rakestraw, Melton would need to be selected with the Texans' first pick in the second round at No. 42. Many analysts originally listed Melton as a third-round prospect or an even later selection throughout the draft process. But as of late, he's risen in the rankings.

Melton could be the fifth-highest-ranked corner in the class behind only Toledo's Quinyon Mitchell, Rakestraw Jr., Alabama's Kool-Aid McKinstry and Alabama's Terrion Arnold. All of those players have first-round value, which would leave Melton as the next-best option in the early second round.

Like Rakestraw Jr., Melton has the versatility to play press or off-man and zone coverage as well. The one difference between the two players is that Melton’s press man coverage comes with a jam as he routinely punches and stymies receivers with his almost 6-foot-5 wingspan. 

There’s a guy at a few positions that screams "DeMeco Ryans’ type of player." Melton is that guy at the cornerback position. He’s the first player over to celebrate with teammates, he’s high-energy and highly communicative. Melton also has the speed and quickness to play outside or inside. His effort in each play is unquestionable.

The top talent at the position will go early, if Houston’s looking to add a difference maker, the Texans will need to use their first pick and may even choose to move up a few spots to secure “their guy."

Tyler Nubin, Minnesota, FS

Measurables: 6-foot-1 | 199 pounds | 32-inch arms | 6-foot-6 wingspan

Nubin also has a first-round grade, but the consensus has him available in the second round and most have him still on the board around when Houston would pick at No. 42.

Nubin, like Melton at cornerback, is one of those Ryans type of players. He's smart, disciplined and a leader.

In the NFL, mostly linebackers wear the green dot on their helmet to receive communications from the sideline and relay it like a coach on the field. Nubin would join the short list of safeties that would wear the green dot, eventually in the pros. He would add immense value to Jalen Pitre and hold him accountable in the deep secondary.

Javon Bullard, Georgia, FS

Measurables: 5-foot-11 | 198 pounds | 31-inch arms | 6-foot-2 wingspan

Combine numbers: 4.47 40-yard dash | 1.51 10-yard split

Bullard flies up and attacks receivers’ blocks violently. He doesn’t bite or overreact to reverses as he’s disciplined to see the landscape. Bullard can play deep centerfield as he plays the quarterback’s actions and can break on movement.

He showed an understanding of his assignments and a level of comfort in covering receivers out of the slot. Bullard also showed an understanding like Nubin to leverage the sidelines as a 12th defender.

Bullard's biggest area of concern is one that many of the safeties share in this class as they get very grabby at the breakpoint in routes. His angles aren’t horrible but need to be more of a direct line as opposed to slightly rounded or adjusted.

Tykee Smith, Georgia, FS/SS

Measurables: 5-foot-10 | 202 pounds | 32-inch arms | 6-foot-3 wingspan

Combine numbers: 4.46 40-yard dash | 1.58 10-yard split | 36-foot vertical | 10-foot broad

Smith is getting the same love — or lack thereof — from the NFL media consensus as his Georgia teammate, Bullard. Most have him as an afterthought at the safety position with Smith going in the fourth or fifth round. He could be the fourth-best safety in the class, though, who goes as early as the second round.

The issue with Smith is a disconnect between his measurables and film, which is on par with or better than Bullard. He also has position versatility to play free or strong safety that Bullard doesn’t provide.

If the consensus is correct, Houston doesn’t have to force the issue on safety and could look at Smith as the fallback option if Nubin doesn’t last until No. 42 or they go in a different direction.

Who should the Texans draft?

The falloff is far greater at corner and safety than what we see at other positions of need at wide receiver, running back, tight end, linebacker or defensive tackle.

The Texans could go after these positions with their second, third or fourth picks without the drastic decline in talent that they would see if they waited on defensive backs until later in the draft.

Jayson Braddock

Jayson Braddock Photo

Jayson Braddock has been covering the Houston Texans since 2009. He previously worked in Houston sports radio at SportsTalk 790 and ESPN 97.5, along with co-hosting on SiriusXM Fantasy. Braddock graduated from the Sports Management Worldwide “Football GM & Scouting” course back in 2009, which was led by former NFL personnel man, John Wooten and former NFL scout Russ Lande. Since leaving the course, Jayson has been evaluating college prospects and NFL talent for different media companies, including RotoExperts, Scout and DrRoto to name a few.