Battle Red Blog
The last mock draft before Houston begins picking their 2024 draft class
It’s time. The final no-trade Houston Texans mock draft. You can find all of my mock drafts in the links below to see how things have changed since the first edition in February.
Houston is at such a unique position where they are in a win now, best player available, build on strengths position. It’s hard to not defer to simply adding talent at the biggest positions of need; that being defensive tackle and cornerback. What I don’t think fans truly consider is that Nick Caserio loves to maximize his strengths. Simply look at the Stefon Diggs trade.
As well, I am obviously aware of the semi-futility of predicting Nick Caserio in the draft. Last year’s correct pick of Jarret Patterson was a huge win, but identifying talent is as much of an art as it is a metrics based science.
For those, like me who are curious about the T’Vondre Sweat situation, I truly think he’s off the Texans. He needs to be extracted from his current environment and brought to a city that will only focus on football. Green Bay would be a great fit for the former Longhorn.
Another consideration: Houston recently resigned Dare Ogunbowale and brought in Jacob Phillips. Both positions were considered needs heading into the draft, but if Houston thinks they’ve found decent depth solutions there, it pushes other needs up the draft board. Adding two players in positions of need so close to the draft only signals that they do not find many prospects in this class that they think fit their style or liking.
Let’s begin, and finish the mock draft season. Hope y’all enjoyed it as much as I did.
Oh how the draft is a full circle process. Lassiter was my initial projection for the Texans at 23 before they traded back with the Minnesota Vikings. Now, Lassiter is poised to be one of the biggest steals or busts of the draft.
The biggest red flag - of all prospects in the top 50 - is his 6th percentile 40-yard dash. You simply don’t see cornerbacks with as poor a 40 yard dash time succeed at the next level. Conversely, he ran in the 94th percentile three cone drill. Essentially, he is dynamic in a short range but easily beaten downfield.
Teams will look to exploit his straight line lack of speed. But underneath Lassiter is an absolute daemon and excellent tackler. He brings the tenacity Houston is looking for with solid height and weight.
Lassiter reminds me of Kareem Jackson - someone who played college cornerback but could transition to safety due to a lack of speed. His hard hitting nature make him a great downhill safety while his CB experience...
