Texans GM Nick Caserio says SEC players' college days are over; what matters is now

Six of the Houston Texans’ nine selections in the 2022 NFL draft came from the Southeastern Conference with five of those picks coming from the vaunted SEC West.

General manager Nick Caserio acknowledged that picking players from the SEC does allow the scouting department to take into account the level of competition prospects are going against on a weekly basis.

“One of the things you have to be conscious of is evaluating that player and the competition that he is playing against,” Caserio said. “I mean, that’s a fair part of the evaluation. You can’t totally discard that. It’s a part of it. Then you actually have to look at the player. Do the skills that he shows regardless of level of competition, are those going to transfer over into our level? You kind of have some ideas.”

However, Caserio also pointed out that no matter where a player came from, the slate has been wiped clean and all that is consequential is what happens in the NFL.

Said Caserio: “The reality is, okay, the SEC, their careers are over. Nobody cares about what they did now at LSU, Florida, wherever the hell they played. What people care about is what are you going to do when you are a Houston Texan? What are you going to do with your opportunities? Are you going to make the most of your opportunities? We’re trying to carry as much competition as possible and bring in good players.”

The Texans started off the draft with former LSU cornerback Derek Stingley in Round 1, No. 3 overall. Their second first-round pick was Texas A&M guard Kenyon Green at No. 15 overall.

Houston’s next SEC pick was Alabama wideout John Metchie at No. 44 overall in Round 2. The Texans took his teammate, linebacker Christian Harris, with the 75th overall pick in Round 3.

The Texans started Day 3 off with the fourth-round pick of Florida running back Dameon Pierce (No. 107 overall), and finished the day taking LSU tackle Austin Deculus in Round 6 (No. 205 overall).

“In the end, you have to produce and you have to perform,” said Caserio. “If you do that, you’re going to play. If you don’t, somebody else is going to play. It’s very simple.”