Drafting an offensive lineman at pick No. 25 should be expected for the Houston Texans come April 24.
Selecting a safety in Round 2? That would be a surprise.
In the first round of Draft Wire’s mock, Curt Popejoy has the Broncos picking West Virginia offensive lineman Wyatt Milum at No. 25. That’s unsurprising since Houston has been in the market for new interior offensive linemen this draft cycle.
In Round 2, this could turn some heads. At pick No. 58, the Broncos select Notre Dame All-American safety Xavier Watts to bolster the secondary.
Is safety a need? Yes, but minor compared to wide receiver and defensive tackle. When looking at the board, the top pass-catchers are long gone, though Miami’s Xavier Restrepo would be a plug-and-play addition in the slot.
At defensive tackle, most of the top names are gone, but with Toledo’s Darius Alexander still in play, it’s hard to imagine the Texans passing by a long-term option at the three-tech spot with three players leaving in free agency.
Xavier Watts single high, diagnoses the reverse, and closes. Made plays like this from depth all night pic.twitter.com/WeIhUDeItQ
— Billy M (@BillyM_91) January 3, 2025
The Texans could certainly use a player of Watts’ potential as a replacement for Jimmie Ward in 2026, but they seem unlikely to use a second-round pick on a defensive back who could find most of his reps on special teams to begin his career.
If Houston drafts a defensive back with one of its six, it would likely be in the mid-to-late rounds after shoring up the trenches and receiver room.
To view the complete two-round NFL mock draft, visit Draft Wire.