2016 NFL Mock Draft: Ezekiel Elliott the Right Pick for Texans?

A recent 2016 NFL Mock Draft has the Houston Texans selecting dynamic running back Ezekiel Elliott in the first round. Would this be a wise move for the Texans?

With the regular season behind us, the NFL draft is starting to get more and more attention. That brings us mock draft season. Everyone has an opinion on who the NFL teams should be selecting, and they are fun to create and read. They also give us a good idea of which direction the teams may be looking for the draft.

It is important to remember that there are many different scenarios that could happen, but a mock draft is an interesting way to see how the draft can unfold.

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To help kick off the mock draft season, Bleacher Report’s NFL Draft Lead Writer Matt Miller released a 2016 NFL Mock Draft on Monday morning. Miller is among the best in the business, and it is important to take note when he puts a specific team and player together.

There were quite a few selections that stood out to me in Miller’s piece. This includes the Dallas Cowboys taking QB Paxton Lynch with the fourth overall pick, and the St. Louis Rams selecting WR Laquon Treadwell with the 15th pick. Another that specifically stood out to me as an interesting fit was Miller’s choice to have star Ohio State RB Ezekiel Elliott land with the Houston Texans at number 26.

Before I give my take, let’s take a look at what Miller says about the Texans taking Elliott:

"Will Arian Foster ever carry the football again for the Houston Texans? The 29-year-old running back counts $9.3 million against the cap next season, making him a candidate to be released. But whether or not Foster is back in Houston, the team has to start thinking about a long-term replacement.Normally, I wouldn’t advocate for drafting a running back in the first round, but Ezekiel Elliott is like a mix of Matt Forte and Priest Holmes. He’s a true three-down running back with excellent inside-outside running skills, good hands and the best pass-protecting skills of any running back in this draft class. Not only could he platoon with Foster if he’s back in 2016, but it’s reasonable to expect he also could take his job."

The running back position has been de-valued in recent years. Teams are perfectly happy picking a combination of backs late in the draft or even off of the scrap heap to lead their team in the running game. This has caused fewer and fewer running backs to go in the first round in recent years, but there are still special talents at the position who deserve to be taken early.

Just like Todd Gurley who went to the Rams with the 10th overall pick last year, Elliott is one of those special talents.

He is a physical runner who does an incredible job of picking up the tough yardage, but do not mistake him for a plodding power back. Elliott also has good speed and incredible change-of-pace quickness. He can make an individual defender miss with his elite level of agility and quickness.

As Miller mentioned, Elliott is also a prime receiver out of the backfield and the best pass protector at the position in this draft class. He is truly the total package, and has massive upside at the next level.

Elliott is great, there is no denying that. The only question remaining is whether the Texans should be putting such a valuable asset towards the running back position. Arian Foster has been one of the best running backs in the league for a while now, but injuries always seem to be an issue for him.

Even if he does come back healthy next season, will the 29-year-old Foster put up the same production? It is impossible to know for sure. Foster is great, but he will be 30 by the time the 2016 regular season starts. That is typically when NFL running backs hit the down side of their career. There are exceptions, but are you willing to bet on a 30-year-old Foster who has consistently struggled with injuries? I know that I’m not.

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The Texans are a good football team with few major holes across the roster. This gives them the opportunity to swing for the fences on a massive talent, despite the potential lack of value if they choose. Unless they feel like there is a legitimate franchise quarterback available when they pick, I have no problem with Houston snagging up Elliott. Foster has been great, but his prime is extremely likely to be behind him.

Houston would be wise to cut bait early on Foster, and get a fresh bona-fide stud in there to carry the load.

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