Houston Texans: Post-Combine 7-round 2018 mock draft

Last offseason, the Houston Texans lost cornerback A.J. Bouye when he signed a massive free agent contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Texans really missed Bouye’s playmaking ability in the secondary last season, but his big-time contract allowed Houston to pick up one of the best compensatory picks in the 2018 NFL Draft. This compensatory picks comes just after the third round (98th overall) and in this mock draft, the Texans use that extra choice to beef up their secondary.

Aside from offensive line, the secondary stands out as the biggest need on the Texans’ roster. They have obvious needs at both the cornerback and safety positions that will have to be addressed this offseason. Similar to the o-line, I could certainly see Houston attacking their defensive back needs in free agency, but finding legitimate long-term talent in the draft is obviously a point of emphasis as well.

With their third-round compensatory pick in this mock draft, the Houston Texans select Florida cornerback Duke Dawson.

At 5-10, 208 pounds, Dawson does not have ideal size for an NFL cornerback prospect. He can be dominated by bigger receivers at times, but Dawson is a tough defender who will not back down from a challenge.

He is more of a speed player who shows impressive change of direction quickness. Dawson closes on the ball extremely well and can mirror opposing receivers with ease. He also shows strong overall ball skills and will come up and make plays against the run whenever possible.

His lack of natural size makes Dawson a probable slot cornerback at the next level. However, he can compete outside in stretches if needed. Simply put, the Texans need to add a variety of cornerbacks to the roster. Dawson is a talented player who could come in and make an immediate impact for the Texans as their primary slot cornerback.