B-
Houston Texans
Melton should have been long gone. The Texans pounced, and earned a B-.
by vlinusk ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 8 picks
· 1 steals
· 2 reaches
Thirty-one other rooms let Max Melton slide, and the Texans were the ones holding the card at the Round 4 slot. Highway robbery. It does the job without flash, and the B- reflects it.
They punted on running back, and it is the miss that keeps the grade honest. With running back, interior defensive lineman and other spots unsolved, spending premium capital on defensive back is the choice that costs them. Reaching for Randolph Jr. left real value on the table behind him.
They went 4 of 8 on their needs, which is most of what a draft is for.
Not a headline-grabber, but a perfectly good weekend's work.
Pick-by-Pick
Emeka Egbuka at the Round 1 slot is a sound buy, the sort that quietly helps a class. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Cooper Beebe at the 53rd pick nudges the ledger their way without any fuss. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
A market-rate offensive lineman, with the board and the slot shaking hands on Blake Fisher. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
They zigged when the board said zag, taking Max Melton at defensive back with running back, interior defensive lineman and other spots open.
The board screamed and they did not listen, reaching into the next round for Keith Randolph Jr.. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Gabriel Murphy in pick 158 is the kind of reach that only looks good if he outplays it. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
Benjamin Yurosek in slot 240 is fair value, right on his grade. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
They paid sticker price for Jack Howell in pick No. 242, and that is fine. Where it fits the depth chart is the real question.