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Houston Texans: 2016 NFL mock draft

By Josh Criswell

Aug 20, 2014; Englewood, CO, USA; General view of Houston Texans helmet during scrimmage against the Denver Broncos at the Broncos Headquarters. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 20, 2014; Englewood, CO, USA; General view of Houston Texans helmet during scrimmage against the Denver Broncos at the Broncos Headquarters. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 17, 2015; College Station, TX, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Reggie Ragland (19) reacts after a play during the third quarter against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field. The Crimson Tide defeated the Aggies 41-23. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 17, 2015; College Station, TX, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Reggie Ragland (19) reacts after a play during the third quarter against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field. The Crimson Tide defeated the Aggies 41-23. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

Round 1: Alabama inside linebacker Reggie Ragland

It is no secret that the Houston Texans are in dire need of a franchise quarterback. With the exception of a few Pro Bowl seasons from Matt Schaub, the position has been a constant weakness for the organization since its inception in 2002.

Unfortunately for the Texans, it does not appear that their draft position will allow them to acquire a first-round caliber signal-caller. There are only three quarterbacks worthy of a first round selection this season — Memphis junior Paxton Lynch, California junior Jared Goff and Michigan State senior Connor Cook — and all three will likely be off the board by the time Houston makes its pick.

Eight teams slated to pick ahead of the Texans are potentially in the market for a franchise quarterback, and it is a pipe dream to believe that six of these teams will pass up the opportunity to take one in the first round. So rather than reach for a second-round talent under center, the team will elect to address another one of its pressing needs: inside linebacker.

Brian Cushing has done a tremendous job commanding the middle of the Texans defense for the better part of the past seven years, but due to a pair of devastating knee injuries he is simply not the same player he used to be. Enter Alabama inside linebacker Reggie Ragland.

Ragland was named a starter prior to his junior season in 2014, and he would go on to earn first team All-SEC honors that year. His draft stock continued to grow as a senior after being named the SEC’s Defensive Player of the Year for compiling 90 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, five pass breakups, four quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles, as well as leading the most dominant defense in college football.

Ragland is a physical, well-rounded linebacker with few weaknesses. His only shortcoming is that he is not quite as athletic as some of the other first round linebacker prospects, but he makes up for this with exceptional instincts and play recognition.

Next: Round 2: Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg

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