Fansided

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 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 8
Next
Nov 14, 2015; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks running back Alex Collins (3) carries the ball to score a touchdown against the LSU Tigers in the first half at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 14, 2015; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks running back Alex Collins (3) carries the ball to score a touchdown against the LSU Tigers in the first half at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports /

Round 3: Arkansas running back Alex Collins

Arian Foster is no longer the Arian Foster of old, and there is nothing that rehab or surgery can do to change that.

He is still a tremendous asset when healthy. But healthy and Foster simply do not go hand-in-hand, especially as the once-great running back nears his 30th birthday.

This leaves the Houston Texans with an absolute necessity to find their running back of the future.

Chris Polk and Alfred Blue are both averaging an underwhelming 3.5 yards per carry, and as pleasant of a surprise as the 25-year old Jonathan Grimes has been at times this season, it is hard to imagine him as the leaders of the Texan’s backfield for the next half-decade.

The 2016 NFL Draft presents an interesting conundrum for Houston in regards to the running back position. Ohio State star back Ezekiel Elliott is a first-round prospect that has scouts wondering if he could become the next rookie sensation to take the NFL by storm. If Elliott turn out to be the next Todd Gurley, one fortunate team’s front office will be walking away from the draft looking like geniuses.

On the other hand, the 2016 NFL Draft class features several backs available in the second and third rounds who could make an immediate impact.

Heisman Trophy winner and Alabama workhorse back Derrick Henry is expected to be selected no later than the mid-second round, and the versatile Devontae Booker out of Utah will most likely be off the board by the time the Texans make their third-round selection.

This leaves Arkansas running back Alex Collins as a potential steal, and depending on Foster’s status with the team next season, a possible candidate to compete for Houston’s starting running back job.

Collins has been nothing short of productive during his collegiate career at Arkansas, surpassing 1,000 rushing yards in each of his three seasons with the Razorbacks. And thanks to a talented Arkansas backfield that has displayed a tendency to spread out carries, his legs do not have has much mileage on them as his statistics may indicate at first glance.

In addition, Collins has averaged 5.5 yards per carry throughout his career while competing against the daunting defenses of the SEC West.

Next: Round 4: Michigan State wide receiver Aaron Burbridge

Home/Houston Texans