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Texans: 3 potential J.J. Watt replacements in 2021 NFL Draft

By Geoffrey Godfrey

Dec 27, 2020; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) waits with teammates to walk onto the field before a game against the Cincinnati Bengals at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 27, 2020; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) waits with teammates to walk onto the field before a game against the Cincinnati Bengals at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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Texans target Joe Tryon. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

1. Joe Tryon, Washington

Despite popular belief Watt is actually 6-foot-5 and 288 pounds, he’s not one of those massive 3-4 defensive ends you are used to seeing. Joe Tyron is not far off that mark coming in about 20lbs lighter but the same height. But, we are looking at production here not so much the position its self.

Sort of the same aspect as getting an elite linebacker, look at the production not so much the position. While I don’t see him as a 3-4 defensive end at the next level he most certainly can get a similar level of production at an outside line-backer position. He has good length and vision and racked up 41 tackles and eight sacks in 2019 at Washington.

This is another player similar to some of the others who did not play in 2020, and will rely on numbers from pro-days to keep the stock they have.

He should be an easy get for them in the third-round, while it will take some time for him to get used to outside linebacker at the next level, he should be able to put up solid production and get to the quarterback. His 40-time came in at 4.71 last time he was clocked, which if he can creep that into the 4.6-4.65 range he may end up out of reach in the third-round for Houston.

He needs more playing time with just one season under his belt, but bet on the upside on a mid-range pick. He falls as a top-10 pass rusher in our latest edge rusher rankings.

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