It doesn't take a football genius to realize offensive tackle is the Texans' most pressing need in the draft.

Even though general manager Brian Gaine signed three free agent offensive linemen, including tackle Seantrel Henderson, that position is still a priority.

Gaine and coach Bill O'Brien won't disclose their plans for the draft, of course, but it's no secret that they will continue to fortify pass protection for quarterback Deshaun Watson, their most valuable commodity.

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If the season began today, the starting tackles would be Julién Davenport on the left and Henderson on the right. Kendall Lamm would be the swing tackle.

The Texans hope Derek Newton, who hasn't played since 2016 after undergoing surgery on both legs, can return. But until they see him on the field in training camp and preseason, they're not going to know for sure how he fits in.

Besides Newton, Davenport, Henderson and Lamm are the only tackles on the roster who have started an NFL game.

Davenport will get the first chance to win the starting job on the left side because of improvement he made near the end of his rookie season.

"My decision-making process will often be, No. 1, what's the internal solution?" Gaine said. "No. 2, what's the external solution?

"Our internal solution right now is Davenport. We're optimistic about his upside. He's gotten some starts (four), so it won't be new to him.

"He's got the physical traits to develop at that position. He's got the height (6-7), length (87 ½-inch wing span) and feet. This is a very important offseason for him in terms of strength and power development. The OTAs and minicamp are going to be critical for him in terms of rapid ascending development."

Henderson (6-7, 330) started 26 games during his first two seasons at Buffalo but only one the last two years. Gaine spent last season with the Bills and watched Henderson on an every-day basis.

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"As we evaluated our roster, there was an emphasis on getting bigger, longer and stronger, especially on the offensive line," Gaine said. "Physically, he met the parameters of what we're looking for (6-7, 330). He has the physical traits to be a starter. We're optimistic he's going to compete for a starting job."

The Texans have three picks in the third round and eight overall, including three more in the sixth.

The Texans have the fourth, 16th and 34th picks in the third round.

"I like the idea we're picking near the top of the third round," Gaine said. "We're wide open. We could go up to the bottom of the second round if somebody's selling, or we could move down a few picks and accumulate another selection."

The Texans are expected to come out of the draft with at least one offensive tackle and possibly two.

"If you look at history, it tells you the good tackles are usually taken high, but history also tells you they come at all levels," Gaine said. "We're going to keep an open mind as it relates to where we can get those players."

In the 2006 draft, the Texans needed an offensive tackle. They drafted Charles Spencer from Pitt and Eric Winston from Miami in the third round.

Spencer won the starting left job immediately but suffered a career-ending leg injury two games into his rookie year. Winston started six games as a rookie and solidified his position for six years.

The Texans have a lot of needs besides offensive tackle, and all their problems won't be solved with one draft or free agent period.

O'Brien believes right tackles have become as important as left tackles even though it's not reflected in their paychecks.

"Left and right, it's becoming no different," he said. "Even though the left side is protecting the right-handed quarterback's blind side, I think the right side is just as important as the left side.

"That's my opinion (but) that's not the way they're paid. To me, with the rushers you see from Jacksonville, Tennessee and Indianapolis coming off the edge, both tackles better be pretty good, and that's been one of the most difficult things to evaluate.

"Can this guy who plays on the right, could he swing over and play on the left?" O'Brien said. "Is he left-handed? Is he right-handed? Does he feel comfortable in this type of stance, that type of (stance)? There's a lot that goes into that evaluation, and I think the level of talent goes in cycles, and that's just the way it is year-to-year."

With so many college teams playing a spread offense, operating out of the shotgun and throwing the ball so much, a lot of tackles coming into the NFL have played exclusively in a two-point stance and need time to adjust.

"There's a unique element to scouting right now – the style of offense that's being played as it relates to offensive line play," Gaine said. "One of the first things you look at with tackles is are they in a three-point stance?

"When we're scouting offensive linemen, especially tackles, a lot of them are working out of a two-point stance. Now, there are still a number of offenses playing a traditional (scheme)."

But not many.

No matter what type of offense tackles played in, they still have to adjust to the NFL, which is more demanding physically and mentally.

"You're still looking for the physical qualities that are transferrable to the NFL," Gaine said. "You're still looking for height/weight/speed, athleticism, instincts and production. You need to find out about football character. Is he coachable? How does he learn? Work habits? Are these things transferrable, as well?

"You have the physical profile and the intangible profile. Most of the time, when they have the physical and intangible profiles, regardless of the system they played in, it'll pay great benefits and help you decide if you think the guy can make the transition."

Gaine cautions that just because the Texans signed eight free agents doesn't mean they won't draft players for some of the same positions.

"How we did business in free agency does impact perhaps what we can do in the draft but never at the expense of taking the best available," he said. "Even though we may have (signed) offensive linemen and defensive backs doesn't mean we wouldn't add those positions.

"We're going to try to find a way to take the best available players when we pick. We have three picks in the top 100. We think we can get players (ranked) from 80 to 100, and they should be good players."