CHAMPAIGN, IL - OCTOBER 28: Michael Deiter #63 of the Wisconsin Badgers scores a touchdown during the game as Del'Shawn Phillips #3 of the Illinois Fighting Illini misses the tackle at Memorial Stadium on October 28, 2017 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

The Houston Texans could be looking to select an offensive lineman in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, as ESPN’s Todd McShay has released his first mock draft of the year.

It is now mock draft season and that includes the Houston Texans even with them battling for a potential AFC South championship with three games left in the regular season. On Wednesday, Todd McShay of ESPN.com released his first 2019 NFL Mock Draft and he has the Texans with the 27th overall pick selecting an offensive lineman.

The player McShay has the Texans selecting is Wisconsin center/guard Michael Deiter. McShay wrote the following about Deiter in his mock draft (ESPN Plus subscription required):

“Deiter might be a slight reach, but he’s a proven player and anchors well with a good initial push in the running game.”

There are a number of ways the Texans could go in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, but as of mid-December the best bet for the Texans should be drafting a player to the offensive line. The question that comes to the surface is, Should the Texans look at guard so early in the draft, or take a closer look at improving at the offensive tackle spot on the roster?

The last time the Texans selected an offensive lineman in the first round was back in 2008 when they took offensive tackle Duane Brown with the 26th overall selection. Brown was a very good choice for the Texans as he stayed with the team until he was traded to the Seattle Seahawks last season for a third round pick in 2018 (Martinas Rankin) and a second round pick in draft for 2019.

The Texans could stray away from selecting an offensive linemen in the first round and go with possibly the best player available, trade out of the spot, or look at another position that is of need.

The April draft is still a long ways away, but McShay seems to be on the right track with the Texans in noticing they need improvement within the offensive line.