Houston’s frustrating but long-term trade mixes up the draft board.

The 2024 Houston Texans draft was unlike any they’ve had in quite a while. The Texans expedited rebuild fast forwards them into a win-now mentally. So it’s fair for fans to not see where a future-oriented second round pick like Blake Fisher fits into the bigger picture.

The Fisher pick derives from offensive lineman, and specifically offensive tackles statistically premium price. across the league.

Using OurLads and ESPN’s current projected depth charts for every NFL team, I set out to identify which round every starter on each offensive line was selected. For undrafted players, which surprisingly 10 are going to start this next season, those players were given an 8.

Without question, a starting-caliber left tackle requires a first or early second round pick. 22 of 32 projected left tackles were first round picks. Of the 10 non-first rounders, there were no undrafted players and only two were selected on day three of the draft (rounds 4-7).

Center is by far the most amenable to later round players. This position’s average starter was drafted in the late third round (3.8) with six starters going completely undrafted.

The right tackle position, where Blake Fisher is projected to play, had the second highest average pick at 2.84. If you remove the Cowboys and Commanders who’re project to start UDFAs, that number jumps to 2.5 exactly. Essentially, right tackles sweet spot is a mid-late second rounder – right where Fisher was selected.

Logically, valuing offensive lineman is well, valuable. Statistically, it’s position oriented. And that’s the nuance. Teams can wait a full round to draft the left tackle compared to their right and then another round to draft their center; that’s how steep the drop off in value is. The priority of drafting a tackle is due to the distinct traits necessary to excel at the position. The size, strength, and speed demand prototypical measurements which are extremely rare. Thus, they demand a premium in the draft. Sure, The Eagles plan to roll out former 7th rounder LT Jordan Mailata – but the ONLY reason he was a seventh round pick was because he played Australian Rugby and is the poster child of the NFL Pathway Program. Oh, he’s also 6’8” and can move like a ballerina.

Where does all of this leave Blake Fisher? Well, if you heard Mel Kiper Jr. talk about him, he would have been one of the top projected lineman of the 2025 class if he stayed. In a 2024 class full of super seniors, Fisher just turned 21 and needs time to develop. There may not be a better situation for Fisher to do so than Houston with both starting tackles signed through 2025.

If Fisher doesn’t start until the end of his rookie contract, that honestly is a fantastic sign of the longevity of Tunsil and improved consistency in Howard. Plus, Fisher will only be 25 years old when his next contract is to begin, making him a young and well-trained tackle ready to smoothly transition into the role

And, if duty calls as it quite often does with Howard and Tunsil’s injury history, he has two years of starting experience at right tackle. The only reason he didn’t play left tackle at Notre Dame was due to an injury his freshman year and subsequently losing the job to future fifth overall pick Joe Alt.

More of an ultra-personal touch, he majored in sports medicine and psychology; I can’t think of a better combination of scholastic studies for an athlete to pursue.