Tytus Howard (1) of Alabama State to Houston Texans
The Houston Texans chose offensive tackle Tytus Howard of Alabama State University with the 23rd overall pick in the NFL draft Thursday night, hoping he can help protect banged-up quarterback Deshaun Watson. Watson was sacked an NFL-leading 62 times as Houston won the AFC South but lost to the Colts in the wild-card round. Watson played every game in his second year after having season-ending knee surgery as a rookie, but was hurt for a chunk of the season while dealing with a partially collapsed lung and broken ribs from taking hit after hit. General manager Brian Gaine said they became more impressed with Howard as the scouting process progressed.
“I felt like with each interval he was able to pass each segment with flying colors,” Gaine said. “He made a very favorable impression as far the intangible profile, the person, the character that matched with the physical ability and the physical traits. We felt like he checked all the boxes.”
It was the just the second time Houston had selected an offensive lineman in the first round. The last was left tackle Duane Brown with the 26th pick in 2008. Howard was a quarterback in high school before growing into his 6-foot-5, 322-pound frame. He said working with the strength staff at Alabama State helped him transform his body, and he got a little help in that area from his fiancée’s cooking.
Darryl Johnson (7) of North Carolina A&T to Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills took a shot on a developmental edge rusher with the first of two picks in the seventh round of the NFL Draft Saturday. Buffalo drafted 6-foot-6, 253-pound defensive end Darryl Johnson of North Carolina A&T with pick No. 225.Johnson had 10.5 sacks as a senior last season for his team, which plays in the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA). Johnson was Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference defensive player of the year and he was one of four finalists for the Black College Player of the Year Award. He played at about 230 pounds last season but bulked up some in preparation for the NFL. Like every team, the Bills can use some young defensive end prospects. Most teams like to have a rookie edge rusher or two on their practice squad. Johnson is the third NC A&T player drafted in the past three years, joining Bears running back Tarik Cohen (2017) and Raiders offensive tackle Brandon Parker (2018). Johnson had 6.5 sacks in 2017.
Quinton Bell (7) of Prairie View A&M to Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders selected defensive end Quinton Bell with the No. 230 overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Played wide receiver from 2015-17 before switching to defensive end as a senior in 2018…Competed in track and field at Prairie View A&M University as a junior, running in the 60-, 100-, and 200-meter.
2018: Earned second-team All-SWAC honors…Sixth on team in tackles (46), first in sacks (7.5), and second in tackles for loss (10.0). He made a career-high eight tackles twice (at UNLV, vs. Alabama St. with 1.0 sacks and 1.5 tackles for loss). Bell made three tackles, 1.5 sacks, and 2.5 tackles for loss at Sam Houston.
2017: Caught eight passes for 97 yards…had career-high three receptions for 29 yards vs. Bacone (10/28). 2016 (10G/3S): Caught 9 passes for 138 yards and one touchdown…caught 47-yard touchdown pass at Rice (10/22)…caught two passes for 28 yards at Jackson St. (10/29) 2015 (6G/0S) Caught two passes for 24 yards…caught one pass each in games vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (10/31; 16 yards) and at Texas State (9/12; 8 yards).
Joshua Miles (7) of Morgan State to Arizona Cardinals
With the 248th overall selection, the Arizona Cardinals select offensive tackle Joshua Miles of Morgan State University. Miles is a 6’5, 314 lbs. Senior where he played 31 games as an offensive tackle. He was also a Third team All-MEAC selection and team captain in his final year.
With 35 5/8” inch arms (92 percentile), a 36” vertical jump (99 percentile) and a broad jump of 109 inches (84 percentile), Miles has the potential to be a intriguing late round project for Sean Kugler to work with. What brought Miles onto the scene was his work at the Shrine Game, according to the Director of the game Harold Richardson:
“Just looking at his film, I could see him getting drafted or signed as a priority free agent,” said Richardson, who was the Atlanta Falcons’ general manager from 1998 to 2001. “Seeing him at the practices and game among the bigger competition, he looked comfortable and he deserved to be there.”
He was actually one player who created a buzz at the game.
