The 2019 NFL Draft board started to set up perfectly for the Houston Texans. With just one tackle going in the top 20 picks, Washington State's Andre Dillard, Oklahoma's Cody Ford, and Florida's Jawaan Taylor all remained on the board. Three of most draft experts' top four tackles. Moments later, the Eagles had traded up and were on the clock.
There went Dillard. One pick before the Texans were set to select. Then they were on the clock. Now they trusted their board.
Roger Goodell walked to the podium and announced the Texans had selected Alabama State tackle Tytus Howard.
"It's just an unbelievable feeling right now," Howard said after he was picked. "I'm just blessed to be a part of the Houston Texans."
Howard said he had a good feeling about being a member of the Texans when he had his visit with the team.
"They decided to draft me, and I promise you they didn't make a mistake. I'm going to give them everything I have."
Texans general manager Brian Gaine knows there's a fit for his new lineman.
"We see Tytus Howard as an offensive lineman," he said. "We'll start the best five, however it works out. He'll have a chance to compete for a starting job, come in and earn what he gets, but the fact of the matter is, is Tytus has been a starting-caliber player at right tackle and left tackle."
Gaine mentioned Howard "checked all the boxes" and said he is the type of player that matches their physical as well as intangible profile.
As for where he played, Gaine doesn't mind Howard's track record against non-Power Five schools.
"I know the competition in terms of comparably speaking to a Power Five conference, he's not coming from a Power Five conference, but I'm not concerned about that at all."
Howard was a high school quarterback. He then started a transition to tight end before ultimately ending up as the right tackle for Alabama State. He credits his coaches and the strength staff for staying on him. He also said his fiancée was instrumental in getting him to eat enough.
"My favorite would be her chicken spaghetti," Howard said with a chuckle. "I would eat that back-to-back nights. I would eat that whole pan."
Howard said his time as a quarterback helps him at the tackle spot.
"I know how being sacked feels," he said. "So I try my best not to give up any sacks so I try to play as long as I can to keep guys from hitting the quarterback."
Speaking of keeping the quarterback clean, Howard knows all about how important Deshaun Watson is to the Texans.
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What does Howard think of playing with Watson? For more on this story, visit SportsMap.
