Houston drafted protection for their new quarterback and someone else for him to throw to.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Houston Texans traded up twice in the NFL Draft Friday night, first to select Penn State center Juice Scruggs with the 62nd pick and then to get Houston Cougars wide receiver Tank Dell seven spots later.
The Texans sent picks No. 65, 188 and 230 to the Eagles to move up and get their pick near the end of the second round for Scruggs. Later, they sent picks No. 73 and 151 to the Los Angeles Rams to keep Dell in Houston.
Scruggs missed the entire 2019 season after breaking a vertebra in his back in a serious car accident in March of that year. He spent months in a back brace while recovering from his injuries.
The undersized Dell had two straight 1,300-yard seasons to wrap up his career with the Cougars. Dell, who is 5-foot-8 and 165 pounds had 32 touchdowns in three years at Houston.
Scruggs and Dell join Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud, who was taken second overall, and Alabama outside linebacker Will Anderson Jr., who the Texans traded up to take third on Thursday night.
The 6-3, 301-pound Scruggs is a versatile lineman who played both guard and center at Penn State. He started 12 games last season and was selected to the All-Big Ten third team by coaches.
He joins an offensive line led by left tackle Laremy Tunsil, who signed a three-year $75 million extension this offseason that made him the highest-paid left tackle in the NFL and will keep him in Houston through the 2026 season.