The Houston Texans did not have a first-round pick in the NFL Draft but they went on with their business anyway and ended up picking up nine players throughout the final six rounds.

One of those picks meant more than just a draft selection. When the Texans picked USC S Caden Bullock in the fourth round, it put a cap on the Deshaun Watson trade finally.

In early 2022, the Texans pulled off a blockbuster trade that sent Watson to the Cleveland Browns for what ended up being a boatload of draft picks.

To this point, the Texans have to be smiling at what they have received for the trade that was headlined by three first-round draft selections.

Players the Texans received via the draft picks in the Deshaun Watson trade

• WR Tank Dell

• DE Will Anderson Jr. (Traded first-round pick received plus more for.)

• G Kenyon Green

• RB Dameon Pierce

• CB Kamari Lassiter

• LB Jamal Hill

• S Caden Bullock

Perhaps the most important thing that happened for the Texans is they were able to find their franchise quarterback after parting ways with Watson and it took just one season. Drafting C.J. Stroud in the 2023 NFL Draft helped the franchise go from one franchise quarterback to another rather quickly following the fiasco in between.

Since Watson was traded to Cleveland, he’s played in just 12 games in two seasons. Between the initial 11-game suspension to steer his tenure there and a shoulder injury, Watson has not been able to show he’s the franchise guy that Cleveland traded for.

Houston brought in a couple of above-average starters plus more for a guy who did not want to be in Houston any longer. With the trade wrapped up, the Texans have to be smiling with how it has turned out.