The Texans are loaded with draft capital and have needs aplenty. 

While many expect the team to select a QB with the second pick, much more questions surround the 12th pick. 

Today, I wanted to try and find the top options that could be available for the Texans with the 12th pick. 

There are hundreds of different ways the draft could go. For this exercise, I'm only considering players widely selected in mock drafts in the 8-18 range. 

Let's look at my favorite options for the 12th pick without further ado. 

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State

Smith-Njigba could very well be the first receiver taken, and it might be before the 12th pick. 

However, if the star receiver falls to 12, it should be a no-brainer for the Texans. JSN had a monster year in 2021, finishing with 95 catches for 1,606 yards. And who was his quarterback that season? 

CJ Stroud. 

Stroud could very well be who the Texans select with the second pick. Reuniting the star college teammates could be the best-case scenario for the Texans. 

Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia 

Carter was once in the running to be the first pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. However, legal concerns and a poor Pro Day showing have severely impacted his stock. 

News recently revealed that Carter would not meet with any team picking outside the top 10 picks. While technically the Texans would take him at 12, the team does have the second-overall pick which could be enough to entice Carter. 

If Carter slips outside of the top 10, the Texans should not hesitate to snatch him up. Carter is an elite presence on the interior, and has been compared to Jeffrey Simmons. 

In 2022, Carter collected 32 tackles, seven tackles for loss, and three sacks. Carter is also efficient against the run and has a relentless motor. 

Carter joining the mix with Sheldon Rankins, Hassan Ridgeway, and Jerry Hughes could develop the defensive line into an elite unit.

Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia 

Smith is a two-way defender who is effective against the pass and against the run. 

The talented edge out of Georgia is probably undersized to play 4-3 defensive end, so he'd likely be an outside linebacker in Houston. His pro comparison is Hasson Reddick, who is a similar size to Smith and similarly effective in both facets. 

It is incredibly possible that the Eagles select Smith at 10 due to his similarity to Reddick. However, if Smith falls, he would be hard to pass up. 

The Texans current linebacker room is full of veterans on one-year deals and unproven depth pieces. The pass rush is almost non-existent. Adding Smith is a big step toward solving both of these problems. 

Final Thoughts: With DeMeco Ryans being a defensive-minded coach, I find it likely that one of the Texans' first-rounders is spent on that side of the ball. 

The Texans were proficient enough against the pass in 2023, but the run defense was atrocious and so was the pass rush. 

On the other side of the ball, receiver is still a huge need. The team brought in aging veteran Robert Woods and a solid complimentary option in Noah Brown, but more needs to be done. 

Unless John Metchie III is an immediate star, the Texans need a number one receiver. Smith-Njigba could be just that, especially if paired with Stroud at QB.