The Texans took Mississippi State offensive lineman Martinas Rankin in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
The 80th overall selection, Rankin played left tackle for the Bulldogs. The 6-4, 308-pounder was a team captain at Mississippi State after transferring in from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in 2015. Rankin said he's capable of playing multiple spots on line.
"It's just something I always wanted to be able to do," Rankin said during a conference call with the Houston media. "I wanted to be able to do more than one thing. I knew it would help me get to this part of my life. I'm grateful for this opportunity."
The ability to play anywhere was very attractive to General Manager Brian Gaine and the Texans. When asked if Rankin would play left tackle in the NFL, Gaine pointed out the lineman's versatility.
"We see him as an offensive lineman," Gaine said. "He was a starting left tackle in the SEC, so my hope is he'll have the ability to do that. But we also believe that if he has to play guard, right side, left side, wherever we need him, that this guy has the versatility to do that."
Getting to block for quarterback Deshaun Watson was also a big perk of being picked by Houston, according to Rankin.
"I'm excited," Rankin said. "It's an opportunity I've been waiting for my entire life. I get to come into a great organization, and I get to come in and help protect a great young quarterback.
Earlier in the third round, the Texans nabbed Stanford safety Justin Reid with the 68th overall selection. The 80th overall pick came from Seattle in the trade for Duane Brown. The Texans also own the Seahawks' second round selection in 2019.
The Houston Texans roster in photos. (Updated 5/2/2020)
ILB, Tyrell Adams #50
TE, Jordan Akins, 88
NT, Auzoyah Alufohai #98
P, Bryan Anger, 9
CB, Cornell Armstrong, 30
OLB, Davin Bellamy, 48
DT, Ross Blacklock #90
DE, Angelo Blackson, 97
WR, DeAndre Carter, 14
CB, Anthony Chesley, 43
WR, Randall Cobb #18
ILB, Dylan Cole, 51
CB, Gareon Conley, 22
WR, Brandin Cooks #13
WR, Isaiah Coulter #82
WR, Keke Coutee, 16
CB, Keion Crossen, 35
ILB, Zach Cunningham, 41
DE, Brandon Dunn, 92
OLB, Duke Ejiofor, 53
K, Ka'imi Fairbairn, 7
TE, Darren Fells, 87
WR, Will Fuller, V, 15
OL, Zach Fulton, 73
CB, Phillip Gaines #29
FB, Cullen Gillaspia, 44
S, Tashaun Gipson, 39
OLB, Jonathan Greenard #52
ILB, Nate Hall, 48
WR, Chad Hansen #17
CB, Vernon Hargreaves III #26
T, Charlie Heck #67
RB, Karan Higdon #24
OL, Tytus Howard, 71
RB, Buddy Howell, 38
G, Cordel Iwuagwu #70
DT, Tim Jernigan
CB, Lonnie Johnson, Jr., 32
RB, David Johnson #31
ILB, Jan Johnson #56
RB, Duke Johnson, 25
T, Roderick Johnson #63
OLB, Jamir Jones #47
OLB, Peter Kalambayi, 58
OL, Senio Kelemete, 64
LS, Anthony Kukwa #45
OLB, Chris Landrum, 42
OL, Rick Leonard, 72
S, Shalom Luani, 42
OL, Greg Mancz, 65
LB, Jacob Martin, 54
C, Nick Martin, 66
QB, AJ McCarron #2
QB, Alex McGough, 3
LB, Benardrick McKinney, 55
OLB, Whitney Mercilus, 59
WR, Steven Mitchell, Jr., 11
S, A.J. Moore, 33
OL, Kyle Murphy, 68
S, Eric Murray #23
OL, Elijah Nkansah, 75
DE, Charles Omenihu, 94
S, Jonathan Owens, 36
RB, Scottie Phillips #40
T, Brent Qvale #76
CB, John Reid #34
S, Justin Reid, 20
CB, Bradley Roby #21
DE, Ira Savage-Lewis, 96
OLB, Brennan Scarlett, 57
OL, Max Scharping, 74
WR, Tyler Simmons #86
TE, Dylan Stapleton #84
OL, David Steinmetz, 79
WR, Kenny Stills, 12
TE, Jordan Thomas, 83
S, Michael Thomas #28
QB, Nick Tiano #8
OL, Laremy Tunsil, 78
NT, Eddie Vanderdoes, 95
TE, Kahale Warring, 81
DL, Carlos Watkins, 91
S, Jaylen Watkins #27
QB, Deshaun Watson, 4
DE, J.J. Watt, 99
LS, Jon weeks #46
WR, Isaac Whitney, 19
C, Elex Woodworth #77
