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 5/7/2021)
TE, Jordan Akins, #88
TE, Antony Auclair
DL, Auzoyah Alufohai, #98
DB, Cornell Armstrong, #30
DL, Ross Blacklock, #90
OL, Justin Britt
DB, Terrence Brooks
TE, Pharaoh Brown, #85
OL, Cohl Cabral, #72
OL, Marcus Cannon
WR, Randall Cobb, #18
DL, Maliek Collins
WR, Nico Collins
WR, Chris Conley
WR, Brandin Cooks, #13
WR, Isaiah Coulter, #82
WR, Keke Coutee, #16
DB, Keion Crossen, #35
LB, Zach Cunningham, #41
LB, Tae Davis
DL, Brandon Dunn, #92
LB, Duke Ejiofor, #53
WR, Alex Erickson
K, Ka'imi Fairbairn, #7
QB, Ryan Finley
OL, Hjalte Froholdt, #77
LB, Jonathan Greenard, #52
LB, Kamu Grugier-Hill
LB, Nate Hall, #48
DB, Vernon Hargreaves III, #26
OL, Charlie Heck, #67
LB, Neville Hewitt
RB, Dontrell Hilliard, #27
OL, Tytus Howard, #71
RB, Buddy Howell, #38
RB, Mark Ingram
TE, Ryan Izzo
LB, Jordan Jenkins
RB, David Johnson, #31
DL, Jaleel Johnson
DB, Lonnie Johnson Jr., #32
P, Cameron Johnston
TE, Brevin Jordan
DB, Desmond King
LB, Christian Kirksey
DL, Shaq Lawson
RB, Phillip Lindsay
DL, Roy Lopez
LB, Jacob Martin, #54
OL, Justin McCray
LB, Whitney Mercilus, #59
QB, Davis Mills
DB, Terrance Mitchell
WR, Donte Moncrief
DB, A.J. Moore Jr., #33
WR, Chris Moore
DB, Eric Murray, #23
LB, Hardy Nickerson
DL, Charles Omenihu, #94
DB, Jonathan Owens, #36
LB, Kevin Pierre-Louis
RB, Scottie Phillips, #40
TE, Paul Quessenberry
DB, John Reid, #34
DB, Justin Reid, #20
DL, Derek Rivers
WR, Andre Roberts
DB, Bradley Roby, #21
OL, Max Scharping, #74
DB, Tremon Smith
OL, Jordan Steckler
OL, Lane Taylor
QB, Tyrod Taylor
DL, Vincent Taylor
LB, Joe Thomas
DB, Tavierre Thomas
OL, Cole Toner
OL, Laremy Tunsil, #78
LB, Garret Wallow
DL, MeMarcus Walker
TE, Kahale Warring, #81
QB, Deshaun Watson, #4
LS, Jon Weeks #46
