Draft Notes: Watson, Texans, Eagles, Bolles

Deshaun Watson‘s pre-draft tour will go through an interesting place early this week. The former Clemson star passer will make a trip to Houston and meet with the Texans, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter), who adds the visit will commence on Monday and Tuesday. This is the Texans’ first known summit with one of the high-profile quarterbacks expected to come off the board in Round 1.

The Texans may not have hosted such passers, but the team is expected to take a quarterback early, per CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora. The reporter believes Texas Tech’s Patrick Mahomes won’t get past the Texans at No. 25. Watson has visited the 49ers, Browns, Jaguars and Cardinals thus far.

Houston hasn’t taken a quarterback in the first round of the draft since its first-ever draft pick (David Carr, 2002). Watson could require the Texans to trade up, being connected to the Browns at No. 12, but La Canfora noted recently the post-Mitch Trubisky tier of quarterbacks’ destinations are difficult to pin down. It’s not completely out of the question Watson is there at No. 25, but it would be unlikely.

Here’s more from the 2017 draft class.

• Gareon Conley‘s early-week itinerary finally appears set. After some confusion, the Ohio State cornerback will be visiting the Jaguars on Monday then pack up for Floram Park, N.J., for a Jets powwow on Tuesday, Rapoport reports (on Twitter). Conley recently adjusted his travel schedule, per Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News, after initially being scheduled to visit the Jets on Monday. Conley, interestingly, may be benefiting from doubts about his former Buckeyes teammate’s health. Perception about Marshon Lattimore‘s hamstring trouble could help elevate Conley’s stock, which looks to have risen into the top 10 and possibly the top five.
• In more cornerback news, USC’s Adoree’ Jackson has a busy schedule lined up this week. The former Trojans standout will meet with three teams — the Eagles, Rams and Texans — in the coming days, per Rapoport (on Twitter). Jackson’s first stop this week will be in Philadelphia, where cornerback is a need area.
• The Broncos‘ biggest need is probably at left tackle, and the team will meet with another expected first-round pick here in Garett Bolles. The Utah blocker will trek to Denver for a meeting this week, Mike Klis of 9News tweets. Denver met with Alabama’s Cam Robinson previously. Bolles will be 25 as a rookie, but the Broncos are believed to have “high interest” in him. Two of Pro Football Focus’ worst tackles in 2016, Donald Stephenson and Ty Sambrailo, represent the Broncos’ current top options on the left side.
• Previously connected to an April Giants meeting, David Njoku will travel to New Jersey on Monday, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweets. The Giants are “very high” on the Miami tight end, and also being believed to have O.J. Howard at or near the top of their draft board, it’s safe to assume Big Blue is targeting tight ends. The team has not had a difference-maker at this position in many years. Adding one would stand to give Eli Manning yet another weapon after the Giants signed Brandon Marshall last month.