Last April, the Texans selected linebacker Brian Cushing out of USC with the 15th overall pick in the first round and he went on to win The Associated Press 2009 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
As for the subsequent rounds of this year's draft, the Texans, Falcons and Pittsburgh Steelers, who all finished with 9-7 records in 2009, will alternate the 18th, 19th and 20th selection throughout the rest of the draft.
The Texans have eight picks overall. The additional pick is in the sixth round, acquired from San Diego in the trade of DT Travis Johnson.
The lower draft position this year followed the team's best record in franchise history. Prior to this year's draft, Houston's latest draft pick of the first round was the 18th selection in the 2008 NFL Draft.
