NFL Mock Draft 2013: Texans select DeAndre Hopkins in first round

The Houston Texans had another fine season in 2012, winning the AFC South before eventually being eliminated in the second round of the playoffs. With the No. 27 overall pick at the 2013 NFL Draft, the front office will look to add a couple of young studs to build around for years to come.

Most mock drafts see the Texans taking a wide receiver in the first round. This makes plenty of sense. It would give quarterback Matt Schaub another target to throw to down the field. It would also prevent defenses from doubling up their coverage on Pro Bowl receiver Andre Johnson, who continues to be one of the most feared wideouts in the league.

Johnson is also getting up there in age a bit -- he will be 32 in the summer -- and the team will eventually need to consider finding a new No. 1 receiver. Here is Josh Norris of Roto World on the projected selection of DeAndre Hopkins with the 27th pick:

27. Houston Texans -- WR, DeAndre Hopkins, Clemson

A Roddy White type receiver, Hopkins catches everything in (or out) of his range. He has straight-line speed, but Hopkins' hand strength and consistency at the catch point is what makes him one of the top receiver prospects in this class.

Hopkins, a 6'1, 200 pound junior out of Clemson, had a monster season with the Tigers, hauling in 82 passes for 1,405 yards and 18 touchdowns.

In a separate mock draft from Matthew Fairburn of SB Nation, the Texans will take another wide receiver with their first-round pick: Cordarrelle Patterson out of Tennessee.

Other than wide receiver, Houston could add a cornerback to help bolster a secondary that was exploited at times last season.