WR in the 1st round?

[Wolf6151]

We've talked about OG in the 1st and CB in the 1st, now let's talk about WR in the 1st round. I've seen many mocks that have the Texans taking a WR in the 1st round but I've seen some mocks lately that have the top level WR's, Keenan Allen and Cordarrelle Patterson falling to the Texans at #27. Since this WR class seems to lack the elite level of talent but has lots of very good depth, it seems plausible that the best of the WR class could maybe fall to us. Do you take safe pick like Quinton Patton, Deandre Hopkins, or Robert Woods who will be good WR's with a high floor or do you take the risk on guys like Justin Hunter (ACL injury history), Cordarrelle Patterson (only 1yr. of D-1 playing experience) who seem to have a much higher ceiling? Who's your top 3 WR's at pick #27 for the Texans, and why? It's ok to have 2 lists, predicting what the Texans will do and the other if your the GM.

[76Texan]

This class has more top end talents than last year when 4 were drafted in the first round (Blackmon, Flyod, Wright, and Jenkins) and 5 were drafted in the second round (Quick, Hill, Jeffrey, Broyles, and Randle.)

I think this year there's 11 or 12 that belong with that group even though (probably) not all of them will be drafted in the first two rounds due to the run on receivers last year.

[Wolf6151]

Glad to see I'm not the only one up at 1am. I'm hoping that run on WR's last year will help us this year, not sure but I can always wish. So who you got? Do you play it safe or go for the possible homerun?

[otisbean]

Originally Posted by Wolf6151

Glad to see I'm not the only one up at 1am. I'm hoping that run on WR's last year will help us this year, not sure but I can always wish. So who you got? Do you play it safe or go for the possible homerun?

Who do you consider safe and who'd be a home run? I'm thinking BPA in rd 1 then the best available OT and WR in rds 2-3 (if one of those positions wasn't drafted in rd1)

I look at Miami and there's a part of me that hopes they grab a replacement for Jake Long in rd 1 and a top level WR is available at our pick allowing us to trade back for a 2nd and a 3rd or so

[Wolf6151]

I think guys like Justin Hunter, and Cordarrelle Patterson are your risky players that could be a homerun due to their speed, size, athleticism, and deep threat potential but they might not fit the Texans scheme since we don't seem to throw deep very often and Schaub doesn't seem to have the arm for it. I think guys like Quinton Patton, Robert Woods, and Deandre Hopkins are a safer pick with a higher floor but they're not as explosive and don't have the ceiling Patterson and Hunter have. For our short to mid depth routes I think Deandre Hopkins would be our type of WR provided Keenan Allen isn't available, but I've seen some mocks lately that have the Texans picking Allen at #27.

[steelbtexan]

Texans
1. Williams
2. Patton
3. Hopkins

Texans always go the safe route and these are the safest WR's in this draft.

Steel B's
1.Rodgers
2.Williams
3.Dobson

After Patterson and Allen these guys have the highest upside and I'm big on speed. Route running can be taught. I also like Hunter but his ACL scares me away from top 3.

[b0ng]

Originally Posted by steelbtexan

Texans
1. Williams
2. Patton
3. Hopkins

Texans always go the safe route and these are the safest WR's in this draft.

Steel B's
1.Rodgers
2.Williams
3.Dobson

After Patterson and Allen these guys have the highest upside and I'm big on speed. Route running can be taught. I also like Hunter but his ACL scares me away from top 3.

The only thing that worries me about injuries is how motivated they are to re-hab and whatnot. If I remember right, Broyles had some kind of awful injury which dropped him in the draft, and I think the Lions got a steal getting him where they did and with what he produced for them.

[steelbtexan]

Originally Posted by b0ng

The only thing that worries me about injuries is how motivated they are to re-hab and whatnot. If I remember right, Broyles had some kind of awful injury which dropped him in the draft, and I think the Lions got a steal getting him where they did and with what he produced for them.

Agreed,

That's why I left Hunter out of my top 3. Hunter has as much ability as any WR in this draft, but I dont want another Broyles situation on the Texans.

[badboy]

ACL injury was 2011, Hunter's 2012 stats 73 for 1083; be nice to see what he could do 100% healthy.

[Wolf6151]

Texans picks: the Texans are conservative.
1. Keenan Allen
2. DeAndre Hopkins
3. Quinton Patton
4. Robert Woods

Wolf6151 picks:
1. Cordarrelle Patterson, only 1 yr. of D1 exp. worries me.
2. Justin Hunter, thin frail body type and ACL worries me.
3. Keenan Allen
4. Quinton Patton or DeAndre Hopkins

Ok, I went top 4, limiting to 3 was harder than I thought.

[thunderkyss]

Kiper's 2.0 has us taking Patton

27Quinton Patton
Houston Texans (12-4)
COLLEGE: Louisiana Tech
AGE: 22HT: 6-2 WT: 198
POS: WR

Analysis: Houston needs to find another weapon for Matt Schaub. Andre Johnson will be 32 this summer, and if he's out of the lineup, the drop-off is significant. If you're a fan that hasn't seen anything from Patton, roll the tape from his game against Texas A&M. All he did to the Aggies was 21 catches, 233 yards and 4 TD catches. Simply put, Patton was really, really hard to cover in 2012, and when he went to the Senior Bowl against some of the top competition in the draft, he didn't get any easier to cover. Love the way he release from pressure, can set defenders up and work the sides or the middle of the field, using long arms to snatch the ball away from his body. A rising player meets a good fit.

In his first Mock he had us taking Allen

No. 28 -- Houston: Keenan Allen, WR, Cal

Kiper: “If he hadn't become a wide receiver, it's entirely possible that Allen could be a coveted safety in this draft. His experience on defense shows up on offense, where he has a great knack for finding space in coverage, working back to the ball to help his quarterback and using great hands as a dependable pass-catcher. He's dangerous with the ball in his hands.”

Kuharsky: With DeVier Posey now recovering from a torn Achilles, finding a receiver to play opposite Andre Johnson and eventually take over for him should be a priority. Houston needs to be more threatening at wideout.

I think what he says is true, but I don't see a WR helping us enough in 2013. Of course I'm admittedly short sighted & if a WR is the BPA there, then we should take him.

But I also believe whatever Kiper/McShay has us doing, Smithiak are going to do something completely different. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but the last time they got it "right" was Amobi Okoye

[Rey]

Give me hunter.

Give me some players that play explosive on the football field.

I like hunter because he moves like a little guy in short area, but can open it up to get down the field. Lots of good wr's in this draft. I wish we could give Keyshawn Martin back and take two guys this draft. I mean, we can take two guys anyways but there really is no need for Martin IMO. He's not that good.

[Lucky]

Originally Posted by Wolf6151

Who's your top 3 WR's at pick #27 for the Texans, and why?

The Texans should look at WRs who can beat press coverage and have good run after catch ability. That will mean more to this team than a 4.3 guy running an up route. I like:

Keenan Allen - The most "pro ready" WR in this class. Has the combination of size and elusiveness the Texans need. He won't run a great 40 time. Due to a late season injury, Allen may not even run before the draft. That's the only way he drops to the Texans.

Cordarrelle Patterson - Has Dez Bryant type abilty with the ball in his hands. Very raw as a receiver, the kind of pick that will look better in 2014 than 2013.

DeAndre Hopkins - Athleticism doesn't jump off the screen, but he makes plays all the same. A lot like Anquan Boldin in that he comes up with the ball when it's thrown his way.

Quinton Patton - If Patton were more physical, I would rate him higher. Uses his quickness to get off the line, and has sneaky deep speed. Reminds me of Roddy White, who took a couple of years to develop.

Mike Shanahan - If Kevin Walter does leave, Kubiak will need another big blocking wideout. Enter Michael Shanahan (son of Kubiak buddy Mike Shanahan), a 6-5, 225lb WR that is a late round, UDFA possibility.

[dream_team]

Originally Posted by steelbtexan

Texans always go the safe route and these are the safest WR's in this draft.

???

Okoye, Mario & Duane were not the safe route.

You can argue Cushing, KJ, and Watt were safe picks... but they all ended up being the correct pick.

Jury is still out on Mercilus.

[drs23]

Originally Posted by Lucky

Mike Shanahan - If Kevin Walter does leave, Kubiak will need another big blocking wideout. Enter Michael Shanahan (son of Kubiak buddy Mike Shanahan), a 6-5, 225lb WR that is a late round, UDFA possibility.

Well say no more. If he had attended CO ST instead of Pitt this would be a slam dunk.

Texans draft him and then trade him to Daddy Shanny for Kirk Cousins. Works out all the way around.

[powda]

Name an unexciting high character guy who is a great blocker and has served on occasion as a tight end. Done. Next?

[badboy]

Originally Posted by powda

Name an unexciting high character guy who is a great blocker and has served on occasion as a tight end. Done. Next?

Alabama's Michael Williams for me in 5th.

[steelbtexan]

Originally Posted by dream_team

???

Okoye, Mario & Duane were not the safe route.

You can argue Cushing, KJ, and Watt were safe picks... but they all ended up being the correct pick.

Jury is still out on Mercilus.

I dont believe in drafting this way, but before Wade this was the Texans MO on drafting defensive players in the 1st rd.

Okoye-highest rated player at position of need
Mario- ditto, plus he came cheaper than Bush/VY
Cushing-Ditto
KJ- Ditto
Watt- Wade pick
Mercilus-Wade pick

Offense
Brown- HOF Alex Gibbs handpicked guy, although many disagreed with the pick at the time.

[dream_team]

Originally Posted by steelbtexan

I dont believe in drafting this way, but before Wade this was the Texans MO on drafting defensive players in the 1st rd.

Okoye-highest rated player at position of need
Mario- ditto, plus he came cheaper than Bush/VY
Cushing-Ditto
KJ- Ditto
Watt- Wade pick
Mercilus-Wade pick

Offense
Brown- HOF Alex Gibbs handpicked guy, although many disagreed with the pick at the time.

So they made one bad pick out of 7? Nice! They need to keep it up!

[steelbtexan]

Originally Posted by dream_team

So they made one bad pick out of 7? Nice! They need to keep it up!

Depends on what you think of the KJ/MW picks. They were Good not great picks. IMHO There is more than 1 rd in the draft though and Rick has been avg so far. There have only been 2 homerun picks in Texans History, Watt and AJ.

Rick has hit on a few draft picks, but nothing to brag about. Look at last yrs draft, nice draft, no difference makers. Brooks is the best bet to become an all pro player. There rest are nice players but will probably be avg to slightly above avg players.

Since Rick has been here he has drafted a few above avg players and his claim to fame signing Foster as a FA.

Lets look at Ricks drafting history,

Offense

Great player drafted D. Brown, Avg player (High grade) Casey, everybody else is either a below avg starter or was here before Rick became GM, or signed in FA.

Defense, Ricks specialty

Great pick Cushing, Watt (Wades pick but I will give Rick this one.)

Avg players (Barwin/Reed/KJ (Depends on your opinion) Quin is slightly above avg. Everybody else was either signed in FA and other than JoJo/Myers and to a lesser extent Manning have been avg to below avg players as FA signings. The only other drat picks Rick has made have been less than inspiring Newton/Jones/Graham on offense hope to become avg. There's a good chance Poseys done and he was avg at best this yr but had potential to be slightly above avg.

So this is why the Texans are an avg to slightly above avg team with many holes that benefits from playing in a terrible division. The problem with this is the Colts are gaining on them fast. They have their QB of the future, they're a good young team that is only going to get better and they are 44 mil under the cap this yr. Tell me more about the Texans cap situation under Ricks watch? The Texans may be able to hold off the Colts one more yr.

I've got a feeling this team has peeked. They need to have a great draft in the lower rds this yr to be able to keep up with what the Colts are doing. Grigson is playing to win and win big.

Rick has been an avg GM and the Texans need to pick it up on draft days. Adding 2-3 avg starters a yr isn't going to cut it if they want to stay a top the division. Rick needs to draft one difference maker a yr and 2-3 above avg starters a yr. Can he do it? Time will tell. But I can certainly see how diehard fans such as She Texan are frustrated with Rick and dont like the direction the franchise appears to be headed.