If not a top RB/CB/S, then who?

[keyser]

Every year, I find myself hoping for one or two specific players to be drafted, getting excited when they are available at the Texans' slot, then getting disappointed when they aren't chosen (last year it was Oher in the first, and Unger in the second). This year, I'm trying to keep my mind open, and have a longer list of players I'd be happy with.

Right now, the list of people on my short list are:
RBs: Spiller or Matthews
CBs: Haden or Wilson
S: Thomas (I assume Berry is gone)
Unfortunately, there is the possibility that all these players could be gone by pick #20. So, assuming they're all gone, or the Texans go some different route, who else should I add to my list as a pick I ought to be happy with:

• I'd be disappointed with a DE/LB/WR/TE/QB, since I don't think we could effectively use 1st rounders at any of those positions. But, I haven't really looked at them - is there anyone in that group that would be worth looking at more closely, that someone would actually advocate we draft in the 1st?
• OL is, to me, still a major need. But, neither Iupati nor Pouncey have convinced me that they're worth a pick at #20. I haven't looked closely enough at tackles - do any of them (that aren't top-10 locks) stand out?
• We need DT, but taking another one in the 1st scares me. I haven't paid enough attention, though, to know whether there's someone that really looks to be worth considering (again eliminating the ones like Suh and McCoy that are certain to be gone before we pick).
• Is there another RB/CB/S that would be worth considering? Maybe Mays?

 

[Wolf6151]

Other possible 1st round picks that don't fit into the defined categories that I'd be happy with are Maurkice Pouncey-C/OG and Sean Weatherspoon-WLB. Pouncey would fill the middle of our O-line for the next 10-15 yrs. with outstanding talent and Weatherspoon would give us arguably the best LB corp in the NFL adding much needed speed and strength to the defensive front 7. We could possibly go with Devin McCourty-CB in the 1st round, he might be a small reach but he'd fill the position with good size and great speed. An OT that we might look at in the 1st round is Charles Brown from USC, he fits the ZBS scheme and will most likely go in the 16-32 range. Dan Williams-DT from Tennessee is a possibility as well but he'll probably be gone by the time we pick. Williams would give us a really good NT to stop the run, take up blockers, and possibly collapse the pocket.

 

[The Pencil Neck]

My list goes something like this:

1. Mathews
2. Wilson
3. Haden
4. Thomas
5. Spiller
6. Pouncey
7. Dan Williams
8. Weatherspoon

But players positions on it change every day. There have been times when I've had Pouncey and Williams up at 2 and 3.

But then I've got a long list of guys to get later, too. Nate Allen, Morgan Burnett, Jeff Byers, Ben Tate, Kareem Jackson, Dominique Franks, Lamarr Houston, Toby Gerhardt, Chris Cook, Tennant, J.D. Walton, Chris Brown, Lonyae Miller, etc, etc

 

[painekiller]

I would not mind any of the following in the 1st : Mike Iupati, Kyle Wilson, Ryan Mathews, Earl Thomas, Dan Williams, Sean Weatherspoon.

2nd:Terrence Cody, Kareem Jackson, Nate Allen, Tyson Alualu, Dominique Franks, Brandon Ghee, Montario Hardesty, Lamarr Houston, Jon Asamoah, Mike Johnson. Some of these guys might fall.


A few of the later guys I like: Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, Amari Spievey, Donovan Warren, JD Walton, Linval Joseph, John Skelton, Marshall Newhouse, Lonyae Miller, Shelley Smith, Jeff Byers, Charles Scott, Andre Anderson, Javarris James, Deji Karim, Keiland Williams, Jameson Konz, Jamar Wall, Justin Woodall, Jordan Lake, Adam Ulatoski.

 

[RagingBull]

I disagree to a point. I don't care what position they get as long as whoever it is is a bad ass like our previously chosen successful first rounders (AJ, Cushing, Mario). I will be disappointed if it is a bust or partial bust like TJ, Babin, or Carr. If it is a mediocre choice like Okoye or Brown, then I guess I will be only a little disappointed.

Honestly, the only position I think we are totally set at that could be taken in the first round is QB. No need for a first round second string QB. We could use another great receiver, LB, DE, OT, ETC. The important thing is that we get an impact player no matter what position.

 

[beerlover]

the best way to advance above the crowd is to take the best player on the board. if the Texans do this regardless of position the culmative firepower increases as will the competition for roster spots & the Texans will be both deep & talented

 

[keyser]

I disagree to a point. I don't care what position they get as long as whoever it is is a bad ass like our previously chosen successful first rounders (AJ, Cushing, Mario). I will be disappointed if it is a bust or partial bust like TJ, Babin, or Carr. If it is a mediocre choice like Okoye or Brown, then I guess I will be only a little disappointed.

Honestly, the only position I think we are totally set at that could be taken in the first round is QB. No need for a first round second string QB. We could use another great receiver, LB, DE, OT, ETC. The important thing is that we get an impact player no matter what position.

I agree with you in principle, and if we were picking top-5 or top-10, I'd completely buy into that. But practically speaking, the #20 pick is not going to get us a sure-fire improvement over what we have, at many positions. The "great" WRs, LBs, DEs, TEs that are highly likely to noticeably improve what we have now are going to be taken before slot 20. That's not to say you can't get lucky and draft someone later that will be great (I hope we do - in every round!), but there's a big element of chance there. If there is a DE who is clearly better than Barwin/Smith, I expect him to be gone well before pick 20. If there is a TE clearly better than Daniels, I don't expect him to last past 10, much less to 20.

On the other hand, I expect in general that there should be players available at pick 20 that could improve us at CB/S/RB/DT/C/G. Haven't looked much at OT this year, so maybe there as well?

I should look at LB a bit more - Weatherspoon was mentioned, and I think we could upgrade Diles with a 1st round pick. Given our investments in Ryans and Cushing, I doubt we'd see that, but it is possible. And, maybe we'd improve on KW with a 1st round pick, but I think using a first on a 2nd WR (and we're not going to be talking another AJ-level WR at pick 20) is not very practical.

 

[IDEXAN]

the best way to advance above the crowd is to take the best player on the board. if the Texans do this regardless of position the culmative firepower increases as will the competition for roster spots & the Texans will be both deep & talented

The higher the pick the more true the statement.
Just think if the Texans would have taken Willis or Revis in 2007 instead of making the Okoye pick which was based more on need than BPA ?

 

[Blake]

The higher the pick the more true the statement.
Just think if the Texans would have taken Willis or Revis in 2007 instead of making the Okoye pick which was based more on need than BPA ?

What makes you think that Okoye wasnt the highest rated player on their board?

Yeah if we could tell that Revis or Willis were gonna be studs we would have taken them. But until we create time machines we have to use projections.

 

[Maddict5]

What makes you think that Okoye wasnt the highest rated player on their board?

Yeah if we could tell that Revis or Willis were gonna be studs we would have taken them. But until we create time machines we have to use projections.

iirc alot of people had okoye going #4 to tampa bay

as for the original question- here is a list of guys id take at 20 if thomas/wilson etc are gone:

-dan williams
-dez bryant
-pouncey
-iupati

 

[IDEXAN]

Two of the Texans top 3 picks almost surely will be a CB & running back because of team needs, but because of excellent depth at both of those positions in this Draft a player at neither postion with the first pick is a possibility leaving the Texans free to draft the BPA their Board yields to them.

 

[mussop]

Brandon Graham. You can never have enough guys that can pressure the QB. Despite what we have spent on DE position, the last time I looked we werent very good at getting to the QB.

 

[Thorn]

I disagree to a point. I don't care what position they get as long as whoever it is is a bad ass like our previously chosen successful first rounders (AJ, Cushing, Mario). I will be disappointed if it is a bust or partial bust like TJ, Babin, or Carr. If it is a mediocre choice like Okoye or Brown, then I guess I will be only a little disappointed.

Honestly, the only position I think we are totally set at that could be taken in the first round is QB. No need for a first round second string QB. We could use another great receiver, LB, DE, OT, ETC. The important thing is that we get an impact player no matter what position.

I'm going with that. Any position (except QB, agreed there) that would start and make an impact is good by me. What I want though is in the first round an impact DB (S or CB) and in the second round a lineman (O or D) and 3rd round best RB thats left on the board. Considering my past lists of wants and needs I doubt the Texans will do what I ask for. LOL