Tate and/or Gerhart aren't in Mathews class. If we knew for certain that Slaton would come back healthy, then grabbing a complimentory power back like Gerhart would make sense. Picking up a vet RB and going with a Tate would make sense. But the Texans don't know if Slaton's coming back, and won't invest in a vet RB. They've put themselves into having to grab a starter out of this draft. If they're smart, they'll grab one sooner than later.
This is what I have been preaching since the season ended. We have to come out of this draft with a starting caliber RB. We cannot go into next year hoping Slaton and or some late round pick will make our running game respectfull. Its a big enough risk that a top rated RB can do it.
If Spiller isnt there I say we trade down and aquire as many picks as possible. I read somewhere Detroits coaches and scouts were in love with Wilson at the combine. Maybe we could get them to trade up for him at #20 with their #34 and #66.
That would give us options like -
my personal choices in black.
#34 Jared Odrick, Maurkice Pouncey, Devin McCourty,
Ryan Matthews or
Jonathan Dwyer
#51
Daryl Washington, Lamarr Houston, Vlad Ducasse, Ben Tate
#66 Chris Cook, Mike Johnson, Major Wright, Arthur Jones, Greg Hardy,
Chad Jones, Montario Hardesty
#81 Cam Thomas, Mardy Gilyard, Brandon Ghee, Jacoby Ford , Toby Gerhart, Perrish Cox, Javier Arenas......Any of these guys would be ok with me.