Death to Google Ads! Texans Talk Tip Jar! 🍺😎👍
Thanks for your support!

Top 5 Best and Worst Draft picks in Texans History

Wolf

100% Texan
Tony hollings came to mind

Nfl and texan doctors saying Boselli was ready to go HAS to be number 1
 

Lurvinator11

Veteran
Tony hollings came to mind

Nfl and texan doctors saying Boselli was ready to go HAS to be number 1
I didn't include the expansion draft. I agree Boselli would have gone high, but it was the expansion draft, and not the college draft. I just wanted to do the College draft, since that is what is coming up.
 

Lurvinator11

Veteran
Charles Hill has to be one of our worst draft picks. Tony Hollings as well.
I didn't put Hollings on the list, due to him being selected in the Supplemental draft.

As for Charles Hill, I actually had no memory of him. Remember, I was a bit younger in 2002 :kitten:

I give him somewhat of a break though, due to the fact that we had 12 picks in the draft that season. I know you never want to waste a draft pick, but with the amount we had that season, since we were new, it didn't hurt as bad as taking a first rounder like Travis Johnson, and Babin.
 

The Pencil Neck

Hall of Fame
I can't see putting Anthony Hill on that list. He was a 4th round TE drafted to be a blocking TE. The fact that he was injured and didn't see the field a lot doesn't bother me in the least.

I would have put Carr, Morency, Ragone, Charles Hill, and guys like that on there before a 4th round blocking TE.
 

eriadoc

Texan-American
On Jason Babin - I maintained at the time that Casserly properly identified a talent there. But trading away picks to move up and grab him, then misusing him for four years, was the biggest part of the problem. Babin had somewhat questionable character as well. But he did go on to have a couple great seasons that showed what he had the talent to do - 30 or so sacks in two seasons. That the Texans never developed and/or utilized that talent was just one more failure of a terrible HC/GM tandem.

To me, Amobi Ok0ye has to be in the top 5 worst, not only because of where he was drafted and how poorly he performed to that expectation, but also because of who the team passed on and the fact that the team was not good enough to be taking on development projects in the first round (early first, too) at that point.
 

Lurvinator11

Veteran
To me, Amobi Ok0ye has to be in the top 5 worst, not only because of where he was drafted and how poorly he performed to that expectation, but also because of who the team passed on and the fact that the team was not good enough to be taking on development projects in the first round (early first, too) at that point.
Which is why I have him as number 4. :kitten:
 

powda

The bridge between stupid and useless is short.
Bennie joppru has to be in the conversation. A very high 2nd round pick who did next to nothing. Hill is there. Ragone. Hollings. Okye and t Johnson are about even in performance so I give the edge to okoye based on draft position.

Molden would be up there but he's a 3rd round pick. His only competition by that criteria is Ragone whom was drafted when we had carr and sage...he was a luxury pick on a team desperate for talent. Looking back its amazing how much casserly f*cked this team up.
 

TEXANRED

Texan-American
Can you do a top 5 worst pick for this team? The entire 07 draft class (except Jones) and 08 (except Brown) were busts.

5 worst individuals? Well:

1) David Carr
2) Charles Hill
3) Seth Wand
4) Bennie Joppru
5) DeVier Posey

Special mention: Antwaun Molden, Jason Babin, Travis Johnson, Amobi Okoye, Charles Spencer, and Vernand Morency.

I put Posey on there because he was out of football for the 2011 season, basically out until the end of last season, blows out his MCL, will be out next season. So 3 seasons of no football? This is the NFL, you can't do that. A waste of a 3rd round pick.

Top 5 Best:

1) JJ Watt
2) Andre Johnson
3) Brian Cushing
4) Duane Brown
5) Kareem Jackson

Honorable mention: Mario Williams, DeMeco Ryans, Owen Danials.
 

Wolf

100% Texan
Felt bad for Joppru at the time. He had no injury history when we drafted him.IIRC


Put some salt in the wound...Jason whitten was drafted #69 in the 3rd round that year


However I doubt his career would be like it was being hwwsnn was Qb'ing for the fiirst few years
 

Wolf

100% Texan
As far as best picks

1) Andre Johnson (thank you Detroit)
2) JJ Watt
3) Brian Cushing
4) Demeco Ryans
5) Duane Brown
 

tru80texan

Waterboy
So I guess everyone agrees with my top 5 best draft picks, right?
The way most seem to be replying, it seems they agree w/ your best & worst list. Not sure too many are looking at the link you provided.

I do think Babin caught a raw deal here as it was obvious he wasn't a 3-4 lb, so he was evaluated improperly by Casserly/ Capers & then he never got an opportunity w/ Kubiak imo. He was the former regimes player in Kubiak's eyes & they were weeding them out unless your name was Andre Johnson. Babin has had a decent career, so he is a playwright that has talent.

Winston was a good pick imo, but I'm not sure who I would replace w/ him, but I think he was worth noting considering the round he was selected & his contribution.
 

infantrycak

Hall of Fame
Seems to me you need to distinguish between best and worst choice v. result. There was nothing wrong with the choice to draft Joppru but the result sucked.
 

Lurvinator11

Veteran
Can you do a top 5 worst pick for this team? The entire 07 draft class (except Jones) and 08 (except Brown) were busts.

5 worst individuals? Well:

1) David Carr
2) Charles Hill
3) Seth Wand
4) Bennie Joppru
5) DeVier Posey

Special mention: Antwaun Molden, Jason Babin, Travis Johnson, Amobi Okoye, Charles Spencer, and Vernand Morency.

I put Posey on there because he was out of football for the 2011 season, basically out until the end of last season, blows out his MCL, will be out next season. So 3 seasons of no football? This is the NFL, you can't do that. A waste of a 3rd round pick.

Top 5 Best:

1) JJ Watt
2) Andre Johnson
3) Brian Cushing
4) Duane Brown
5) Kareem Jackson

Honorable mention: Mario Williams, DeMeco Ryans, Owen Danials.
The entire 05 class was a bust. I can't put Posey on the list, because he was making strides near the end of the season. Yeah, he got hurt, so maybe he will turn into a bust, but you can't make a decision on him yet.

I like how you put KJax in there. Like the confidence in him. Perhaps he can become a top 5 in the next couple of years.

I know a few of you have Carr in the top 5 worst picks. I honestly couldn't put him in the list, because there were points when he was getting better. I think Pencil Neck mentioned it in one thread, but he said something along the lines of, Carr was playing great in the 04 season, but then hit a wall. He was a young QB, with a terrible coaching staff. Yes he was a bust, just nowhere in the top 5 bust.
 

AcresHomesTexan

No Longer Arlington: Escaped From Jerry's World
Staff member
Seems to me you need to distinguish between best and worst choice v. result. There was nothing wrong with the choice to draft Joppru but the result sucked.
If my memory is working Witten was largely thought of as a higer ranked prospect and there was a lot of 1st guessing if you were going to draft a TE then at least go Witten. Seems like a 2nd round TE was not thought of that highly then though.
 

ChampionTexan

Hall of Fame
Seems to me you need to distinguish between best and worst choice v. result. There was nothing wrong with the choice to draft Joppru but the result sucked.
MSR

I agree that the Joppru pick is unfairly bashed as a poor (rather than unproductive) pick. No injury history, nothing to suggest his injuries weren't real, just a failure to have the opportunity to show his talents on an NFL level.

You never hear the same sentiments regarding Charles Spencer, yet their contributions to the Texans were near identical (2 games started for Spencer, 0 games started for Joppru).
 

infantrycak

Hall of Fame
If my memory is working Witten was largely thought of as a higer ranked prospect and there was a lot of 1st guessing if you were going to draft a TE then at least go Witten. Seems like a 2nd round TE was not thought of that highly then though.
They were a toss up with Witten being argued as having a higher ceiling but with character concerns. That kind of choice still doesn't strike me as epically bad. Being an expansion team and using a 3rd on a DLmen you cut without ever seeing the field, now that is an epically bad choice.
 

powda

The bridge between stupid and useless is short.
1. Rb Tony Hollings.

Drafted in the 2nd round of the supplemental draft, Hollings was a converted defensive back who played a limited number of college games as a rb (6 total if memory serves.) He was also comming off a broken leg. Based on draft slotting, draft projection (injury/college performance), and his production for the Texans, he gets top slotting from me.

2. Te Bennie Joppru.

Drafted in the 2nd round we never got anything from him because of injury after injury after injury. He was a myth. The only reason I dont slot him ahead of Hollings is he was regarded as a solid college te. There was more merit for his selection then Hollings. Casserly and company were unlucky with this pick because of injuries. They outsmarted themselves with Hollings.

3. Qb Dave Ragone

3rd round selection. Did he ever take a snap for the Texans? He was selected with Carr and Sage (or was it Banks) on the roster. He was picked because Casserly thought he could parlay Ragone into a 2nd round or 1st round selection down the road. Ragone was a luxury pick a playoff team gambles on. An expansion team desperate for more talent on the roster had no business picking him. Again the Texans outsmarted themselves here.

4. Olb Jason Babin

In a surprise move the Texans traded up into the first round and selected the bone chewing kid from western Michigan. He was sold to us as the next Kevin Green. Instead we got a guy who always had his back to the ball because all he knew how to do was an excruciatingly slow spin move. We did get some field production from Babin but it never lived up to his 1st round selection. Why do I rank him ahead of guys who performed arguably worse on the field you ask? Picking him cost us dearly with several picks when we needed talent the most. To magnify the problem we strengthened a division rival. Babin was a gamble we had to get right. We missed.

5. Dt Amobi Okoye

Lots of possible names could go here. We did get some production from him. He wins out as #5 on the worst list because he was picked higher then people like T Johnson, A Molden, or A Hill. We had high expectations for the brilliant youngster from Louisville. He had flashes his rookie season and then flat lined. He was one of the first big additions of the dismal frank bush era and the beginning of his downfall.

Post mortem:

Why isn't Carr on the list? Carr was a good college qb with great tools. You may recall the Texans were applauded by most nationally for taking Carr over Peppers. We all knew Peppers was going to be a monster but the Texans got a pass because quarterback is the most important position on the field...right? Things like "They're starting out the franchise right by getting the most talented qb available" were said by pundits everywhere. In hindsight we know Carr failed us. I think the Texans failed Carr just as much. I've said it before and it bares repeating - Carr was never going to be great, but he had a chance to be average. The bumbling idiots surrounding carr with bad talent and worse coaching sabotaged his career as much as Carr did.
 

Honoring Earl 34

Something Witty !
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/htx/draft.htm

Worst to not so worst

1. David Carr was a 5th year Sr who had one monster year vs SMU , Rice , San Jose , Nevada , Utah State and so on . He stunk in the senior Bowl but he had nice white teeth and was good people . He and the cali mafia made the Texans hopeless .

2. Travis Johnson was drafted after the Texans traded back and letting Derrick Johnson and the OT Jamaal Brown go . The real killer though was letting one Aaron Rogers slip by because we had David Freakin Carr .

3. Amobi Okoye cause we let Patrick Willis go for this 19 year old undersized guy who really was to smart for football .

4. Tony Hollings was a 2nd round pick and a converted DB to RB . He sucked big time .

5. Jason Babin cause we traded a second, third, fourth, and fifth in exchange for a first (27th overall) and fifth round pick to the Titans to get him .

honorable mention is to Chuck Hill for getting cut as a 3rd round pick in training camp .
 
I put Posey on there because he was out of football for the 2011 season, basically out until the end of last season, blows out his MCL, will be out next season. So 3 seasons of no football? This is the NFL, you can't do that. A waste of a 3rd round pick.
Posey was a rookie last season, WTF does him missing a season in college football matter at all to his NFL value? He played last season but because Kubes doesn't trust rookies he didn't get playing time until the end of the season. Plus,you have no clue if he will play this season or not, regardless, it'd be his freaking second year.
 

TEXANRED

Texan-American
Posey was a rookie last season, WTF does him missing a season in college football matter at all to his NFL value? He played last season but because Kubes doesn't trust rookies he didn't get playing time until the end of the season. Plus,you have no clue if he will play this season or not, regardless, it'd be his freaking second year.
I guess I have a freaking clue based on time to heal this injury, the impact of this type of injury to his position played, conditioning concerns, and it's the freaking NFL.

You are right, Kubes doesnt trust rookies. Just don't tell Cushing, Watt, Jackson, Brown, Slaton, Williams, Ryans, Daniels, Barwin, Reed, etc. Those guys may get a little upset knowing they didnt get to play.

And I will reiterate, Posey missed an entire year of football didn't play most of this season, and will miss most if not all of next season. I can't miss 3 years at my job and expect to slide right back in and perform like a top 1% in my chosen profession.

Let him prove me wrong.

Oh and Charles Spencer says high.
 
I guess I have a freaking clue based on time to heal this injury, the impact of this type of injury to his position played, conditioning concerns, and it's the freaking NFL.

You are right, Kubes doesnt trust rookies. Just don't tell Cushing, Watt, Jackson, Brown, Slaton, Williams, Ryans, Daniels, Barwin, Reed, etc. Those guys may get a little upset knowing they didnt get to play.

And I will reiterate, Posey missed an entire year of football didn't play most of this season, and will miss most if not all of next season. I can't miss 3 years at my job and expect to slide right back in and perform like a top 1% in my chosen profession.

Let him prove me wrong.


Oh and Charles Spencer says high.
Are you even aware that 2012 was Posey's rookie season? He hasn't missed any time due to injury yet and when he finally got playing time he made plays including a TD catch in the playoffs. How does this make him a bust?
 
Also, just FYI, Posey did play for Ohio State in 2011 though I have no idea what that has to do with his NFL play. He tore his Achilles and isnt expected back until Week 8. Also, you named 2 whole rookies on offense that Kubes used.
 

infantrycak

Hall of Fame
He played last season but because Kubes doesn't trust rookies he didn't get playing time until the end of the season.
Or maybe in practice he didn't show what the coaches wanted.

Offensive rookie contributors/starters - Spencer, Winston, Daniels, JJ, Duane Brown, Slaton, etc.

Others have played as rookies as well and this is in the context of drafts which been defensively dominated. I'm not seeing the anti-rookie accusation.
 
Or maybe in practice he didn't show what the coaches wanted.

Offensive rookie contributors/starters - Spencer, Winston, Daniels, JJ, Duane Brown, Slaton, etc.

Others have played as rookies as well and this is in the context of drafts which been defensively dominated. I'm not seeing the anti-rookie accusation.
I'm not even really worried about if Kubes is anti-rookie or not. All I'm saying is that calling Posey a monumental franchise bust because he might miss his second season due to injury is ridiculous.
 

infantrycak

Hall of Fame
I'm not even really worried about if Kubes is anti-rookie or not. All I'm saying is that calling Posey a monumental franchise bust because he might miss his second season due to injury is ridiculous.
I agree Posey is not a bust. Was only commenting on the Kubes and rookies issue.
 

steelbtexan

King of the W. B. Club
Contributor's Club
1. HWMSNBM
2. OkOye
3.Joppru
4. Hollings
5. Spencer

Best

1. Watt
2. AJ
3. Cushing
4. OD
5. Ryans
 

TEXANRED

Texan-American
Also, just FYI, Posey did play for Ohio State in 2011 though I have no idea what that has to do with his NFL play. He tore his Achilles and isnt expected back until Week 8. Also, you named 2 whole rookies on offense that Kubes used.
Posey was suspended his last year at Ohio State for NCAA violations.

Assume he comes back week 8, in the middle of football season, he still won't play b/c he won't be in football shape. He starts the season on the PUP and depending on need at WR at that time of the year he may end the year on IR. I anticipate after this draft to have our WR position taken care of. KMart starts the season as our 2nd receiver, our first rounder is 3rd and a vet plus Jean to finish out the WR core.

My point is you can't take 3 years off and expect to play at a high level.

As far as only naming 2 offensive players since 2006 Kubes has only drafted 20 offensive players. Look who we drafted,

Kasey Studdard, Antoine Caldwell, Brandon Frye, Alex Brink, Anthony Hill, Shelley Smith, Dorin Dickerson, Garrett Graham, Trindon Holliday, Jacoby Jones, Wali Lundy, David Anderson, Owen Daniels, Eric Winston, Charles Spencer, Ben Tate, TJ Yates, Brandon Brooks, Ben Jones, Nick Mondek

Not exactly a glowing offensive draft.

I hope I am wrong about Posey. I wish him the best of luck. Maybe you are friends with Posey, show him this post, maybe it will motivate him to work harder. As it stands I would say he has less than a 5% chance of being anything more than a journeyman WR in the NFL.
 

Insideop

All Pro
I guess I have a freaking clue based on time to heal this injury, the impact of this type of injury to his position played, conditioning concerns, and it's the freaking NFL.
You are wrong on the injury. As The Iron Duke eluded to earlier, Posey has a torn achilles. That's a much worse injury for a WR than a torn MCL. If it's bad enough he may never fully recover and could lose his speed, his explosion, or his jumping ability. I can't classify him as a bust yet. We have to wait and see what happens, but rather doubt we'll see him this coming season.
 

Honoring Earl 34

Something Witty !
You are wrong on the injury. As The Iron Duke eluded to earlier, Posey has a torn achilles. That's a much worse injury for a WR than a torn MCL. If it's bad enough he may never fully recover and could lose his speed, his explosion, or his jumping ability. I can't classify him as a bust yet. We have to wait and see what happens, but rather doubt we'll see him this coming season.
I don't consider a guy that got hurt a bust , that's bad luck . Of course if you want to say that we drafted Joppru instead of Witten , that's an arguement .
 

IDEXAN

Hall of Fame
Contributor's Club
On Jason Babin - I maintained at the time that Casserly properly identified a talent there. But trading away picks to move up and grab him, then misusing him for four years, was the biggest part of the problem. Babin had somewhat questionable character as well. But he did go on to have a couple great seasons that showed what he had the talent to do - 30 or so sacks in two seasons. That the Texans never developed and/or utilized that talent was just one more failure of a terrible HC/GM tandem.
Unless you consider tattoos a character issue, can't imagine what you are talking about because Babin was without negative character issues as far as anybody knew. For example, by all reports he was a devoted family man.
Trading away picks ? Maybe you thought Casserly overpaid for the 27th overall, but don't know what that's got to do with Babin being a bad pick. Misusing him or not coaching him correctly ? What's that got to do with him being a bad pick ?
 

TEXANRED

Texan-American
Unless you consider tattoos a character issue, can't imagine what you are talking about because Babin was without negative character issues as far as anybody knew. For example, by all reports he was a devoted family man.
Trading away picks ? Maybe you thought Casserly overpaid for the 27th overall, but don't know what that's got to do with Babin being a bad pick. Misusing him or not coaching him correctly ? What's that got to do with him being a bad pick ?
Babin has been cut by the Texans, Seahawks, Chiefs, Eagles, played for 5 teams in 9 years and has had only 2 good seasons.

Babin is a bust.
 

ChampionTexan

Hall of Fame
Posey was suspended his last year at Ohio State for NCAA violations.

Assume he comes back week 8, in the middle of football season, he still won't play b/c he won't be in football shape. He starts the season on the PUP and depending on need at WR at that time of the year he may end the year on IR. I anticipate after this draft to have our WR position taken care of. KMart starts the season as our 2nd receiver, our first rounder is 3rd and a vet plus Jean to finish out the WR core.

My point is you can't take 3 years off and expect to play at a high level.
I believe Posey played the final three games of his last year at Ohlo State, - I'm positive he played in their bowl game. More importantly, he continued to practice with the team while he was suspended, so it was actually more like a NCAA version of a practice squad. Aditionally, Posey was active for 11 games this past season, and while playing time was limited, the characterization that he was somehow not active during 2012 is blatently incorrect.

So if you're assumption of coming back after week 8 next season is correct, then your comment about taking 3 years off from football will only be wrong by 2.5 seasons.
 

TEXANRED

Texan-American
I believe Posey played the final three games of his last year at Ohlo State, - I'm positive he played in their bowl game. More importantly, he continued to practice with the team while he was suspended, so it was actually more like a NCAA version of a practice squad. Aditionally, Posey was active for 11 games this past season, and while playing time was limited, the characterization that he was somehow not active during 2012 is blatently incorrect.

So if you're assumption of coming back after week 8 next season is correct, then your comment about taking 3 years off from football will only be wrong by 2.5 seasons.
Can't comment about practice, Posey played in 3 games, pretty sure Ohio State did not have a bowl game due to NCAA sanctions.

I am assuming Posey is put on IR at some point next year and does not make a week 8 debut.

Again, I hope he proves me wrong.
 

ChampionTexan

Hall of Fame
Can't comment about practice, Posey played in 3 games, pretty sure Ohio State did not have a bowl game due to NCAA sanctions.

I am assuming Posey is put on IR at some point next year and does not make a week 8 debut.

Again, I hope he proves me wrong.
Lost to Florida in the Gator Bowl played Jan.2, 2012 . Posey caught 5 balls for 38 yards and a TD. Sanctions didn't kick in for another year.
 

IDEXAN

Hall of Fame
Contributor's Club
Babin has been cut by the Texans, Seahawks, Chiefs, Eagles, played for 5 teams in 9 years and has had only 2 good seasons.

Babin is a bust.
He's a multi-year Pro-Bowler who was also voted All-Pro. There's only a very few Texans players who can claim the same honors and accolades. Just because the Texans and apparently other teams couldn't figure out how to use his skills doesn't make him a bad pick. It means the Texans had incompetent coachs.
 

IDEXAN

Hall of Fame
Contributor's Club
1. Rb Tony Hollings.

Drafted in the 2nd round of the supplemental draft, Hollings was a converted defensive back who played a limited number of college games as a rb (6 total if memory serves.) He was also comming off a broken leg. Based on draft slotting, draft projection (injury/college performance), and his production for the Texans, he gets top slotting from me.


2. Te Bennie Joppru.

Drafted in the 2nd round we never got anything from him because of injury after injury after injury. He was a myth. The only reason I dont slot him ahead of Hollings is he was regarded as a solid college te. There was more merit for his selection then Hollings. Casserly and company were unlucky with this pick because of injuries. They outsmarted themselves with Hollings.


3. Qb Dave Ragone

3rd round selection. Did he ever take a snap for the Texans? He was selected with Carr and Sage (or was it Banks) on the roster. He was picked because Casserly thought he could parlay Ragone into a 2nd round or 1st round selection down the road. Ragone was a luxury pick a playoff team gambles on. An expansion team desperate for more talent on the roster had no business picking him. Again the Texans outsmarted themselves here.

4. Olb Jason Babin

In a surprise move the Texans traded up into the first round and selected the bone chewing kid from western Michigan. He was sold to us as the next Kevin Green. Instead we got a guy who always had his back to the ball because all he knew how to do was an excruciatingly slow spin move. We did get some field production from Babin but it never lived up to his 1st round selection. Why do I rank him ahead of guys who performed arguably worse on the field you ask? Picking him cost us dearly with several picks when we needed talent the most. To magnify the problem we strengthened a division rival. Babin was a gamble we had to get right. We missed.

5. Dt Amobi Okoye

Lots of possible names could go here. We did get some production from him. He wins out as #5 on the worst list because he was picked higher then people like T Johnson, A Molden, or A Hill. We had high expectations for the brilliant youngster from Louisville. He had flashes his rookie season and then flat lined. He was one of the first big additions of the dismal frank bush era and the beginning of his downfall.

Post mortem:

Why isn't Carr on the list? Carr was a good college qb with great tools. You may recall the Texans were applauded by most nationally for taking Carr over Peppers. We all knew Peppers was going to be a monster but the Texans got a pass because quarterback is the most important position on the field...right? Things like "They're starting out the franchise right by getting the most talented qb available" were said by pundits everywhere. In hindsight we know Carr failed us. I think the Texans failed Carr just as much. I've said it before and it bares repeating - Carr was never going to be great, but he had a chance to be average. The bumbling idiots surrounding carr with bad talent and worse coaching sabotaged his career as much as Carr did.
Why is Joppru a bad pick ? He had miserable luck because of his injuries, but that was misfortune, terrible luck, whatever. The guy had no history of being chronically injured in college.
Now on the other hand, you got Hollings right, he was a really bad pick.
 

BigBull17

Hall of Fame
To me Okoye has to be higher. You left some serious talent on the board (Wilis and Revis) for a raw 19 year old kid. Its not even hind site because I think everybody knew that at least Wilis was going to be at worst solid. Tons of initial talent and even more upside. Hated the pick at the time and really hate it now. Just makes me sick.

And on Boselli, I think the risk was worth the reward. He was a hall of fame caliber LT if he recovered, so I am ok with taking a flyer on him. To me, as good as he was, Pitts was over drafted. He was a guy who would have possibly been around in the 3rd or 4th. It worked out but would have been even better value if he was taken later.
 
Top