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2013 Texans Draft Grades

R

rmartin65

Phil Kessel: Nice Guy. Tries Hard.
I realize the draft is not done, but I doubt the Texans make a move to get into the 7th. If they do, I will revise accordingly.

Round 1, Pick 27- Clemson WR DeAndre “Nuke” Hopkins, 6’1” 214 lbs Grade: A+
We all knew receiver was a need, so the Texans went out and got and addressed it. Hopkins is a big receiver with strong hands, and will compete for every ball. He has good body control and thus runs fantastic routes, which allows him to get open despite not being a burner (though he certainly has adequate speed). While Hopkins may not have the upside of Hunter or Patterson, he is definitely a safer pick, and a surer bet to contribute right away. For a win-now team such as the Texans, that is a huge factor. However, Hopkins is not destined to be just a number 2 (as Woods or Allen may turn out). Hopkins has the raw physical gifts to become a true number 1 receiver. A+ pick, no doubt.

Round 2, Pick 57- South Carolina S D.J. Swearinger, 5’11” 208 lbs Grade: A
Swearinger will not only replace GQ, but will make us forget about him in a hurry. Swearinger is a smart kid and a ferocious hitter who will give the D some teeth. What prevents this pick from being an “A+” is that I think he will be a bit frustrating due to his propensity to get penalties, as well as his tendency to go for the big hit in lieu of just wrapping up the ball-carrier. Still, I am absolutely stoked about the pick.

Round 3, Pick 89- North Carolina OT Brennan Williams, 6’6” 318 lbs Grade: A
Another great pick by the Front Office. Williams is a pure RT prospect who can a real SOB out on the field. Long arms to keep pass rushers at bay, and can move pretty well (though not as well as, say, Brown). As an added bonus, Williams’ father played in the league for a long time. If there is a weakness, it is that he is a bit raw as a result of him being a starter for just a season and a half. With some good coaching, Williams can become a very good RT for the Texans.

Round 3, Pick 95- LSU OLB Sam Montgomery, 6’3” 262 lbs Grade: B
This pick is the first one that makes me a little nervous. There is no denying that Montgomery has talent- he does, in bushels. However, he is not going to be an elite pass-rusher, I just don’t see the explosion and bend that the elite guys have. I also have reservations about his ability to cover in space, but since there is little to no tape on that, I can’t really comment. Montgomery is a relentless player on the field though, and is a solid tackler with good instincts. It is unlikely that he will start this year (unless they do move either him or Reed to ILB), but he should see the field a solid amount as a rookie.

Round 4, Pick 124- UCONN OLB Trevardo Williams, 6’1” 241 lbs Grade: B
I like this pick, but I am cautious. Williams is very quick and explosive, but is raw (needs to learn pass rushing techniques) and needs gain some strength in his lower body. I highly doubt he ever becomes an every down player, as he is simply terrible against the run- gets swallowed by blockers, and does a poor job figuring out where the ball carrier is going. However, he can be a double digit sack guy coming in on passing situations.

Round 6, Pick 176- San Jose State OT David Quessenberry, 6’5” 302 lbs Grade: A
Quessenberry is a former TE that has tons of athletic talent, almost tailor-made for the ZBS. He also exhibits a nice nasty streak, which you want to see in OL prospects. However, the guy needs to beef up and to work on his technique, especially in pass protection. I definitely don’t expect him to do much this year, but in 2014 he should make for a great swing tackle. I do see buzz about him being a candidate to be moved inside, but I think he is a better fit at tackle. We will see though.

Round 6, Pick 195- Jacksonville State WR Alan Bonner, 5’10” 193 lbs Grade: F
Ugh. Disclaimer- I know next to nothing about this guy. If this bothers you, skip to the next pick. However, the fact that I knew nothing about the kid says something, as I have spent far too many hours scouting the draft. He has lackluster stats (at the FCS level, no less), and poor workout numbers. It’s a 6th, so it hardly affects the draft’s grade, but I would much rather have seen just about any other receiver taken here. Terrible pick in my opinion.

Round 6, Pick 198- Bowling Green NT Chris Jones, 6’2” 302 lbs Grade: B
I want to like this pick more than I do. It’s a NT, and Jones is a high effort player. However, I just can’t give more than a “B” here, and I think that is generous. I don’t see a lot of upside, but he should be a solid backup. You can’t really ask for more out of a 6th rounder.

Round 6, Pick 201- UCONN TE Ryan Griffin, 6’6” 261 lbs Grade: C
This grade is more a reflection of the position than the player. It’s not that I don’t think we could use a good TE- I want another top-notch guy- but that I don’t think Griffin improves the team that much. He is big and can do everything decently, but he is not ever going to be an elite blocker or receiver. I don’t hate the pick, but I am just not excited. And that is a “C” grade- the pick is just average.

Summary/Final Grade: A
Did you expect anything else? Hopkins, Swearinger, B. Williams, Montgomery and T. Williams will contribute immediately, while Quessenberry has long term potential. Sure the draft kind is nothing special near the end, but 6th rounders are not expected to do much. Very nice draft, could possibly be the best ever in franchise history.
 
I won't grade every pick, but overall I'd give it an A-........ Still possibly the best we've ever had, but pick of the small school receiver over other guys with better potential keeps it from being an A+ for me.
 
The picks after Quessenberry were questionable but that was deep into "garbage time" in the draft. From the first round pick down to the Quessenberry pick I like it a LOT.
 
Over all, we had a good draft and improved the team. Not every draft pick is going to make it anyway. I think we did good this draft.
 
I plan on writing about it later tonight, but I have to say this draft deserves an A. I was a little disappointed with 2 of the 6th round picks, but they are 6th rounders. The DT, and Quessenberry save the 6th round. Overall, great draft.

Check out Seeing Red later tonight for my Blog.
 
Of the picks that matter, only one concerns me, and that's Montgomery. That could be an A pick or an F. If he busts specifically because of bad football character, then it's terrible pick. If he busts for any number of other reasons, then it's still a great pick. They got a lot of talent for where he was drafted. Did they do their homework on his character? We'll find out.

Overall: A
 
eriadoc said:
Of the picks that matter, only one concerns me, and that's Montgomery. That could be an A pick or an F. If he busts specifically because of bad football character, then it's terrible pick. If he busts for any number of other reasons, then it's still a great pick. They got a lot of talent for where he was drafted. Did they do their homework on his character? We'll find out.

Overall: A
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I like what Herring said about Montgomery, he's just a kid who's honest, a little naive, and he's got a big personality. He likes to talk and because he's honest, he doesn't even realize when he's saying things that hurt his cause.

I don't see that as the sort of character concern that's going to impact his on-field performance.
 
A- overall.

LOVED getting Hopkins, one of the most productive WR's last year in the NCAA. Short term is going to relieve some of the pressure from AJ. Long terms has the tools to turn into a #1 WR.

While immediately not familiar with Swearinger, I am really stoked about this pick. Just is going to fit in perfectly short and long term.

Brennan has what you want in a RT for this team.

Montgomery will probably contribute as a rotational player his first year at least.

Williams looks EXPLOSIVE and productive at Uconn, will he turn into something special is going to be up to the LB staff and him.

Quesenberry looks like a good long term prospect who can play multiple positions. Probably a better fit at tackle though.

Bonner, just really not a fan of this pick and not because I don't know enough. Kinda small, not elite speed, and unimpressive coming out of a small school. It's just looking like an uphill battle aside from the team deciding to keep six WRs to make the roster.

Jones could possibly come in and be a rotational DT.

It's not that I am unimpressed by Griffin it's just another TE that I don't see creating mismatches in the passing game.

Overall without a doubt A draft. I dunno if Gary got locked in a closet or what but no real gambles or smarter than you picks in the top of this draft. Just knowing your team it's scheme and finding players that fit EXACTLY what you're trying to do.
 
eriadoc said:
Of the picks that matter, only one concerns me, and that's Montgomery. That could be an A pick or an F. If he busts specifically because of bad football character, then it's terrible pick. If he busts for any number of other reasons, then it's still a great pick. They got a lot of talent for where he was drafted. Did they do their homework on his character?
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I think the question is, "Are the Texans as smart as they think they are?"

eriadoc said:
We'll find out.
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Ain't that the truth.
 
The Pencil Neck said:
I like what Herring said about Montgomery, he's just a kid who's honest, a little naive, and he's got a big personality. He likes to talk and because he's honest, he doesn't even realize when he's saying things that hurt his cause.

I don't see that as the sort of character concern that's going to impact his on-field performance.
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I'm not worried about Montgomery's attitude. I think that stuff is overstated. I am worried about his ability to play OLB. He seems very stiff. I saw him as purely a 4-3 DE coming into the draft.
 
Goldensilence said:
A- overall.

LOVED getting Hopkins, one of the most productive WR's last year in the NCAA. Short term is going to relieve some of the pressure from AJ. Long terms has the tools to turn into a #1 WR. (1)


Overall without a doubt A draft. I dunno if Gary got locked in a closet or what but no real gambles or smarter than you picks in the top of this draft. (2) Just knowing your team it's scheme and finding players that fit EXACTLY what you're trying to do.
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(1) Today and yesterday is the first I've heard here that my main man DeAndre can possibly become a #1. All during the mock draft he was talked about as having strictly a #2 ceiling. One quote I recall is "...he'll never be a number 1 but will be a solid #2 (pun intended)" I think that was from draftnik :corrosion:

(2) Wade did it. :cowboy1: :kitten:
 
drs23 said:
(1) Today and yesterday is the first I've heard here that my main man DeAndre can possibly become a #1. All during the mock draft he was talked about as having strictly a #2 ceiling. One quote I recall is "...he'll never be a number 1 but will be a solid #2 (pun intended)" I think that was from draftnik :corrosion:
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I said something along the lines of "he may never become a number1, but he will at least be a solid number 2". That was in reference to Woods though.
 
Kubes on 610.

Texans will have a rookie minicamp because the rules have changed -- May 10, 11, 12.

Sounded like Bonner caught Kubes' attention at the Combine. "exceptional ball skills"

Sam Montgomery -- he visited the Texans, zero concerns about "effort"



.
 
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Playoffs said:
Kubes on 610.
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What bothers me is they are completely off what most research out there suggests as bpa mentality. these strike me more as coaching decisions based on need which is ok if it all gels but if not then instead of say Giants approach (2 superbowls in last 5 years) taking bpa it's questionable. And it all starts with QB position that seems to be a pinata for us fans at least since inception.

When you draft a WR with all your options open, based off how best suited to your QB strengths then you remain a known quantity that can still be easily game planned. With that said Hopkins is a solid A. However he lacks elite speed/size ratio that Hunter will now provide for Tennessee.

Completely align with need to take a safety early to tool in behind Reed. Swearinger is a good one, a true safety better than GQ so yeah but they left themselves open for a team, of all teams the Ravens to scoop up Arthur Brown. Not acceptable. I'm not going to downgrade the player as much as the process itself, so close yet so far B.

Liked Brandon over Brennan here so that is that plus Texans picked up Quessenberry in 6th B.

Montgomery is a tweener who needs to develop, put on weight & kick inside. Developmental pick IMO C.

Really like Trevardo Williams. Pure pass rusher who I had mocked end of 3rd so excellent value as well hard worker who plays with passion & special teams addition A.

Quessenberry is a great fit for ZBS who can kick inside or out but feel he will replace Wade Smith in due time A+.

Bonner is a classic reach. Just a work in progress that would have been an undrafted free agent, makes no sense but I'll give him a chance D.

Chris Jones is gonna be what Chris Myers is to the OL. A solid player who can fill a dire need. Had him mocked to Texans in 7th but given need & fact Texans traded away the 7th the only option would have been to wait a couple more picks or until undrafted free agency A.

I thought if the Texans did address TE it would be late, but after passing on Paulson last year I just didn't want to put in the effort of suffer the heartbreak again. He is from a solid program & probably plug him right into PS depending on how well Supernaw who is developmentally way ahead at this point but good solid pick, yet leaves me somewhat empty given all the talent still on the board specifically LB C.

Texans did not take a ILB. Not only that they stayed pat in 2nd letting opportunistic Ravens sneak in & steal Arthur Brown is infuriating. I think all that late round movement is nothing more than posturing the real action needs to be done early to secure your most coveted targets for this there has to be a certain amount of blame to go around. Swearinger is not a bad consolation prize but adding Brown to Cushing would pay immediate dividends. Overall I would have to be a little harder on Texans than my friend 65 at least on initial impressions B.
 
Rick Smith on -- working hard on UDFAs now.

Bonner -- return ability, great routes, great hands, great body control, in/out cuts efficiently

Williams -- can get around the edge

Quessenberry -- chip on his shoulder, finisher, nasty

Brooks Reed -- hopefully we don't need his inside versatility, but he has that

looking for 20+ UDFA signings in next hour or two

TEs/Griffin -- came here for visit, draft didn't fall where TEs they liked higher were available
 
I think we will see the first three picks and the last two picks work out. Not sure about the others. Overall good draft. Filled need and got deeper.
 
rmartin65 said:
I realize the draft is not done, but I doubt the Texans make a move to get into the 7th. If they do, I will revise accordingly.

Round 1, Pick 27- Clemson WR DeAndre “Nuke” Hopkins, 6’1” 214 lbs Grade: A+
We all knew receiver was a need, so the Texans went out and got and addressed it. Hopkins is a big receiver with strong hands, and will compete for every ball. He has good body control and thus runs fantastic routes, which allows him to get open despite not being a burner (though he certainly has adequate speed). While Hopkins may not have the upside of Hunter or Patterson, he is definitely a safer pick, and a surer bet to contribute right away. For a win-now team such as the Texans, that is a huge factor. However, Hopkins is not destined to be just a number 2 (as Woods or Allen may turn out). Hopkins has the raw physical gifts to become a true number 1 receiver. A+ pick, no doubt.

Round 2, Pick 57- South Carolina S D.J. Swearinger, 5’11” 208 lbs Grade: A
Swearinger will not only replace GQ, but will make us forget about him in a hurry. Swearinger is a smart kid and a ferocious hitter who will give the D some teeth. What prevents this pick from being an “A+” is that I think he will be a bit frustrating due to his propensity to get penalties, as well as his tendency to go for the big hit in lieu of just wrapping up the ball-carrier. Still, I am absolutely stoked about the pick.

Round 3, Pick 89- North Carolina OT Brennan Williams, 6’6” 318 lbs Grade: A
Another great pick by the Front Office. Williams is a pure RT prospect who can a real SOB out on the field. Long arms to keep pass rushers at bay, and can move pretty well (though not as well as, say, Brown). As an added bonus, Williams’ father played in the league for a long time. If there is a weakness, it is that he is a bit raw as a result of him being a starter for just a season and a half. With some good coaching, Williams can become a very good RT for the Texans.

Round 3, Pick 95- LSU OLB Sam Montgomery, 6’3” 262 lbs Grade: B
This pick is the first one that makes me a little nervous. There is no denying that Montgomery has talent- he does, in bushels. However, he is not going to be an elite pass-rusher, I just don’t see the explosion and bend that the elite guys have. I also have reservations about his ability to cover in space, but since there is little to no tape on that, I can’t really comment. Montgomery is a relentless player on the field though, and is a solid tackler with good instincts. It is unlikely that he will start this year (unless they do move either him or Reed to ILB), but he should see the field a solid amount as a rookie.

Round 4, Pick 124- UCONN OLB Trevardo Williams, 6’1” 241 lbs Grade: B
I like this pick, but I am cautious. Williams is very quick and explosive, but is raw (needs to learn pass rushing techniques) and needs gain some strength in his lower body. I highly doubt he ever becomes an every down player, as he is simply terrible against the run- gets swallowed by blockers, and does a poor job figuring out where the ball carrier is going. However, he can be a double digit sack guy coming in on passing situations.

Round 6, Pick 176- San Jose State OT David Quessenberry, 6’5” 302 lbs Grade: A
Quessenberry is a former TE that has tons of athletic talent, almost tailor-made for the ZBS. He also exhibits a nice nasty streak, which you want to see in OL prospects. However, the guy needs to beef up and to work on his technique, especially in pass protection. I definitely don’t expect him to do much this year, but in 2014 he should make for a great swing tackle. I do see buzz about him being a candidate to be moved inside, but I think he is a better fit at tackle. We will see though.

Round 6, Pick 195- Jacksonville State WR Alan Bonner, 5’10” 193 lbs Grade: F
Ugh. Disclaimer- I know next to nothing about this guy. If this bothers you, skip to the next pick. However, the fact that I knew nothing about the kid says something, as I have spent far too many hours scouting the draft. He has lackluster stats (at the FCS level, no less), and poor workout numbers. It’s a 6th, so it hardly affects the draft’s grade, but I would much rather have seen just about any other receiver taken here. Terrible pick in my opinion.

Round 6, Pick 198- Bowling Green NT Chris Jones, 6’2” 302 lbs Grade: B
I want to like this pick more than I do. It’s a NT, and Jones is a high effort player. However, I just can’t give more than a “B” here, and I think that is generous. I don’t see a lot of upside, but he should be a solid backup. You can’t really ask for more out of a 6th rounder.

Round 6, Pick 201- UCONN TE Ryan Griffin, 6’6” 261 lbs Grade: C
This grade is more a reflection of the position than the player. It’s not that I don’t think we could use a good TE- I want another top-notch guy- but that I don’t think Griffin improves the team that much. He is big and can do everything decently, but he is not ever going to be an elite blocker or receiver. I don’t hate the pick, but I am just not excited. And that is a “C” grade- the pick is just average.

Summary/Final Grade: A
Did you expect anything else? Hopkins, Swearinger, B. Williams, Montgomery and T. Williams will contribute immediately, while Quessenberry has long term potential. Sure the draft kind is nothing special near the end, but 6th rounders are not expected to do much. Very nice draft, could possibly be the best ever in franchise history.
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Pretty much agree with your eval word for word.

2. Like the pick but wanted more speed. Amerson went about where I expected. Grr! Should replace Reed when he leaves.

3. Hear is where I am pissed, we could have had Brandon Williams NT at 89 (Ravens traded to 94 to get him) and then went Brennan 95. I am okay with Montgomery but same reservations as you.

4. Trevardo is one trick pony but could be an awesome one.

6th delete Bonner and move other two up and select Beauharnais ILB at 201. Heck, Cobi Hamilton WR Ark at # 195 would have been smarter.

Final grade A

If they had drafted Beauharnais and Hamilton rather than Bonner and TE Griffin I would still be screaming.
 
I give it an A. This is my favorite draft we have ever had, when looking at it on draft day.

I really like Hopkins for us. We got a safety in Swearinger that will play alot in our nickel and dime packages in the second round. Our 3rd rounders consist of a RT that could start sometime this year, and Montgomery who should see a decent amount of playing time if he does not start. Trevardo Williams looks like a nice developmental/backup OLB. I hear alot of good things about Quessenberry and it is always good to get better along the offensive line. The other 6th rounders make sense from a positional standpoint, who knows how they will turn out.
 
My impressions are very close to Rmartin so I'm not going to go pick by pick to avoid a lot of repetition. But a couple of observations.

I'm a little worried about Montgomery but we'll see. Like someone else, I see a 4/3 end, but maybe he can convert. He has talent, so that's not a concern. Outside of that, I'm really liking the top end and middle of the draft.

In the later rounds, Mr. Q has a chance to be good in the ZBS, and I like his versatility. He has a chance to be a backup this year, worst case he goes to the PS. I think he at least is a good multi-position long term backup, but he has a chance to develop into a starter. But not sure where. But he was the best of the 6th rd.

The worst? Bonner is an F. And it's not because I've never heard of him. So what if he has good hands? He is from a tiny school, played against nobody, has below average measurables, etc. The reason I give it an F is even if he is better than I think in camp, he still has virtually no chance whatsoever of making the roster. Who could he possibly beat out? Best case is probably practice squad and that's probably pushing it. I want to see us draft guys that actually have a chance to make the roster. Wasted pick when better talent was available.

Overall, I'm a happy camper. I'm slightly less enthused than Rmartin. With my concerns about Montgomery, and the F of Bonner, I'll go B+. Having said that, I think they had an excellent draft and I'm pumped to see these guys in camp and the season.
 
eriadoc said:
Of the picks that matter, only one concerns me, and that's Montgomery. That could be an A pick or an F. If he busts specifically because of bad football character, then it's terrible pick. If he busts for any number of other reasons, then it's still a great pick. They got a lot of talent for where he was drafted. Did they do their homework on his character? We'll find out.

Overall: A
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I agree! However, I gave them a B+, becuz of Montgomery, Alan Bonner, & T Will. Hopefully I'm wrong! Nice solid draft!:)
 
Everytime someone complains about a pick lately I always think about Duane Brown. Texans fans went nuts complaining about that selection and look how it turned out. I'd venture to say 50% of fans weren't happy with the Watt pick. I hate to say it but history tells us that most fans don't know what the hell we're talking about. I'd rather sit and wait even if I wasn't the hugest fan of one of the newer players we took.
 
Porky said:
The worst? Bonner is an F. And it's not because I've never heard of him. So what if he has good hands? He is from a tiny school, played against nobody, has below average measurables, etc. The reason I give it an F is even if he is better than I think in camp, he still has virtually no chance whatsoever of making the roster. Who could he possibly beat out?
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LaStar Jean for one... I think the question should be who couldn't he beat out. Aside from AJ and Hopkins, who could Bonner not beat out on this WR squad?

Who gives a rats hairy nutsack where the kid came from or if anybody has ever heard of him, A: he is a 6th round pick and B: HE IS A 6TH ROUND PICK. If the kid can play, it will show. If he can't, who cares...

Texans are not going to suffer one way or the other...
 
Texn4life said:
Everytime someone complains about a pick lately I always think about Duane Brown. Texans fans went nuts complaining about that selection and look how it turned out. I'd venture to say 50% of fans weren't happy with the Watt pick. I hate to say it but history tells us that most fans don't know what the hell we're talking about. I'd rather sit and wait even if I wasn't the hugest fan of one of the newer players we took.
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That's it, stick a pin in our balloon. LOL

You're right though. Also, training camp does have a way of sometimes changing rookies attitudes. We'll see. I think, overall, we had a good draft and a couple of those UFDAs look mighty interesting.
 
BullNation4Life said:
LaStar Jean for one... I think the question should be who couldn't he beat out. Aside from AJ and Hopkins, who could Bonner not beat out on this WR squad?

Who gives a rats hairy nutsack where the kid came from or if anybody has ever heard of him, A: he is a 6th round pick and B: HE IS A 6TH ROUND PICK. If the kid can play, it will show. If he can't, who cares...

Texans are not going to suffer one way or the other...
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Way i have it AJ, Hopkins, Martin, Posey though the time table might have him PUP'd to start the season, and Jean. Also will be going up against Jeff Maehl for a spot.For him to have a real shot honestly the team will be looking to to keep six and he better be able to return kicks or punts.

I don't think so much as where he played and how little we really know as is from what little we do at this point i just don't see nearly a high as ceiling as other prospects that were still available.
 
We did nothing to stop teams from lining up and running the ball on us, no solid DT/NT player, and no solid ILB pick, and given that Cushing is coming off another injury, I'm not so thrilled we didn't shore up the inside.

But then again it's a pass happy league now..
 
The Sporting News -- A-

Houston Texans: They started with a bang to complement two future Hall of Famers, a wide receiver opposite Andre Johnson (Clemson's DeAndre Hopkins) and a hard-hitting strong safety to support Ed Reed (South Carolina's D.J. Swearinger). They also got an option to solidify right tackle (North Carolina's Brennan Williams) opposite Pro Bowler Duane Brown. With Connor Barwin gone, they had to restock their pass-rush quiver behind J.J. Watt, and Wade Phillips' coaching should boost what LSU's Sam Montgomery and Connecticut's Trevardo Williams can do as 3-4 outside linebackers.
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Two comments about the grades/players: they used a higher pick (their 2nd rounder) on a safety than I would have preferred, and don't understand the "F" grade for the Jacksonville State guy because he was drafted to return kickoffs/punts and not as a WR and therefor I think it's an efficient use of a late round pick as it frees others like WR Martin and safety Manning to concentrate on their positions and not be distracted by ST play.
 
Texn4life said:
Everytime someone complains about a pick lately I always think about Duane Brown. Texans fans went nuts complaining about that selection and look how it turned out. I'd venture to say 50% of fans weren't happy with the Watt pick. I hate to say it but history tells us that most fans don't know what the hell we're talking about. I'd rather sit and wait even if I wasn't the hugest fan of one of the newer players we took.
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So true...i was, at best, "eh" with the JJ Watt pick and initially early on in the season, i thought i would be right. but by the end of the season i was warming that cold plate of crow up and couldnt eat it fast enough. I ate an extra pot of crow for good measure after this past year.
 
Scout.com -- B

The Texans are hoping that wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins can be the compliment opposite Andre Johnson. Safety D.J. Swearinger and defensive ends Sam Montgomery and Trevardo Williams look like nice fits in that Texans defense. Chris Jones is a nice late round find at defensive tackle. Their two offensive tackles, Brennan Williams and David Quessenberry both have a chance to make big contributions with this team.
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Overall grade: B

One thought from Mel Kiper Jr.: “Trevardo Williams was a steal for me. Wade Phillips can get him on the field because Williams can rush the passer and was hugely productive.”
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John McClain -- B+

Analysis: DeAndre Hopkins gives them the kind of receiver they need opposite Andre Johnson. Swearinger should play a lot off the bench and be groomed by Ed Reed. Williams may challenge Derek Newton at right tackle. Montgomery or Trevardo could move Brooks Reed inside.
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NFLDRAFTSCOUT.COM
By Rob Rang | The Sports Xchange/CBSSports.com

Grade: A-

The Texans had holes to fill from a position standpoint, but I like this draft class most because of the physicality that Houston gained. With a superstar like Andre Johnson on one side, DeAndre Hopkins' sharp route running and better field-than-40 speed could make him an immediate impact rookie. Safety D.J. Swearinger is a versatile, highly physical safety who'll add to the toughness of the secondary. In a similar way, Sam Montgomery could surprise (if he remains focused on football) as an edge rusher. People tend to gloss over the fact that he was a much more consistent and productive defender at LSU than Barkevious Mingo, whom the Browns took at No. 6 overall. Finally, offensive tackle Brennan Williams earned first-round grades from a number of scouts and lasted until the third only because he is coming off a torn labrum. Massive and highly athletic, he's a perfect fit at right tackle. The Texans added another developmental tackle that I like in San Jose State's David Quessenberry, as well as another productive pass-rusher to watch in Connecticut's Trevardo Williams.
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SI.com -- Grade: B
WR DeAndre Hopkins is just what the doctor ordered for this offense. Same goes for S D.J. Swearinger on the other side of the ball. Beyond that, we’ll see. Offensive linemen Brennan Williams and David Quessenberry and defensive ends Sam Montgomery and Trevardo Williams have potential, but they’ll have to work to crack the lineup.
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Pete Prisco, CBSSports -- Grade: B-
Best pick: Third-round tackle Brennan Williams will be the starter at right tackle. He had a first-round grade by some before suffering an injury. Nice pick.

Questionable move: Taking defensive end Sam Montgomery in the third round. He is a good football player, but he has some off-the-field concerns.

Third-day gem: Outside linebacker Travardo Williams, taken in the fourth round, has a chance to help amp up the outside pass rush, which needs it.

Analysis: The Texans did a solid job in the early part of the draft, getting receiver DeAndre Hopkins in first and safety D.J. Swearinger in the second. There were some interesting later-round picks too.
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RotoWorld, Evan Silva -- Grade: B

Overview: Perhaps no AFC team found a better first-round fit than Hopkins in Houston. A Roddy White-type talent, Hopkins is a pro-ready bookend for X receiver Andre Johnson, playing Z and in the slot. Hard-hitting, trash-talking Swearinger will be a third safety as a rookie, but adds special teams value and could grow into the Texans' next Glover Quin. Williams is an athletic, finesse right tackle prospect capable of putting immediate pressure on inconsistent starter Derek Newton. An LSU base 4-3 end, Montgomery is a questionable schematic fit for Houston's 3-4 but was a value pick. Williams is undersized but wildly explosive off the age. Quessenberry is another zone-blocking prospect. I liked the late-round stab at Jones, who dominated the MAC last season.


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Goldensilence said:
Way i have it AJ, Hopkins, Martin, Posey though the time table might have him PUP'd to start the season, and Jean. Also will be going up against Jeff Maehl for a spot.For him to have a real shot honestly the team will be looking to to keep six and he better be able to return kicks or punts.

I don't think so much as where he played and how little we really know as is from what little we do at this point i just don't see nearly a high as ceiling as other prospects that were still available.
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I get that we know nothing about this kid but the other WR on this team have proven exactly the same thing a Bonner has, nothing...

If Bonner can show Kubiak he can block and do the thing Kubiaks looks for, I would venture he has just as much shot to make the final roster than Martin, Jean and Maehl. I don't think Posey even sees the field this year...
 
Overall, I'm really happy about the draft. Think the Texans got a few players who will have immediate impacts on the team. I really love the pick of Hopkins. I bet he'll be posting legit #2 stats by the end of the season.

Once it gets past about round 3, I'm in the dark in terms of picks. However, I've learned to trust in the front office when it comes to the draft. Texans get it right more often than not. They are also pretty good at finding value late int he draft.

My only beef with the team is not selecting another WR earlier. While there were holes to fill, I think the more WR you bring in the better. Texans spent a 6-rounder on one, but I think one a little earlier would have been the better call.
 
TXAg14 said:
Overall, I'm really happy about the draft. Think the Texans got a few players who will have immediate impacts on the team. I really love the pick of Hopkins. I bet he'll be posting legit #2 stats by the end of the season.

Once it gets past about round 3, I'm in the dark in terms of picks. However, I've learned to trust in the front office when it comes to the draft. Texans get it right more often than not. They are also pretty good at finding value late int he draft.

My only beef with the team is not selecting another WR earlier. While there were holes to fill, I think the more WR you bring in the better. Texans spent a 6-rounder on one, but I think one a little earlier would have been the better call.
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I understand. However, I think there is a practical issue that there will only be so many reps and positions available at each position... and, because the Texans returning WRs are also in need of reps due to youth and inexperience, that flooding the team with rookie WRs becomes counter-productive and actually could damage the entire group.

Just a thought- but I think it is an issue even moreso now that the new collective bargaining agreement has put much tighter limits on off-season practices and mandatory meetings, etc...
 
The Pencil Neck said:
From SBNation:

The Link

Texans: C+
Colts: B
Jags: B
Titans: B


Huh? What?

That's not how I saw the draft go down at all!
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Me either , I thought that no team in the AFC South improved more than the Texans .... Maybe Im biased.

Tenn. did do well in rebuilding their OL .... but I really thought the Dolts draft was lackluster at best and the Jaq's .... are just bad.
 
This is probably something I shouldn't be doing considering my current level of pain medication... but...

Round 1, Pick 27- Clemson WR DeAndre “Nuke” Hopkins, 6’1” 214 lbs Grade: A+
I love, love, LOVE this pick. I expect the kid to come in immediately as our #2 and upgrade that position. I think he's going to have a great future. I didn't expect him to fall to us.

Round 2, Pick 57- South Carolina S D.J. Swearinger, 5’11” 208 lbs Grade: A
For this season, our dime package will include Manning, Reed, and Swearinger. Which means Keo and Demps won't find the field as much. How is that not epic win? He brings a swagger and confidence and I expect him to be a great understudy to Reed.

Round 3, Pick 89- North Carolina OT Brennan Williams, 6’6” 318 lbs Grade: A
I think this kid is a really good player. He's going to get a lot of work this offseason since Newton is injured. And I expect Williams to take the RT spot and be a starter.

Round 3, Pick 95- LSU OLB Sam Montgomery, 6’3” 262 lbs Grade: A
Although there are questions and reservations about whether this kid can work in space, he had more production than his line-mate, Mingo, who was drafted 6th (iirc) by the Browns. I think this kid's going to be a starter although he might not be a day 1 starter.

Round 4, Pick 124- UCONN OLB Trevardo Williams, 6’1” 241 lbs Grade: A
Kids got great upside. Might just be a Will pass rush specialist but I expect him to be part of our OLB rotation. IF we move Reed inside, then I think Williams will see the field a lot. If we DON'T move Reed inside, he'll probably be limited to ST duty. I gave him an A because I think he's going to get a lot of playing time and be very disruptive.

Round 6, Pick 176- San Jose State OT David Quessenberry, 6’5” 302 lbs Grade: A
I think this was totally a value pick. I think the Texans had Brennan Williams and Quessenberry high on their list and at about the same spot. And when they got to the 6th round, they couldn't NOT pick him. I don't know what this means wrt the composition of our line next year. If Quessenberry is as versatile as people said, he could be our swing OR he could push for work on the interior of the line. The tape of this kid at the Senior Bowl stonewalling people was awesome.

Round 6, Pick 195- Jacksonville State WR Alan Bonner, 5’10” 193 lbs Grade: B
He's a good route runner and he's got good hands. The WR room is going to be very full with AJ, DH, KM, Posey, Jean, Maehl, this kid, and the UDFAs. But I think this kid is going to stick. Not because he's going to be one of our main WRs but because he's going to handle the KR/PR duties.

Round 6, Pick 198- Bowling Green NT Chris Jones, 6’2” 302 lbs Grade: A
I've loved what I've seen and heard about this kid. He's very slippery and he gets good penetration. Which is exactly what Wade wants from his NT. I expect him to be in rotation with Earl.

Round 6, Pick 201- UCONN TE Ryan Griffin, 6’6” 261 lbs Grade: C
I don't have a problem with this pick. I wanted us to take a TE at some point. We're still suffering from the loss of Dreessen. I'm just not sure this is the guy that's going to come in and dominate the TE3 spot.

Summary/Final Grade: A
At this point in the season, I'm loving this draft. I think we've got 7 guys we are going to see significant duty and contribute to the team.

BUT.

I do like to look at the positive side of things so it might just be me.
 
dalemurphy said:
I understand. However, I think there is a practical issue that there will only be so many reps and positions available at each position... and, because the Texans returning WRs are also in need of reps due to youth and inexperience, that flooding the team with rookie WRs becomes counter-productive and actually could damage the entire group.

Just a thought- but I think it is an issue even moreso now that the new collective bargaining agreement has put much tighter limits on off-season practices and mandatory meetings, etc...
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Agreed on all. I didn't want the Texans to necessarily grab 3 WR in the draft. However, they decided to spend a later pick on a WR in the 6th round. Who knows, it could be for special teams depth or something else. But I'd rather the Texans have spent a 3rd or 4th rounder on another WR than wait til the 6th if they are truly looking for some more options/depth at the position.

WR corps now comprise of Andre, Hopkins, Keyshawn Martin, Lestar Jean and ? Posey is most likely out for a majority of the season. Kevin Walter is gone. I guess I would have liked to see the Texans grab another guy that they think could compete for a role as a package WR.

However, after all of that I'm pretty stoked about the draft. Think the Texans definitely addressed some needs that were pressing.
 
TXAg14 said:
Agreed on all. I didn't want the Texans to necessarily grab 3 WR in the draft. However, they decided to spend a later pick on a WR in the 6th round. Who knows, it could be for special teams depth or something else. But I'd rather the Texans have spent a 3rd or 4th rounder on another WR than wait til the 6th if they are truly looking for some more options/depth at the position.

WR corps now comprise of Andre, Hopkins, Keyshawn Martin, Lestar Jean and ? Posey is most likely out for a majority of the season. Kevin Walter is gone. I guess I would have liked to see the Texans grab another guy that they think could compete for a role as a package WR.

However, after all of that I'm pretty stoked about the draft. Think the Texans definitely addressed some needs that were pressing.
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We'll likely keep 5 WRs. You assert that four of the five spots are taken. I'm not sure about that. I think that only two of the spots are locked in - it would be three if Posey was healthy. Do you guys really think that we've seen enough consistent performance from Jean, K-Mart, and/or Maehl that they should be given the slot receiver spot. With Posey likely out forhalf the season, I think there are only TWO WRs spots locked down. The rest are up for grabs.

I think more of a Bonner experiment at KR/PR/WR than I did the Trindon Holliday experiment. I just heard Mel HairGel say that the Texans got two steals on day three; Trevardo Williams and Alan Bonner.

This 3rd day move to get Bonner is no worse than the Trindon Holliday move/experiment. If you gave the Holliday move an F then I can see giving this and F. If not.....
 
ObsiWan said:
I think more of a Bonner experiment at KR/PR/WR than I did the Trindon Holliday experiment. I just heard Mel HairGel say that the Texans got two steals on day three; Trevardo Williams and Alan Bonner.

This 3rd day move to get Bonner is no worse than the Trindon Holliday move/experiment. If you gave the Holliday move an F then I can see giving this and F. If not.....
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I generally find myself defending Smith & Kubiak more often than not ... but I believe they left better talent on the board with this pick. Its no knock on Bonner really ... Hell , the other 32 teams passed on some of those same players again in the 7th round.

I hope Mel HairGel is right and Bonner makes us eat some crow.


Lots of people talking about moving Reed inside .... I wonder if Trevardo Williams might be a better fit inside than outside lining up over TE's .... :thinking:


Mercilus better step it up this season .... :photos:
 
My rough initial reaction to the draft:

I have no qualms with either of the first two picks. Good players, nice tape, decent workout #'s, all of the hallmarks of decent picks are there. Both picks appear to be poised to get immediate reps right out of the gate.

Once we get to the pick of Brennan Williams, is where I'm not so sure. I probably would've preferred D. Bakhtiari if we had to pick an O-linemen, and I think I would've rather have had Alex Okafor over Sam Montgomery (Again, this is if we have to pick players who play relatively the same position). I really would've liked to have gotten Khaseem Greene with one of those picks. But, it's done, and with that said, these aren't what I view as really bad mistakes, they just went with players whom I didn't prefer.

Trevardo Williams seems like a very boom or bust player to me and I would not have minded to see Lattimore, or Denard Robinson there. I was sad when we traded out of the 5th and missed out on Ryan Swope by 2 picks, but that is the draft for you.
 
Corrosion said:
I generally find myself defending Smith & Kubiak more often than not ... but I believe they left better talent on the board with this pick. Its no knock on Bonner really ... Hell , the other 32 teams passed on some of those same players again in the 7th round.

I hope Mel HairGel is right and Bonner makes us eat some crow.


Lots of people talking about moving Reed inside .... I wonder if Trevardo Williams might be a better fit inside than outside lining up over TE's .... :thinking:


Mercilus better step it up this season .... :photos:
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I give this draft a solid B. Pretty much all of the players drafted are solid players, with limited ability to become star/superstar type players. Trevardo Williams is the exception to this, he's just starting to scratch the surface of his ability.

In this draft there were only 10-15 guys that have the ability to become star level players, so drafting solid players that fiil needs seems like a good strategy to me.

I really wanted the Texans to trade up and take Louteleiu when he started to fall. If that guys heart holds up he will become a star level NT/5tech like Ngata. IMHO

I really would've liked Rick to trade back up and pick Swope. He was worth the concussion risk any time after the 3rd rd. That guy may become like a better version of Austin Collie. Collie had concussion problems and the Colts got 2-3 good yrs out of him.

That's good value if you get 2-3 good yrs out of Swope vs taking a chance on a small school guy like Bonner. (I've never seen Bonner play.) My pick if I were going to make a risky pick in the 6th rd would've been Rodgers.
 
steelbtexan said:
My pick if I were going to make a risky pick in the 6th rd would've been Rodgers.
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I still cant believe he went undrafted .... Just so much talent. Yes he failed drug tests and got into other trouble ..... but a 6th or 7th round pick isnt usually going to make a team , why not take a gamble on a superior talent with some issues over a guy who has little to no shot at latching on.

All 32 teams said nope , not worth the investment of a draft pick.

They drafted DummyBadger .... and many others with "character flaws".

I guess the fact that he kept making the same stupid mistake over and over sealed his fate.

It'll be interesting to see how he fares in Barfallo.
 
I love this draft class. The late round guys that I didn't know much about initially I was just like "ok, whatever"...

But after seeing a little film on those guys and reading up on them I'm ecstatic about this class.

Even Brennan Williams that I don't really like his pass pro. There are some other very good things about his game...Mainly his run blocking...I'm hoping they see him as a guard because I'd feel comfortable with him competing for a starting spot there this year, but I think if he's going to play tackle he'll struggle big time. But man...As a guard I think he could be a BEAST. His aggressiveness in the run game is beautiful.

Now Quessenberry I think could challenge for a starting RT position from day one. Dude is a technician with excellent balance in his pass pro.

Deandre Hopkins. Love him. The Two edge players we drafted are different from one another but I love the aspects they both bring.

And Swearinger is my guy.

Just from the little I've seen of Alan Bonner he looks like a smooth athlete with good mobility and good hands. Also has some return ability.

Chris Jones look like he could be a stud too. I'm also excited to see TE Ryan Griffin.

I think this could be a special draft class. The kind of class that gets this team to a superbowl.
 
I loved our draft overall, but I'm not in love with the DJ Swearinger pick.

It seems to me we got out-foxed by Ravens when the snaked Arthur Brown ahead of us.

Swearinger to me looks like a headhunter coming into a league that is removing that type of player from the game through penalties, fines, and suspensions. The questions will be 1) can he adjust and 2) will he be playing at the same level of play?

Perhaps it won't be an issue. But if it is, will DJ Swearinger be 2nd round DJ Swearinger if you take away his aggressiveness? Do his other skills compensate?

I'm especially interested to see MAC Defensive Player of the Year NT Chris Jones. 19 tackles for a loss & 12.5 sacks playing between the tackles is impressive, I don't care where you're playing.
 
I spent about two hours on Bonner, and I think I like what I saw from all the clips; going through the game highlights of the team to sort him out is exhausting.

I think I might have a full game or two that I need to dig up.
 
And I have a ton of Bowling Green games that will occupy me for days, maybe a couple of weeks. Too bad, I know I don't have the game Jones played against Brandon Brooks.
 
USA Today -- GRADE: A-
Houston Texans: WR DeAndre Hopkins could finally be the guy to complement and, perhaps one day, replace Andre Johnson. Hard-hitting S D.J. Swearinger probably won't start right away, but it may be tough not to find a role for him. DE Sam Montgomery's talent exceeds third-round value if coordinator Wade Phillips can light a fire under him. OL Brennan Williams and David Quessenberry could vie for roles on the right side.
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