MorKnolle
All Pro
First, let's start with what we know for sure (and yes this will probably end up being a pretty long post, but it's been awhile since I've done one of those):
The Texans signed DE Anthony Weaver to a 5 year deal for $26.5 million with a $13 million bonus. He is regarded as a good runstopping DE, but won't contribute much to our pass rush. In my opinion we paid much more than we should have for him, but that's the nature of the free agent market.
The Texans signed QB Sage Rosenfels to a 4 year deal for $7 million. I don't understand this acquisition, I don't see him being anywhere near the best QB on teh market, and while I wouldn't have paid a ton of money for a very top guy like Drew Brees, I would have looked for someone better than Rosenfels, maybe Brian Griese etc. or at least talk to them and see what kind of deal they're looking for.
The Texans signed FB Jameel Cook to a 5 year deal for $5 million. Denver's offense typically utilizes more versatile and athletic FBs, so I can understand the pick but I think we overpaid for him too.
The Texans are rumored to be pursuing several other players too, but as of now they haven't signed any others. My personal thoughts on free agency differ from what I've seen out of the Texans so far. I would prefer to target one top guy on each side of the ball and make a serious run at them rather than targeting more mid-level players and signing them to top-20 money for their position, I'd rather pay more money but get a top player. While Steve Hutchinson and LeCharles Bentley got huge deals that I would not have matched, I would have liked to see them at least make somewhat of a run at Bentley, or else pick one of the other top guys at a position that we need (Kevin Shaffer, Antwaan Randle El, etc. on offense) and make competitive offers to them. If we're going to pay someone $3-5 million more than we should have to, I'd prefer we're at least getting a top guy rather than spending that much extra on mid-level guys. Especially with the draft picks we have coming, I'd prefer to address one big need on each side of the ball with the top guy available (even if we have to overpay on each one) then address the rest of our needs thru the draft where we're not going to have to spend as much money on them, other than the #1 overall pick. Instead, we look like we're overpaying on several mid-level players to (as someone else posted on these boards earlier today) "fill our needs in free agency so we can draft player X at #1" etc. I see the importance of adding depth that can compete for playing time, but we appear to be bringing in yet another crop of players of mediocre talent, then we have "filled" most of our needs and go into the draft with less of an objective purpose and less of a clear focus on who we should be drafting.
That said, let's look at what else we've done with the team and possible implications on the draft. We resigned Antwan Peek to the mid-level tender, so it will take a 1st round pick from another team if they want to sign him from us, and needless to say no one will give that up for him, so we've protected him and ensured he'll be here. Everything I've heard from anyone in the organization, both in the media and from the few people I know, indicates that the coaches plan to start Peek at RDE, and have Babin come in at LDE on passing situations and sub in for Peek. By signing Anthony Weaver, unless they intend to switch him over to full-time DT (in which case we drastically overpaid him) he will be our LDE. I think he could play DT and I personally wanted the Texans to draft Mario Williams in which case Weaver would be a DT if we signed him, but I don't see that being the case.
I think the team is pretty satisfied with Chester Pitts as their LT, so I don't think D'Brickashaw Ferguson was a very serious consideration since the end of the season. Casserly had said a couple different times on the radio before the end of the year that they would have to evaluate if Pitts was their long-term LT, and later that Pitts appeared to be their guy, and they haven't said anything about looking at D'Brickashaw or looking to move Pitts elsewhere on the OLine. I think they could look for a RT either in the draft or in free agency, but that would not include taking D'Brick.
I also don't think D'Brick is worth the #1 overall pick, and I really don't see us getting a very good trade offer from any of the top 5-6 teams in the draft, especially if the Saints sign Drew Brees. I also don't think the Texans will trade down below the top few picks, Casserly has also broken down a couple times on the radio that there are a few "elite" players at the top of the draft, then a group of very good players, but that they'd need a huge deal to move out of being able to take one of the elite guys. I don't see them getting an offer that big to move down below the elite group, and I don't see them getting much of an offer to move down in the top couple picks.
I don't think Vince Young has been a serious consideration at the #1 pick for the last week or two at least since the Combine, and I think after Mario's stellar workout it became a decision between Bush and Mario. With the recent signing of Anthony Weaver to apparently play LDE and the tender level used to keep Peek, I think it rules out picking Mario Williams (who could have been a great LDE IMO or coule have played RDE with Weaver at LDE) amd clearly means Bush will be our #1 pick.
From there, numerous options exist for our 2nd round pick. I think with Bush at #1 we could very likely go for defense in the 2nd round. I don't see them taking a LB that high with Wong and Greenwood locked into contracts and Shantee Orr opening some eyes last season, and I've also heard praise from the coaches for Orr. That doesn't leave a spot for an incoming LB. I think we shored up our DLine to the extent that they plan on doing for now, so I don't see them drafting a DE or DT at #33, which leaves DB. There should be some good CBs and FSs available there. Johnathan Joseph could fall and would be a great pick for us, Donte Whitner or Daniel Bullocks would be good picks at FS and could both be there. We could also take a TE, but I don't think they'd take anyone but Leonard Pope at #33, and if they sign Jeb Putzier I don't know if they'd even look at a TE in the draft unless someone like Klopfenstein or Tim Day last until the 4th round. They could look at OL, I don't think Marcus McNeill will be a top option for us at RT, I think Daryn Colledge would be a better fit. I'm not sure he's really worth the #33 pick, but with Ferguson, Justice, and Winston all almost for sure going in the 1st round Colledge would be our best option there and they could take him. There is a chance they could also take Nick Mangold if he's available to either play C or G, I think he'd be a great pick for either position, but the chances of that will also depend on what else we do in free agency.
Chris Chester would be a very nice option for us at C or G in the 3rd to 4th round. We could likely get him in the 4th, but depending on how many needs we "address" in free agency and how the draft is going I could even see them using one of our 3rd round picks on him. Other than him, we could look at TE (if we don't sign a FA and don't get one higher in the draft), WR, DB, and LB in the later rounds. If we go with a CB or S at #33, I think we could look for the other position in the 3rd-5th rounds (i.e. Johnathan Joseph at #33 then look for a FS later). Greg Blue at S and Cedric Griffin or Alan Zemaitis at CB woudl all be conceivable options, among many other players. We could look at LB in the later rounds as depth/future replacement, Terna Nande from Miami OH put up an impressive workout at the combine and could be a good option if his on-field play is on par with his workout. Brandon Marshall would be a nice option at WR. I personally think he's better than Maurice Stovall, around the same size, faster, as good of hands, and I think he looks more fluid and maybe a better route runner, but being from a smaller school he isn't getting the same amount of attention. He could slip to the 4th round, but like with Chester depending on what we do in free agency (if we pick up quality WRs and how many of our other needs we fill) and how we use our earlier picks, I could see us taking him in the 3rd round as well. I think he could be our #2 WR, maybe have to wait a year for him to develop, but I think he's that good.
I don't necessarily want much of what I've said to be the situation for the Texans, but as of now that's how I see things with the team. If you had the patience to read thru all of my post, hopefully you've seen a new perspective on things and you can choose to agree or disagree with my views on what I see the Texans options being now. As I said, this is far from my ideal situation as of a week or so ago, but this is how I see things right now. Well, this long post has worn me out and I need to get to sleep, so feel free to read thru this and leave any comments you have and I'll check back tomorrow.
The Texans signed DE Anthony Weaver to a 5 year deal for $26.5 million with a $13 million bonus. He is regarded as a good runstopping DE, but won't contribute much to our pass rush. In my opinion we paid much more than we should have for him, but that's the nature of the free agent market.
The Texans signed QB Sage Rosenfels to a 4 year deal for $7 million. I don't understand this acquisition, I don't see him being anywhere near the best QB on teh market, and while I wouldn't have paid a ton of money for a very top guy like Drew Brees, I would have looked for someone better than Rosenfels, maybe Brian Griese etc. or at least talk to them and see what kind of deal they're looking for.
The Texans signed FB Jameel Cook to a 5 year deal for $5 million. Denver's offense typically utilizes more versatile and athletic FBs, so I can understand the pick but I think we overpaid for him too.
The Texans are rumored to be pursuing several other players too, but as of now they haven't signed any others. My personal thoughts on free agency differ from what I've seen out of the Texans so far. I would prefer to target one top guy on each side of the ball and make a serious run at them rather than targeting more mid-level players and signing them to top-20 money for their position, I'd rather pay more money but get a top player. While Steve Hutchinson and LeCharles Bentley got huge deals that I would not have matched, I would have liked to see them at least make somewhat of a run at Bentley, or else pick one of the other top guys at a position that we need (Kevin Shaffer, Antwaan Randle El, etc. on offense) and make competitive offers to them. If we're going to pay someone $3-5 million more than we should have to, I'd prefer we're at least getting a top guy rather than spending that much extra on mid-level guys. Especially with the draft picks we have coming, I'd prefer to address one big need on each side of the ball with the top guy available (even if we have to overpay on each one) then address the rest of our needs thru the draft where we're not going to have to spend as much money on them, other than the #1 overall pick. Instead, we look like we're overpaying on several mid-level players to (as someone else posted on these boards earlier today) "fill our needs in free agency so we can draft player X at #1" etc. I see the importance of adding depth that can compete for playing time, but we appear to be bringing in yet another crop of players of mediocre talent, then we have "filled" most of our needs and go into the draft with less of an objective purpose and less of a clear focus on who we should be drafting.
That said, let's look at what else we've done with the team and possible implications on the draft. We resigned Antwan Peek to the mid-level tender, so it will take a 1st round pick from another team if they want to sign him from us, and needless to say no one will give that up for him, so we've protected him and ensured he'll be here. Everything I've heard from anyone in the organization, both in the media and from the few people I know, indicates that the coaches plan to start Peek at RDE, and have Babin come in at LDE on passing situations and sub in for Peek. By signing Anthony Weaver, unless they intend to switch him over to full-time DT (in which case we drastically overpaid him) he will be our LDE. I think he could play DT and I personally wanted the Texans to draft Mario Williams in which case Weaver would be a DT if we signed him, but I don't see that being the case.
I think the team is pretty satisfied with Chester Pitts as their LT, so I don't think D'Brickashaw Ferguson was a very serious consideration since the end of the season. Casserly had said a couple different times on the radio before the end of the year that they would have to evaluate if Pitts was their long-term LT, and later that Pitts appeared to be their guy, and they haven't said anything about looking at D'Brickashaw or looking to move Pitts elsewhere on the OLine. I think they could look for a RT either in the draft or in free agency, but that would not include taking D'Brick.
I also don't think D'Brick is worth the #1 overall pick, and I really don't see us getting a very good trade offer from any of the top 5-6 teams in the draft, especially if the Saints sign Drew Brees. I also don't think the Texans will trade down below the top few picks, Casserly has also broken down a couple times on the radio that there are a few "elite" players at the top of the draft, then a group of very good players, but that they'd need a huge deal to move out of being able to take one of the elite guys. I don't see them getting an offer that big to move down below the elite group, and I don't see them getting much of an offer to move down in the top couple picks.
I don't think Vince Young has been a serious consideration at the #1 pick for the last week or two at least since the Combine, and I think after Mario's stellar workout it became a decision between Bush and Mario. With the recent signing of Anthony Weaver to apparently play LDE and the tender level used to keep Peek, I think it rules out picking Mario Williams (who could have been a great LDE IMO or coule have played RDE with Weaver at LDE) amd clearly means Bush will be our #1 pick.
From there, numerous options exist for our 2nd round pick. I think with Bush at #1 we could very likely go for defense in the 2nd round. I don't see them taking a LB that high with Wong and Greenwood locked into contracts and Shantee Orr opening some eyes last season, and I've also heard praise from the coaches for Orr. That doesn't leave a spot for an incoming LB. I think we shored up our DLine to the extent that they plan on doing for now, so I don't see them drafting a DE or DT at #33, which leaves DB. There should be some good CBs and FSs available there. Johnathan Joseph could fall and would be a great pick for us, Donte Whitner or Daniel Bullocks would be good picks at FS and could both be there. We could also take a TE, but I don't think they'd take anyone but Leonard Pope at #33, and if they sign Jeb Putzier I don't know if they'd even look at a TE in the draft unless someone like Klopfenstein or Tim Day last until the 4th round. They could look at OL, I don't think Marcus McNeill will be a top option for us at RT, I think Daryn Colledge would be a better fit. I'm not sure he's really worth the #33 pick, but with Ferguson, Justice, and Winston all almost for sure going in the 1st round Colledge would be our best option there and they could take him. There is a chance they could also take Nick Mangold if he's available to either play C or G, I think he'd be a great pick for either position, but the chances of that will also depend on what else we do in free agency.
Chris Chester would be a very nice option for us at C or G in the 3rd to 4th round. We could likely get him in the 4th, but depending on how many needs we "address" in free agency and how the draft is going I could even see them using one of our 3rd round picks on him. Other than him, we could look at TE (if we don't sign a FA and don't get one higher in the draft), WR, DB, and LB in the later rounds. If we go with a CB or S at #33, I think we could look for the other position in the 3rd-5th rounds (i.e. Johnathan Joseph at #33 then look for a FS later). Greg Blue at S and Cedric Griffin or Alan Zemaitis at CB woudl all be conceivable options, among many other players. We could look at LB in the later rounds as depth/future replacement, Terna Nande from Miami OH put up an impressive workout at the combine and could be a good option if his on-field play is on par with his workout. Brandon Marshall would be a nice option at WR. I personally think he's better than Maurice Stovall, around the same size, faster, as good of hands, and I think he looks more fluid and maybe a better route runner, but being from a smaller school he isn't getting the same amount of attention. He could slip to the 4th round, but like with Chester depending on what we do in free agency (if we pick up quality WRs and how many of our other needs we fill) and how we use our earlier picks, I could see us taking him in the 3rd round as well. I think he could be our #2 WR, maybe have to wait a year for him to develop, but I think he's that good.
I don't necessarily want much of what I've said to be the situation for the Texans, but as of now that's how I see things with the team. If you had the patience to read thru all of my post, hopefully you've seen a new perspective on things and you can choose to agree or disagree with my views on what I see the Texans options being now. As I said, this is far from my ideal situation as of a week or so ago, but this is how I see things right now. Well, this long post has worn me out and I need to get to sleep, so feel free to read thru this and leave any comments you have and I'll check back tomorrow.
