Mock the Texans Big Board

[Marshall]

I'd like to take a little twist to the standard mock and see what you think the TEXANs Big Board should be with adjustments made for fit and need. The standard best available player lists are not team specific and that is what I'd like to speculate on.

So to start, what would the Big Board look like if YOU were the GM of the Texans through pick 16 initially. Later it can be extended if it enjoyable to readers.

This is the current First pick top 16 (CBS rank follows). How would you adjust them?

1. Marcus Mariota QB 1
2. Leonard Williams DT 2
3. Jameis Winston QB 3
4. Randy Gregory DE 4
5. Brandon Sherff OT 6
6. Amari Cooper WR 7
7. Shaq Thompson OLB 10
8. Vic Beasely OLB 11
9. Shawn Oakman DE 12 (Announced he's returning to Baylor)
10. Cedric Ogbuehi OT 16
11. Shane Ray DE 8
12. Landon Collins SS 5
13. Andrus Pete OT 9
14. Kevin White WR 17
15. La'el Collins OT 22
16. Melvin Gordon RB 29
17. DeVante Parker WR 13
18. Dante Fowler, Jr. DE 14
19. Trae Waynes CB 15

 

[Playoffs]

 

[bah007]

I'll try to tackle this. These are the guys that I would have under consideration. More than 16 but I'm listing every prospect that I would be comfortable with the Texans taking in the first round. Anyone not on this list is not someone I think should be a first round option for us.

1. Marcus Mariota - QB, Oregon: Obviously not going to happen. But I think he's the best QB in the draft. I'd at least leave this on the table.
2. Andrus Peat - OT, Stanford: Franchise LT in my opinion. Might struggle at RT but he could play there until we're ready to move him over.
3. Leonard Williams - DE, USC: - Best player in the draft, but not at a need position.
4. Kevin White - WR, West Virginia: Best WR in the draft in my opinion. Definite #1 potential. Would be the #3 WR until Andre moves on.
5. DeVante Parker - WR, Louisville: Next best WR. Definite potential to be a #1 WR. Same plan as White
6. Ronnie Stanley - OT, Notre Dame: Has LT tools and could start at RT easily. Better RT than Peat but not as good at LT.
7. Jaelen Strong - WR, Arizona St: Not as good as the top two WR but still an amazing talent. Would be an excellent partner to Hopkins.
8. Benardrick McKinney - LB, Mississippi St: Excellent athlete that is versatile enough to play ILB or take Reed's spot.
9. La'el Collins - OT, LSU: Doesn't have the potential of the other OTs on this list because he is purely a RT, but he would start immediately. Need pick.
10. Alvin Dupree - OLB, Kentucky: Another versatile LB who could take over Reed's position.
11. Cody Prewitt - FS, Ole Miss: Game changer in the back of the defense.
12. Malcom Brown - DE, Texas: Very gifted player, but not at a need position.
13. Amari Cooper - WR, Alabama: Doesn't have the potential of the other top WRs. Will never be a #1, but he could be a great slot guy.
14. P.J. Williams - CB, Florida St: Need position but can't say I'm thrilled with the top prospects. Williams has potential to be a #1 but he's raw.
15. Trae Waynes - CB, Michigan St: Waynes is more pro ready than Williams but he doesn't have the same ceiling.
16. Derron Smith - FS, Fresno St: Sleeper pick, preferably after a trade down. True centerfielder in the secondary.
17. Rashad Greene - WR, Florida St: I don't think he'll go this early so I'd prefer to trade down for him, but I think he'll be a stud slot WR.
18. Eddie Goldman - NT, Florida St: Strong NT prospect, not really a need position either though.
19. Danny Shelton - NT, Washington: Solid prospect at a position that's not really a need. He would be a fall back option if we traded back and the guy we were targeting got snatched up.
20. Jake Fisher - OT, Oregon: Good LT prospect. I have him rated higher than Collins, but I think he'd get pushed around at OG or RT so we wouldn't take him unless Duane was switching positions.
21. Garrett Grayson - QB, Colorado St: I don't think he'll go this early but if we're targeting QB early he's my choice. Try to trade back for some picks and then grab him.
22. Arik Armstead - DE, Oregon: Extremely high potential as a 34 end. Not a need, he'd be a luxury pick.
23. Jameis Winston - QB, Florida St: I'm not super high on him and I doubt he'll be available, but at #16 it would have to at least be under consideration.

 

[JB]

I'll try to tackle this. These are the guys that I would have under consideration. More than 16 but I'm listing every prospect that I would be comfortable with the Texans taking in the first round. Anyone not on this list is not someone I think should be a first round option for us.

No Shaq Thompson?

 

[Marshall]

No Shaq Thompson?

or Vic Beasely. My first thought was he might be satisfied with OLB but:

10. Alvin Dupree - OLB, Kentucky: Another versatile LB who could take over Reed's position. This player isn't even on the boards I've seen which makes me wonder if he is even eligible. Is he another player who has committed to return? I just don't know.

 

[bah007]

No Shaq Thompson?

I love Shaq Thompson. He's in my top five overall. But he doesn't have a good fit in our defense. I think his ceiling is incredibly high, but he wouldn't be able to maximize it here. He can pretty much only play WLB in a 43.

Doesn't have the skill set to play outside in a 34 and he would get pushed around inside.

 

[bah007]

or Vic Beasely. My first thought was he might be satisfied with OLB but:

10. Alvin Dupree - OLB, Kentucky: Another versatile LB who could take over Reed's position. This player isn't even on the boards I've seen which makes me wonder if he is even eligible. Is he another player who has committed to return? I just don't know.

I have a 2nd round grade on Beasley. He's more like Bruce Irvin than Von Miller. And while Irvin was a first round pick he hasn't put up first round production. I also think that Beasley is a better fit as a SLB in a 43 like those guys than he is in a 34.

Dupree is a senior who is being overlooked because he plays for Kentucky. He'll be a first rounder. 6-4 267 with incredible athleticism. He is asked to do way too much for his defense and still shines on tape. He'll be one of those guys that flies up the boards at the end of the process and people are going to act like he came from out of nowhere, when in reality he was there the whole time and they just weren't looking at him. Not surprised at all to hear that he isn't rated highly on whatever boards you've seen.

 

[steelbtexan]

I have a 2nd round grade on Beasley. He's more like Bruce Irvin than Von Miller. And while Irvin was a first round pick he hasn't put up first round production. I also think that Beasley is a better fit as a SLB in a 43 like those guys than he is in a 34.

Dupree is a senior who is being overlooked because he plays for Kentucky. He'll be a first rounder. 6-4 267 with incredible athleticism. He is asked to do way too much for his defense and still shines on tape. He'll be one of those guys that flies up the boards at the end of the process and people are going to act like he came from out of nowhere, when in reality he was there the whole time and they just weren't looking at him. Not surprised at all to hear that he isn't rated highly on whatever boards you've seen.

Love me some Dupree. Big guy who can cover some and is just tapping into his pass rushing abilities. If I were a team like the Falcons/Cowboys or for that matter the Texans, Dupree is a guy I would watch a lot of tape on. His future is bright.

I like him as much as I like McKinney.

 

[Marshall]

I have a 2nd round grade on Beasley. He's more like Bruce Irvin than Von Miller. And while Irvin was a first round pick he hasn't put up first round production. I also think that Beasley is a better fit as a SLB in a 43 like those guys than he is in a 34.

Dupree is a senior who is being overlooked because he plays for Kentucky. He'll be a first rounder. 6-4 267 with incredible athleticism. He is asked to do way too much for his defense and still shines on tape. He'll be one of those guys that flies up the boards at the end of the process and people are going to act like he came from out of nowhere, when in reality he was there the whole time and they just weren't looking at him. Not surprised at all to hear that he isn't rated highly on whatever boards you've seen.

Thanks for the explanation. I'm just surprised that Dupree isn't even listed, even in the late rounds, on the other boards.

Note. I just found him on the CBS listed as DE at 18.