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Texans Analyst John Harris 2022 Top 10(now 100) Draft Prospects

Lucky

Ride, Captain, Ride!
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Don't know how many here visit the official site (I rarely do). But, I came across long time Houston radio draftnik (and now Texans talking head) John Harris' top 10 draft prospects while listening to Caserio's presser. Countdown in reverse order:

10. OG/OT Kenyon Green, Texas A&M
9. OT Charles Cross, Mississippi State
8. DE/DT George Karlaftis, Purdue
7. CB Derek Stingley Jr., LSU
6. OC Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa
5. OT/OG Ikem "Icky" Ekwonu, NC State
4. Edge Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon
3. OT Evan Neal, Alabama
2. Edge Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan
1. S Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame


Harris is not an actual scout for the Texans. And I doubt Nick let's him even see the board. Still, Harris is around and hears stuff. Like, no QBs are top 10 worthy. And the Texans like a lot of the top O-linemen. 5 O-linemen in his top 10.
 
Don't know how many here visit the official site (I rarely do). But, I came across long time Houston radio draftnik (and now Texans talking head) John Harris' top 10 draft prospects while listening to Caserio's presser. Countdown in reverse order:

10. OG/OT Kenyon Green, Texas A&M
9. OT Charles Cross, Mississippi State
8. DE/DT George Karlaftis, Purdue
7. CB Derek Stingley Jr., LSU
6. OC Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa
5. OT/OG Ikem "Icky" Ekwonu, NC State
4. Edge Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon
3. OT Evan Neal, Alabama
2. Edge Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan
1. S Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame



Harris is not an actual scout for the Texans. And I doubt Nick let's him even see the board. Still, Harris is around and hears stuff. Like, no QBs are top 10 worthy. And the Texans like a lot of the top O-linemen. 5 O-linemen in his top 10.
Looks about right to me
 
I think Linderbaum would be too high at 3, but I’d love it if we traded back and got him. He’ll be a staple of the OL for a decade.
Honestly, I’d be happy with a lot of those guys listed in the top 10. The only one I’m really not crazy about is Stingley, and I’m probably in the minority with that.
I wouldn't mind Booth or Gardner there instead but not at 3
 
I’ve been on Neal, Linderbaum and Hamilton from day 1. Those guys pop on tape. Stingley, I see the physical attributes, but his injury history and the overall down tick of his production since his freshman year worries me. He’ll need a year to get fully healthy & He’s not a day 1 plug and play guy imo….not yet anyway & we’re not in a position to take on developmental guys that early.

Hutchinson…he will get snaps and be a starter…...he’s great with his hands…..I just don’t see an impact guy. He’s not a quick twitch athlete, his calling card is effort and hustle. He plays in a 3-4 in Michigan….we play 4-3…. No real pass rush moves..he has a bull rush & that’s about it. Overrated prospect imo b/c of his production in a defense that basically only had him do 1 thing…rush the passer.
 
Hutchinson…he will get snaps and be a starter…...he’s great with his hands…..I just don’t see an impact guy. He’s not a quick twitch athlete, his calling card is effort and hustle. He plays in a 3-4 in Michigan….we play 4-3…. No real pass rush moves..he has a bull rush & that’s about it. Overrated prospect imo b/c of his production in a defense that basically only had him do 1 thing…rush the passer.
He looked slow and plodding to me. Thibodeaux not much better. DE not a top 3 pick for me. Neal only is if Tunsil gone
 
Harris has always been a personal favorite along with Lance. I'm sure we all have our favorites for whatever reason, some maybe want to set their boards off teams selecting in the top 10 and or needs of those teams, or if there is run on positional group several of them covet. I prefer to look into the future at least after one year in the NFL as a projection. With that said, I'll give it a shot -

10. ILB Nakobe Dean, Georgia - leadership, reads/diagnoses, quick as a whip, high IQ and character. Starter day one
9. OT Charles Cross, Mississippi State - extremely high potential LT with quickness in his skill set that remind me of Slater
8. DT Jordan Davis, Georgia - dominant run defender with elite size/athletic ability
7. OT/OG Ikem "Icky" Ekwonu, NC State - Nasty finisher, who fits two important positions well
6. OG/OT Kenyon Green, Texas A&M - more elite than any tackle not named Neal
5. CB Derek Stingley Jr., LSU - miracles of modern medicine, gets clean bill of health combine
4. Edge Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan - great work ethic, team player but limited athletically
3. OT Evan Neal, Alabama - will probably go to LT needy team this high
2. S Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame - Game changer with his size/speed ratio, combined with elite read and diagnose ability
1. Edge Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon - Twitchy and explosive with elite bend and charisma, Moxy and leadership

drop out of Harris top 10 -

DE/DT George Karlaftis, Purdue - lacks ideal measurements to be in top 10 conversation, like Hutch but much smaller frame and shorter arms
OC Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa - this one pains me to omit, but he is undersized for a Center and hurt in his final game that may forbode future issues against NFL size and strength
 
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I think Linderbaum would be too high at 3, but I’d love it if we traded back and got him. He’ll be a staple of the OL for a decade.
Honestly, I’d be happy with a lot of those guys listed in the top 10. The only one I’m really not crazy about is Stingley, and I’m probably in the minority with that.

I was a Stingley guy until CnD told me about his Lisfranc surgery and the chances of a long career. Now give me Neal or Hamilton at 1-3.
 
I think Neal is going to be a good player. Maybe really good. Wouldn’t rule him out as being a great player.

But he’s not one of my top three prospects that I’ve seen so far.

I see Neal and Salyers or Kinnard as dominators. People who impose their will on guys for the next 5-10 yrs on one side of the OL.
 
Don't know how many here visit the official site (I rarely do). But, I came across long time Houston radio draftnik (and now Texans talking head) John Harris' top 10 draft prospects while listening to Caserio's presser. Countdown in reverse order:

10. OG/OT Kenyon Green, Texas A&M
9. OT Charles Cross, Mississippi State
8. DE/DT George Karlaftis, Purdue
7. CB Derek Stingley Jr., LSU
6. OC Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa
5. OT/OG Ikem "Icky" Ekwonu, NC State
4. Edge Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon
3. OT Evan Neal, Alabama
2. Edge Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan
1. S Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame



Harris is not an actual scout for the Texans. And I doubt Nick let's him even see the board. Still, Harris is around and hears stuff. Like, no QBs are top 10 worthy. And the Texans like a lot of the top O-linemen. 5 O-linemen in his top 10.
If we could land Tyler Linderbaum C and Kenyon Green OG, we could have a top 15 Oline by mid season.
LT Tytus Howard
LG Kenyon Green
C Tyler Linderbaum
RG Max Sharping
RT Marcus Cannon
Find a good young RT somewhere and you have a young talented line with a young talented QB that can grow together.
Laremy Tunsil? Trade him.
 
If we could land Tyler Linderbaum C and Kenyon Green OG, we could have a top 15 Oline by mid season.
LT Tytus Howard
LG Kenyon Green
C Tyler Linderbaum
RG Max Sharping
RT Marcus Cannon
Find a good young RT somewhere and you have a young talented line with a young talented QB that can grow together.
Laremy Tunsil? Trade him.

You will never have a good OL with Howard playing LT. Or Scharping playing RG for that matter.
 
If we could land Tyler Linderbaum C and Kenyon Green OG, we could have a top 15 Oline by mid season.
LT Tytus Howard
LG Kenyon Green
C Tyler Linderbaum
RG Max Sharping
RT Marcus Cannon
Find a good young RT somewhere and you have a young talented line with a young talented QB that can grow together.
Laremy Tunsil? Trade him.

How about an OL that looked like this….

LT- Tunsil
LG- Salyer
OC- Britt / Linderbaum
RG- Kinnard
RT- Howard

Salyer and Kinnard both were starting Tackles and could easily kick back out to the Tackle positions at some point. If the Texans have to….they could go Guards in 2023 or 2024.
 
How about an OL that looked like this….

LT- Tunsil
LG- Salyer
OC- Britt / Linderbaum
RG- Kinnard
RT- Howard

Salyer and Kinnard both were starting Tackles and could easily kick back out to the Tackle positions at some point. If the Texans have to….they could go Guards in 2023 or 2024.
I would be good with this. Tell me how you draft those 3 guys?
 
drop out of my top 10 -

DE/DT George Karlaftis, Purdue - lacks ideal measurements to be in top 10 conversation, like Hutch but much smaller frame and shorter arms
OC Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa - this one pains me to omit, but he is undersized for a Center and hurt in his final game that may forbode future issues against NFL size and strength
How far do you have them dropping out of the Top 10? Are they still top 25?
 
Best fit outside Top 10 which will be determined after free agency. If your asking for me to pull a rabbit out of my hat, Karlaftis 10-15. Linderbaum 20-25.

but y’all only interested in Texans, myself Chargers. Simulator just spat out Karla to Jets #10 and Tyler to Steelers #20.

pff_mock_results 3.png
 
Best fit outside Top 10 which will be determined after free agency. If your asking for me to pull a rabbit out of my hat, Karlaftis 10-15. Linderbaum 20-25.

but y’all only interested in Texans, myself Chargers. Simulator just spat out Karla to Jets #10 and Tyler to Steelers #20.

View attachment 9542

I would be very happy with this draft.

2 very high end CB's
Pass rusher
1 of my 2 favorite OG's in this draft.
 
I would be very happy with this draft.

2 very high end CB's
Pass rusher
1 of my 2 favorite OG's in this draft.

Gordon will be a riser, their board doesn’t reflect that but I did. They have his teammate McDufee going #9 overall (NFL ready) but Gordon has more upside. People are underestimating KT, one of best OLB prospects I’ve seen on par with Khalil Mack.
 
I think it's more prospect fatigue. People are always looking for flaws with the guys at the top.
Seems like the Texans have been burned when they went with the guy at the top
 
I think it's more prospect fatigue. People are always looking for flaws with the guys at the top.

Media fatique probably. Teams must process and do their due diligence. If anything they get more giddy closer it gets, laying groundwork for possible trades and moves to address targets.

Some players do have flaws, no prospect is perfect just depends on severity. Ranging from medical, conversations, character/background checks it’s just business.
 
Harris has always been a personal favorite along with Lance. I'm sure we all have our favorites for whatever reason, some maybe want to set their boards off teams selecting in the top 10 and or needs of those teams, or if there is run on positional group several of them covet. I prefer to look into the future at least after one year in the NFL as a projection. With that said, I'll give it a shot -

10. ILB Nakobe Dean, Georgia - leadership, reads/diagnoses, quick as a whip, high IQ and character. Starter day one
9. OT Charles Cross, Mississippi State - extremely high potential LT with quickness in his skill set that remind me of Slater
8. DT Jordan Davis, Georgia - dominant run defender with elite size/athletic ability
7. OT/OG Ikem "Icky" Ekwonu, NC State - Nasty finisher, who fits two important positions well
6. OG/OT Kenyon Green, Texas A&M - more elite than any tackle not named Neal
5. CB Derek Stingley Jr., LSU - miracles of modern medicine, gets clean bill of health combine
4. Edge Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan - great work ethic, team player but limited athletically
3. OT Evan Neal, Alabama - will probably go to LT needy team this high
2. S Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame - Game changer with his size/speed ratio, combined with elite read and diagnose ability
1. Edge Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon - Twitchy and explosive with elite bend and charisma, Moxy and leadership

drop out of Harris top 10 -

DE/DT George Karlaftis, Purdue - lacks ideal measurements to be in top 10 conversation, like Hutch but much smaller frame and shorter arms
OC Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa - this one pains me to omit, but he is undersized for a Center and hurt in his final game that may forbode future issues against NFL size and strength
I was comparing his size against some current top Centers in the league and one of them - Jason Kelce, (you might have heard of him ;)) is only 282lbs and the exact same height.
Linderbaum is known as a freakish strongman - there is a video of him throwing a full sized haybale over a 13' bar. ( No, not one of those big round ones!) He shot putted it over.
 
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Interesting.
But if we draft Neal, what do we do with Tunsil?
Trade him, or move Neal to LG or RT, or put Neal in at LT and move Tunsil to RT?
Creates a quandary but trading Tunsil would be nice - maybe pick up another high draft pick or a player to plug a hole?
 
Interesting.
But if we draft Neal, what do we do with Tunsil?
Trade him, or move Neal to LG or RT, or put Neal in at LT and move Tunsil to RT?
Creates a quandary but trading Tunsil would be nice - maybe pick up another high draft pick or a player to plug a hole?
I read someone on this board say move him to RT, then another said to Guard & I was thinking, didn’t we just do this with Howard?

Sure, Neal is more “talented” & will be more successful, but I thought we flat out didn’t like the idea of moving a player around or drafting a square peg & forcing him into a round hole.
 
I read someone on this board say move him to RT, then another said to Guard & I was thinking, didn’t we just do this with Howard?

Sure, Neal is more “talented” & will be more successful, but I thought we flat out didn’t like the idea of moving a player around or drafting a square peg & forcing him into a round hole.
Agree, which is why I think it will result in a quandry and why I don't think Texans will draft him. Unless they move Tunsil before the draft.
You wouldn't draft Neal at #3 unless he was going to be LT else he would be an expensive draft pick for a guard or RT.
The same reasoning applies to Tunsil.
 
Neal has experience at guard….might be better suited to play there anyway imo. I’d draft him and stick him at 1 of the guard spots… leave Tunsil at LT, Howard at RT.
Would you spend the #3 pick in the draft on a guard?
 
Would you spend the #3 pick in the draft on a guard?
If you did a 2018 re-draft, Quenton Nelson would probably go #3 behind Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson.

But, Neal will eventually be a LT, and that's what he would be drafted for. In '96, the Ravens took Jonathan Ogden at #4 even though they had a LT that was 2nd team All Pro (Tony Jones) a year prior at the position. Ogden played LG as a rookie, then moved to LT a year later when Jones was traded. Could be a similar situation with Tunsil, here.
 
If you did a 2018 re-draft, Quenton Nelson would probably go #3 behind Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson.

But, Neal will eventually be a LT, and that's what he would be drafted for. In '96, the Ravens took Jonathan Ogden at #4 even though they had a LT that was 2nd team All Pro (Tony Jones) a year prior at the position. Ogden played LG as a rookie, then moved to LT a year later when Jones was traded. Could be a similar situation with Tunsil, here.
Fair enough. I wonder what Tunsils contract looks like?
 
Interesting.
But if we draft Neal, what do we do with Tunsil?
Trade him, or move Neal to LG or RT, or put Neal in at LT and move Tunsil to RT?
Creates a quandary but trading Tunsil would be nice - maybe pick up another high draft pick or a player to plug a hole?

LTs can hold up until their mid 30s so unless there is truth the rumors/speculation that Tunsil does not want to be a Texans, he lines up there for another 7-8 years (and yes you pay him another contract). Neal has experience at both RT and LG, You draft Neal assuming he is going to be elite at one of those.
 
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