Assessing the Houston Texans Needs Heading to the 2016 NFL Draft
Patrick Starr
Yesterday at 9:04 AM
Assessing the Houston Texans' team needs heading to the 2016 NFL Draft.
The NFL Draft is closing in and the Houston Texans will be on the clock, trying to add necessary players to their roster. The Texans currently have 70 players under contract heading to the draft portion of the off-season and there will be close to 18-19 rookies arriving to rookie mini-camp. At the moment, the team has seven draft picks, although that number could change during the three days of the draft, but there will be a bigger group of rookie free agents that will come to the team hoping to break into the roster in some form or fashion.
What direction will the Texans go? Here is a look at the roster and the breakdown of how State of the Texans views the current players on the roster.
The team has been split into five groups:
The Core: The foundation of the team.
The 53: The meat and potatoes of the team.
The Fringe 53: The players who were on the 53 but have to prove they belong on it.
The Competition: This group will have to show in OTAs, mini-camps, and training camp that they belong.
The Clock is Ticking: The players hoping something changes in their favor.
The Breakdown of the Roster
This chart helps us focus on the direction the Texans should go in the draft. The roster breakdown points to the following:
Immediate Needs
These are positions that should be addressed after the draft is complete.
- Defensive End
- Tight End
- Wide Receiver
- Center
It is pretty clear the most important need heading into 2016 is the defensive end position. With the exit of Jared Crick and not much behind
J.J. Watt, there is a clear gap to fill. The Texans missed on Nick Fairley, who opted to join the Saints, but that the Texans were in the discussion is a clear indication that they are in the market.
The tight end and wide receiver positions are needs but finding a rookie to step in and help from day one is the key. Bill O’Brien has made in well known that it is tough for rookies to play from day one and taking a skill player in either position is not an exception. Unless there is a dynamic player sitting for them early, this position group could be filled later in the draft. Also, do not be surprised if the Texans look to convert a college wide receiver to the tight end position in the NFL.
The center position includes some unproven players on the current roster and, if the Texans can find one of the top centers fall into their hands on draft night, it could be a realistic option to draft a center based on the team’s need.
Need To Address
These position groups need tinkering but they all can’t be addressed in the draft unless the team acquires more picks. The Texans have to weigh their options on which ones to prioritize.
- Offensive Tackle
- Cornerback
- Running Back
- Nose Tackle
- Safety
Vince Wilfork is not getting any younger and
Christian Covington is not a “true” nose tackle in the sense of what Romeo Crennel’s 3-4 defense has used over the course of his career. A space-eating, more-than-two-down player who could be a potential play maker would be the ideal fit.
The safety position is becoming more and more vital to NFL defenses and, with teams using up to three in a defensive package, the position just doesn’t have enough players to go around the league. It is about finding the right player who fits the need for the defense that the teams run and, with very few complete safeties, teams have to mix-and-match. The Texans were a good example of this finding the right combination with
Andre Hal,
Quintin Demps and
Eddie Pleasant, their top three safeties.
The Texans always will look at offensive tackle and cornerbacks; these players are high priorities for the organization in terms of positional value. Offensive tackle trumps cornerback, but if one of the top players is available when they pick, the team will be hard pressed to let them pass.
The Texans appear to be looking for a particular running back for their offense and looking at players like
C.J. Prosise (Notre Dame),
D.J. Foster (Arizona State), and
Tyler Ervin (San Jose St.) this off-season indicates the the Texans are running backs who catch the football at a high level. The organization appears to be on the lookout for a player in the style of what the New England Patriots did with Shane Vereen.
Back Burner
These position groups might get some additions from the rookie free agent class but they are not immediate must-haves heading into 2016.
- Quarterback
- Outside Linebacker
- Offensive Guard
- Inside Linebacker
The additions of
Brock Osweiler and
Brandon Weeden have pretty much stopped all of the quarterback talk in its tracks.
The Texans will always have a look out for pass rushers but, with their top three outside linebackers returning, the Texans will be in the market for a raw edge player who will have a high ceiling.
Offensive guard has some need for depth but
Xavier Su'a-Filo and
Jeff Allen are the starting guards heading into 2016 with some potential depth with
Chad Slade and
Oday Aboushi so the position is stable.
Benardrick McKinney is the future and with
Reshard Cliett coming back from injury, those are solid youth players to add to veteran
Brian Cushing. The Texans also like what
Max Bullough brings to the position so the team should be feeling good about the personnel at this position.
