Heres why:
Every safety over the past 5 years that has been drafted in the first round (except 1) is a starter on their respective team. Most of them are perennial game changers/pro bowl considerations/cornerstones of their defense. Based on the history, that means if the Texans pick a safety with their #8 pick (or trade into a later part of the first), we have almost a 90% chance to land not only a starter, but an instant impact game changer.
Here is the list of safeties in the 1st round:
Roy Williams
Troy Polamalu
Ed Reed
Sean Taylor
Thomas Davis
Michael Huff
Donte Whitner
Mike Rumph
With a team like the Texans, who have wasted a lot of valuable picks, it pays to take a sure bet. For some reason, the top rated safeties (best 1 or 2 guys) always seem to be scouted well. It would be great to draft someone with the knowledge that they will not bust. When you pay your 1st round guy the kind of money they are getting nowadays, its important not to mess up the pick.
Why we shouldnt?
Listed above are 7 great safeties in the NFL. There are 64 starting safeties. Obviously good safeties are found in other rounds, and we could no doubt get a serviceable guy in a later round.
Whats the verdict?
Picking DL, RBs, OT, CBs are risky picks. The players are tough to scout and tough to get, so people draft them early. Top rated safeties are a lock to do well. And when our greatest need is FS, and we have 2 top rated guys projecting to near our pick, I say we go for it and solidify that position for the next decade
Every safety over the past 5 years that has been drafted in the first round (except 1) is a starter on their respective team. Most of them are perennial game changers/pro bowl considerations/cornerstones of their defense. Based on the history, that means if the Texans pick a safety with their #8 pick (or trade into a later part of the first), we have almost a 90% chance to land not only a starter, but an instant impact game changer.
Here is the list of safeties in the 1st round:
Roy Williams
Troy Polamalu
Ed Reed
Sean Taylor
Thomas Davis
Michael Huff
Donte Whitner
Mike Rumph
With a team like the Texans, who have wasted a lot of valuable picks, it pays to take a sure bet. For some reason, the top rated safeties (best 1 or 2 guys) always seem to be scouted well. It would be great to draft someone with the knowledge that they will not bust. When you pay your 1st round guy the kind of money they are getting nowadays, its important not to mess up the pick.
Why we shouldnt?
Listed above are 7 great safeties in the NFL. There are 64 starting safeties. Obviously good safeties are found in other rounds, and we could no doubt get a serviceable guy in a later round.
Whats the verdict?
Picking DL, RBs, OT, CBs are risky picks. The players are tough to scout and tough to get, so people draft them early. Top rated safeties are a lock to do well. And when our greatest need is FS, and we have 2 top rated guys projecting to near our pick, I say we go for it and solidify that position for the next decade