I’ve had way too much free time over the past several months, so I’ve listened to a ton of sports talk radio and I’ve read probably 99% of the Texans related articles. I’ve NEVER seen/heard McClain say they bungled a trade for Dillard. I’ve heard directly from McClains mouth, multiple times on various talk shows, that they were never going to take Dillard. The Texan coaching staff met with Howard multiple times over the draft process, he was their guy. You might not like the pick, you might think it was a reach but it seems like you’re promoting a false narrative on this one.
Here’s a clip of Seth Payne quoting Michael Lombardi about Howard
https://sportsradio610.radio.com/me...onfirmed-seth-s-suspicions-about-tytus-howard
Now you can certainly say that 610 is a homer station but Lombardi has no reason to defend the pick of Howard. I don’t think it’s an unreasonable to think that the Texans simply preferred Howard. If Dillard was a can’t miss prospect there’s NO WAY he’d last until 22. According to LZ, who’s got good connections, there was some concern about Dillard being a soft, ie lacking toughness. Not a good trait for a NFL offensive lineman
Lombardi brought up the interview thing and said Howard would go between picks 20 and 40. That's definitely lower than Dillard who was more like 10-25.
But this is what McClain wrote:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ho...keaways-from-Texans-first-day-of-13797251.php
"There were reports in the national media this week the Texans were trying to trade up from their 23rd spot in the first round to get Washington State left tackle Andre Dillard and that they were shopping outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney. Neither proved to be true."
Neither proved to be true means they didn't actually end up happening. But I think the Texans TRIED to make them happen. There's a reason the eagles jumped specifically ahead of the Texans, they thought Dillard would be taken.
McLain also wrote:
"Howard was rated as the third-best left tackle behind Washington State's Andre Dillard and Mississippi State's Greg Little. Howard and Little were projected as second-round picks.
Before the draft, there were reports the Texans were trying to trade up to get Dillard, but Gaine didn't want to sacrifice one of his premium picks in the second and third rounds.
Gaine considered options to trade down in an attempt to get a third- or fourth-round pick."
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ho...Texans-take-shot-on-Tytus-Howard-13797128.php
I think if it's true Howard is struggling as another poster said he has inside info on, that could be the reason obrien got all upset and unaligned. Right after the draft was when obrien supposedly was reportedly unhappy with how things were going.
We also know obrien has no problem throwing a GM under the bus if a move ends up not working out.
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