What will the Texans take with their second pick?

[Hottoddie]

With the draft just a week away, & since we know who they're going to take with the first pick, I was wondering what position they'll target with the first pick of the second round.

If they're able to (or believe they will be able to) sign Trotter, then I don't think they'll be looking for a linebacker with this pick. However, if they don't think they can get Trotter, then I think they'll go for a stud linebacker with the pick.

If they're able to get Trotter, then I think they'll go for the best available WR or defensive lineman with the second pick. I won't even try to name a specific player, because of all the draft day trades that usually occur.

Any thoughts on what position they'll take with that pick? Or, will they trade it?

[MadMax]

wide receiver

[kidrock8]

QB

We will draft Carr, and then draft Patrick Ramsey, and alternate them after every play, ala Steve Spurrier.

[Ottomaton]

Highest rated avalable player.

Casterly seems to be big on this concept. According to him, when the Texans ran a mock draft last year, they ended up with four running backs, and he said that he was fine with that.

[junglerules]

i think best available, but i would love to get a RB. I wish we could land duckett somehow, but it seems his stock has been rising recently. If he's there with our pick, i NAB him!

[gr8-1]

If Gaffney falls to round 2, that would be nice. Or, what about Deshaun Foster?

[haven]

Impossible to tell, right now. After the first round, there are always guys who probably should have already been picked, but slid to "need-reaching..." or simply because Jerry Jones is crazy :).

[RNuss02]

Yeah, I see our defense already being solid, so we should take the best available offensive specialist. If someone like DeShaun Foster falls to this pick, the Texans go after him. However, I also see the Texans looking at the TE position and someone like Jeremy Stevens but could easily grab him with our 2nd rd. 2 pick. A stud wide reciever is where I would go. Josh Reed, Marquis Walker, and Andre Davis will likely fall to the 2nd round.

I think Casserly and Co. will pick the best players on the board after immediate needs are taken care of, no matter how stacked we are at the postion. Some players I want to see the Texans pick in accordance to our needs and other teams' needs (Taxans mock, if you will, in no exact order):

QB - Carr
RB - Foster
TE - Stevens
S - Michael Lewis (Colorado)
CB - Andre Lott (Tenn.)
WR - Kelly Campbell (georgia Tech)
C - Seth McKinney (TEXAS A&M U. WHOOP)
DE/ OLB - Alex Brown (Fla.) or Will Overstreet (Tenn.)

[Ric]

Originally posted by RNuss02
If someone like DeShaun Foster falls to this pick, the Texans go after him.
i doubt they will. he's a tremendous physical specimen, but he fumbles way too often and is hurt quite a bit. at #33, you want to grab a guy you thought for sure would be a first rounder -- invariably, every year, at least one of these slides. #33 should be no-doubt-about-it first round talent.

Originally posted by RNuss02
However, I also see the Texans looking at the TE position and someone like Jeremy Stevens but could easily grab him with our 2nd rd. 2 pick. A stud wide reciever is where I would go. Josh Reed, Marquis Walker, and Andre Davis will likely fall to the 2nd round.
no way on stevens -- off the field, he's had some issues. if he falls into the third, fourth round, he might be too good to pass up, but i'm sure mcnair will frown upon drafting kids with questionable backgrounds.

davis is a real possibility, great size and speed, but he's hurt a lot too. reed, i don't think, will fall out of the first round, and walker's likely a 3-4 pick. he's not really considered a stud.

[Hottoddie]

Originally posted by Ottomaton
Highest rated avalable player.

Casterly seems to be big on this concept. According to him, when the Texans ran a mock draft last year, they ended up with four running backs, and he said that he was fine with that.

Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding! Ottomaton wins the guessing game. It does appear that they are just going after the best player available at the time. Let's just hope that they don't draft 4 running backs. Here's the latest article on their draft strategy.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/sports/robertson/1368154

For first draft, team's strategy simple

By DALE ROBERTSON
Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle

As NFL drafts go, the 2002 edition figures to be on the puny side, which means the Texans got lucky. Their charmed existence continues. They picked the right year to commence picking.

Why? Because they can do no wrong Saturday and Sunday. Good crop or bad, it's the easiest draft Charley Casserly will ever oversee.

In their embryonic stage, the Texans are only hoping to satisfy a broad spectrum of wants, not fill myriad picayune needs. They have so many of the latter they can safely focus on the former. It would be silly for Charley's "War Room" crew to believe every hole can be plugged by the college boys over one little weekend. And to be sure, they don't.

So Casserly is free of the crushing burden of expectations, both his and, presumably, yours. He knows the Texans can't win now. You should, too, and judge his choices accordingly.

"If you're not going to make the playoffs," he said, "what difference does it make how many games you win? We'll be trying very hard to win, but that's not our No. 1 objective when it comes to making our draft decisions. The idea is to build a strong nucleus we can go forward with."

Casserly held an informal draft rap session Monday to give the Houston media an overview of his philosophy and to lay out his agenda. It was easily digested. The plan couldn't be more simple, in contrast to the drafts he'll be prepping for in three or four years. Then the team will be chasing a postseason berth -- and the fans' hot breath will be on the back of his neck, demanding same.

"We absolutely do not care where they play," the Texans' general manager said of the chaps he will choose with the first 13 choices in the franchise's history. "We're looking for the best players available."

And there happens to be a sufficient number of them to get flush-faced and giddy over when you aren't job-saving frantic to find, for example, a cornerstone inside linebacker. That apparently is the leanest spot in a lean year and a position at which the Texans happen to be woefully understaffed.

But forget Jeremiah Trotter, OK? At his asking price, Jeremiah will be a bullfrog before he will wear the Texans' bull on his helmet.

The very best player the Texans will take is, of course, David Carr, the strong-armed, good-looking, clean-living Fresno State quarterback who will be the No. 1 pick overall. The matter was closed two weeks ago when Casserly announced the organization favored Carr hands down over Joey Harrington. Contract talks began immediately, and the deal is expected to be finalized Wednesday.

Just for fun, the Texans should formally sign Carr under a goal post -- in the grand tradition of Billy Cannon, the Oilers' first glamour pick -- during Saturday's fan party in the Astrodome.

The QB debate surely will continue on jabber radio, but so be it. The Texans are way done weighing their options. Carr's the guy, whether he turns out to be a Toyota or a Lexus. In their collective view, he's a can't-miss winner, if not necessarily a guaranteed future Hall of Famer.

After David? No telling. But the odds, based on the quantity of quality at the respective positions, favor Houston's first selection in the second round being a wide receiver, a running back or a guard.

The Texans need all of those, in bulk. Repeat after me: The Texans need everything. Even the three positions at which they were able to lay a formidable foundation in the expansion draft -- offensive and defensive tackle and cornerback -- can each use more depth.

Since the expansion draft went as well as it did, Casserly insists the college draft becomes gravy, that the Texans could go compete today with the people already on the roster. In truth, they remain desperately short of what Charley called "playmakers," and all else being equal, that is the direction they will look as often as possible.

Their second pick (No. 33 overall) should be used on somebody who will catch Carr's passes and then do interesting things with the football afterward. Thanks to the many flypaper-fingered underclassmen who opted to swap their textbooks for the big bucks, it's a tasty crop. The Texans could even trade down and get a player they really like.

Would they consider it? Well, duh.

"We will be very flexible," Casserly insisted, "about moving up or down."

He would move sideways or in circles in exchange for extra picks, being of the opinion you can't have too many in the Texans' fledgling stage of evolution. While Casserly expects to wind up using his full complement of 13 picks, he will be disappointed if he hasn't, via trades, accumulated a couple of extras for next season in the process.

Charley intends to do more of the same a year from now because, in the Texans' third draft, they will revert to having only the standard single pick per round. Such also would be the case next spring were they to inadvertently wind up in the playoffs this fall.

That's right -- they must be careful. Winning straight from the chute would be a heady experience, but it wouldn't be worth losing all those extra choices. Casserly's methodical development plan doesn't offer instant gratification as an acceptable substitute for living happily ever after.

[Ric]

Originally posted by Hottoddie
After David? No telling. But the odds, based on the quantity of quality at the respective positions, favor Houston's first selection in the second round being a wide receiver, a running back or a guard.
does anyone know if the chronicle even bothers to employ editors anymore? guard? GUARD?!?

unless a certified-by-the-governing-board-of-some-institute stud falls into their laps, i will be extremely shocked and disappointed if the texans use a pick on an interior lineman, especially on saturday. as it stands right this very second, they're two deep at all three spots, and i mean deep with good, young talent.

is it asking too much for dale to ask someone who might actually know what the texans' priorities might be? i mean, it's not rocket science....

[Hottoddie]

Originally posted by Ric


is it asking too much for dale to ask someone who might actually know what the texans' priorities might be? i mean, it's not rocket science....

With all the secrecy that goes into picking prospects, do you really think they would tell him? The last reports I'd heard, the Texans wanted to upgrade the guard position. You're right, they could easily acquire a good offensive lineman on the second day. They need playmakers at WR, TE, FB, LB, DL, & Safety, before they add more depth to the OL. However, Casserly was quoted, that he would take the best available athlete, & if that just happens to be a guard, well, then it's a guard.

[Ric]

Originally posted by Hottoddie
With all the secrecy that goes into picking prospects, do you really think they would tell him?
all robertson had to do was glance at their roster -- they have 5 guys currently who can man the three interior spots on the line. it's the team's greatest strength right now.

Originally posted by Hottoddie
The last reports I'd heard, the Texans wanted to upgrade the guard position.
i thought they were being secretive? i have no idea where you read this, but i'd be shocked if the texans had any interest in an interior lineman, aside from ones that fit the best available criteria.

[Hottoddie]

Originally posted by Ric

i thought they were being secretive? i have no idea where you read this, but i'd be shocked if the texans had any interest in an interior lineman, aside from ones that fit the best available criteria.

I read this in the Chronicle over a month ago. It was just a 2 line blurb, but it was there. I believe that the blurb was directed at upgrading through free agency, so I just assumed that the same thought would apply to their draft picks. I'd provide a link to the story, but it's no longer available & would require a fee to access the archives.

[Possum]

Originally posted by Ric

does anyone know if the chronicle even bothers to employ editors anymore? guard? GUARD?!?

unless a certified-by-the-governing-board-of-some-institute stud falls into their laps, i will be extremely shocked and disappointed if the texans use a pick on an interior lineman, especially on saturday. as it stands right this very second, they're two deep at all three spots, and i mean deep with good, young talent.

is it asking too much for dale to ask someone who might actually know what the texans' priorities might be? i mean, it's not rocket science....

Two names: Toniu Fonoti Andre Gurode could turn our line into one of, if not the best in the NFL.

[Ottomaton]

Agreed. IMO, both of those are 'first round talent' type guys. I wouldn't be unhappy with either. Also, IMO our 'good young talent' at the guards (assuming Steve McKenny plays center?) consists of an undrafted guy whom the Brown wern't unhappy to loose, in J. McKenny, a marginal starter on the worst O. line in the league, in DeMingo Graham, an older overachiever in Matt Campbell, and a very good backup type guy in Ryan Schau.

Our tackles are great. Our center position is set. By league standards, we don't even have one quality starting guard.

[Milos]

I saw a mock on TSN website which had William Green falling completely out of the first round. I am not sure if I believe it, but if it happened, I could not even dream of a better scenario. Imagine getting a franchise QB and RB with our first two draft picks EVER!
But it probably is just that...a pipe dream.
Has anyone else seen or heard about where Green's plummeting will level off? If Cleveland goes with Duckett, who else would have interest in Green?

[Possum]

Originally posted by Milos
I saw a mock on TSN website which had William Green falling completely out of the first round. I am not sure if I believe it, but if it happened, I could not even dream of a better scenario. Imagine getting a franchise QB and RB with our first two draft picks EVER!
But it probably is just that...a pipe dream.
Has anyone else seen or heard about where Green's plummeting will level off? If Cleveland goes with Duckett, who else would have interest in Green?

From what i have read even if he does slide that he will not get past the Eagles who would like him to backup Duece and eventually replace him. It would be great if he did slide to us in the 2nd round.

[VesceySux]

Originally posted by Milos
I saw a mock on TSN website which had William Green falling completely out of the first round. I am not sure if I believe it, but if it happened, I could not even dream of a better scenario. Imagine getting a franchise QB and RB with our first two draft picks EVER!
But it probably is just that...a pipe dream.
Has anyone else seen or heard about where Green's plummeting will level off? If Cleveland goes with Duckett, who else would have interest in Green?

On that token, Sports Illustrated has Josh Reed slipping to the 2nd round. I'd love to add him to the fold. He's a big-time talent.

[Possum]

Originally posted by VesceySux


On that token, Sports Illustrated has Josh Reed slipping to the 2nd round. I'd love to add him to the fold. He's a big-time talent.

I agree, this guy would be a steal in the second round. Reminds me of J Rice coming out of college. Not big or fast enough for NFL WR. We'll see.. I would rather have an avg speed excellent rout runner than a super fast avg rout runner.

[Ottomaton]

Originally posted by Ric

does anyone know if the chronicle even bothers to employ editors anymore? guard? GUARD?!?

unless a certified-by-the-governing-board-of-some-institute stud falls into their laps, i will be extremely shocked and disappointed if the texans use a pick on an interior lineman, especially on saturday. as it stands right this very second, they're two deep at all three spots, and i mean deep with good, young talent.

is it asking too much for dale to ask someone who might actually know what the texans' priorities might be? i mean, it's not rocket science....

Well, now that we've spent picks#3 & #4 on Guards (Chester Pitts #50 and Fred Weary #66), don't you think you should apologise to those poor Chronicle editors whom you've so maliciously slandered? :D

[Prempeh]

I guess that really proves that Casserly could care less about need--it's all about the best available for this draft, and to a lesser extent, next year's as well.

[Hottoddie]

Originally posted by Ric

does anyone know if the chronicle even bothers to employ editors anymore? guard? GUARD?!?

unless a certified-by-the-governing-board-of-some-institute stud falls into their laps, i will be extremely shocked and disappointed if the texans use a pick on an interior lineman, especially on saturday. as it stands right this very second, they're two deep at all three spots, and i mean deep with good, young talent.

is it asking too much for dale to ask someone who might actually know what the texans' priorities might be? i mean, it's not rocket science....

Well, I hope you snap out of your state of shock soon. Look at it this way, the offensive line is definitely set now.