That's the thing. I don't think he'll ever see these mistakes as being Rick Smith's fault. And I don't think he sees giving Rick Smith a contract extension as a bad move. Even after the Brock fiasco. IMO, McNair is the biggest supporter of Rick Smith and it will take something just short of a miracle to convince him that Smith needs to go.
Rick cannot be graded. We don't know what he does! JJ Watt as a Rick Smith hit? By most/all accounts, that was Wade Phillips! Do we know who Rick picked or lobbied for in these drafts? Jaelen Strong a hit? Hit the bong? Yeah, probably. Hit as a NFL draft pick? No, not yet anyways. Sherrick McManis? You traded him for a FB. Chicago developed him [into a decent ST player].
He signed a QB to one of the worst contracts in NFL history while passing up multiple successful QBs in the draft.
So basically what the Texans need to do in the draft this year is trade picks 2-7 for additional 1st round picks. Trade 2017 2-3 to get another 1st rounder - Cleveland has (2) 1st round picks - aim for the 1st, settle for the 12th pick. Trade 2017 4-7, and if needed, sweeten the pot with Brock for another 1st. 2017 Draft Results: (3) first round draft picks - all studs. Dont care for the other potential 4 picks cuz history shows that they're likely to be busts anyways. I know this makes no sense and would never happen, but it's funny to think about (in my head at least lol)
To add to your point, they also misjudged getting Jimmy G instead of Filo(thought they could get him later) and thought Carr was a backup/undraftable.
A former Texans VP (I think he was a VP) was quoted as saying Rick Smith wanted Watt (after Patrick Peterson) and actually predicted that we would actually get JJ. Plus he is the manager of that process, even if he listens to his scouts or the coaches, he still makes the call. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to know who to listen to and trust. He should get credit, maybe not all, for all the decisions - good AND bad. That's how you grade him. Grade him on JJ and Sam Montgomery. Grade him on Arian and Louis Nix III. Grade him on Ed Reed and Jonathan Joseph. Hopkins and Jacoby. You get the point. If it happened under his administration, he had to sign off on it.
Worst contract, as far as money is concerned. Awesome contract as far as number of years. They are only stuck with him for two years.
Rick wanted to trade up for Patrick Peterson and almost had a deal in place. Watt and Aldon Smith were the backups. They traded up for Tyler Lockett but the Seahawks got in one pick ahead and got him. So they were left with Strong. Sherrick McManis = Tyler Clutts
Matt Mosley of the DMN has NO idea how far up McNair's @SS Rick Smith is. McNair just went on and on at the recent owners meeting about how unbelievable it was that Rick was able to "think outside of the box" to trade Brock to Cleveland and get his salary off the books.
Rick Smith‘s tenure as Texans GM could end due to his inability to find a starting quarterback, Matt Mosley of the Dallas Morning News writes. Matt Mosley could not be more wrong. Stick to covering DFW sports.
Ricky named a top 9 GM. 1. Bill Belichick, Patriots 2. John Elway, Broncos 3. John Schneider, Seahawks 4. Ted Thompson, Packers 5. Ozzie Newsome, Ravens 6. Steve Keim, Cardinals 7. Dave Gettleman, Panthers 8. John Dorsey, Chiefs 9. Rick Smith, Texans You are correct. Rick Smith not only signed Brock Osweiler, he then gave up on him after one season, paying the Browns a second-round pick to take him off the Texans’ hands. That was a screw up. But Smith isn’t defined by one move any more than anyone else on this list. The single most important decision a general manager makes every year is his team’s first-rounder. Smith has a track record few can match. Since 2006, here are Smith’s Day 1 selections: Mario Williams, Amobi Okoye, Duane Brown, Brian Cushing, Kareem Jackson, J.J. Watt, Whitney Mercilus, DeAndre Hopkins, Jadeveon Clowney, Kevin Johnson and Will Fuller. Okoye flopped and the jury is still out on Clowney and Fuller, but that is a ridiculous group. Thanks in large part to Smith hiring one of the game’s best coaches in Bill O'Brien, the Texans have made the playoffs four of the past six seasons. Smith’s team is a quarterback away from true greatness. He may never find it. That doesn’t diminish what he’s already accomplished. 10. Jerry/Stephen Jones, Cowboys 11. Marvin Lewis/Mike Brown, Bengals 12. Reggie McKenzie, Raiders 13. Kevin Colbert, Steelers 14. Jerry Reese, Giants 15. Thomas Dimitroff, Falcons 16. Rick Spielman, Vikings 17. Jason Licht, Bucs 18. Mickey Loomis, Saints 19. Sashi Brown, Browns 20. Jon Robinson, Titans 21. Howie Roseman, Eagles 22. Bob Quinn, Lions 23. Tom Telesco, Chargers 24. Dave Caldwell, Jaguars 25. Ryan Pace, Bears 26. Mike Tannenbaum, Dolphins 27. Mike Maccagnan, Jets 28. Les Snead, Rams 29. Doug Whaley, Bills New hires Chris Ballard, Colts John Lynch, 49ers 32. Bruce Allen, Redskins
This is proof Rick Smith is doing his job and I still say, the Head Coach chooses his quarterback. In this case, O'BRIEN chose Fitz, Hoyer, Mallett and yes, Osweiler. The reason why I say he chose Osweiler, is the Texans had two pre-season scrimmages and two preseason games against the Broncos, O'BRIEN got to see Brock firsthand. He saw the way he dealt with his teammates, he throws, everything about him, so when he became available he AND Rick Smith jumped at the chance to sign him. So, both are at fault! But overall RS is a good GM..... O'B, the Quarterback Whisper, needs to develop a Quarterback
I personally won't put him top 10 but top 15. Rick has the anti-Morey. If the Texans make a good move, fans want to credit someone else. If they make a bad move, they put it all on Smith. He is an above average GM that has put together an above average team (mostly on defense). Understandably, we the fans want more than above average.
