Perhaps the most important issue with the Texans not talked about: Can't draft after Round 1

Agree. Missing on picks in rounds 2-5.

2011
Brandon Harris
Roc Carmichael
Shiloh Keo

I don't think there was a single starter from the entire 2012 draft outside of Ben Jones. Keshawn Martin led the NFL in drops if I recall. Mercilus played sparingly.

2013

Brennan Williams
Sam Montgomery
Trevardo Williams

 

I've thought the same thing when looking at other teams finding WR talents in the mid rounds. But it probably applies to plenty of positions too. Lord knows there's been excitement about every DB we drafted (from Nolan's ballhawking to Keo's cone drill times) but things only turned around after the Joseph/Manning pickup. And one of the few defensive drafting strengths we've had, linebacker, is now addressed by reshuffling from different positions.

 

Mericlus has started this season, and done fairly well, especially considering he was only a situational pass rusher last year.

Keo has been okay, considering he's a special teams captain (as much as I don't like the guy). He was drafted in the fifth round, and hasn't been bad value for it.

I still haven't given up on Brandon Harris. His coverage is usually okay, he just gets flagged too much.

As far as listing the rookies from this year, I hope you're joking...

 

The problem isn't drafting them...the problem is keeping them...

The players we picked beyond round 1 that no longer play for us...
Demeco Ryans
Eric Winston
Jacoby Jones (had his problems, still a great returner)
Connor Barwin
Glover Quinn
James Casey
Trindon Holiday (Thanks Joe)

The players we still have that are solid or good players.
Owen Daniels (obviously a big part of this team)
Ben Tate (likely won't be here past this year though)
Earl Mitchell (seems like a starting player at most)
Darryl Sharpton (Solid player, can't stay healthy...)
Garrett Graham
Brooks Reed

The rest of the guys we have to wait for. I don't think they have done that bad with it though.

 

Also a problem that good teams are going to have. As you load your roster with talent, you're going to have to pick and choose who you let move on, due to the salary cap. So far, I think we've done an excellent job in that aspect, too.

 

Worst special teams group in the league. Who cares who the captain is.

 

Close the thread.

 

The only significant thing Merciles has done is get fined for hitting Flacco. He's getting more penalties than he is sacks or hurries. He's been a big disappointment... even bigger considering he was a FIRST round pick. Frankly, his name is better than his football skills.

Keo has been serviceable, but still unlikely to crack a starting lineup on any other playoff quality defense.

Harris has been AWFUL. Has been an absolute zero. Only reason why the team hasn't given up on him is because he was a 2nd round pick, and his salary doesn't prohibit it... might as well keep him around for depth or ST, but secretly they never want him to see the field.

As far as listing the rookies this year??? Yes, I think its important. Rookies DO play in the NFL. This isn't baseball or basketball where you keep them on the bench for all or most of the season and ease them in... especially since we drafted them in positions of need.

All our current high to mid first round picks that stuck (Brown, OD, Cushing, Reed, Jackson,... and all the other ones that recently left) played as rookies.

 

You don't draft pro bowlers left and right.

2nd Rd Picks
Ben Tate
DeMeco Ryans
Connor Barwin
Brooks Reed

3rd Rd Picks
Steve Slaton
Eric Winston
Jacoby Jones
Earl Mitchell

Other Picks
Owen Daniels
David Anderson
T.J. Yates
James Casey
Garrett Graham
Kasey Studdard
Derek Newton

That is a very good success rate, so no drafting hasn't been a problem.

The problem was that we wasted 4 years with quality players, floating around .500. Good players get paid even if the team goes 8-8.

 

Seattle might have had one of the top 75 drafts of all time last year. Texans are about on par with the majority of NFL teams when it comes to hitting/missing on the late round guys.

 

we have the talent, the problem is shoddy coaching and a weakness at our most important position (QB)

 

Case Keenum deserves $15-$20 MILLION Per year. He is the best QB in the NFL.

We have him at the best BARGAIN EVER!

You dont know what you are talking about.

 

Top 75? Has there even been 75 drafts?

 

I had high hopes for Trevardo Williams as a pure pass rusher but even in preseason he was largely a no show. Had a pretty good game against Bridgewater, everybody's #1 this year. Speaking of that, Bridgewater will probably be a Jag and be in our division.

 

He means a teams individual draft class. When people refer to the Texans 2013 "draft", they mean the players that they drafted that year.

In that sense, there are 32 "drafts" every year.

 

Ah. I was presuming he was ranking them as having the best draft last year, and it being one of the best 75 drafts ever.

Even still... hard to say who has a great draft or not after just one season.

 

I'm high on Griffin. He looked great in preason and you'll see that he can play once OD is cut after this year.

 

I agree, not real impressed after round one.

Rick Smith is terribly overrated (and can go with those other two).

Spoiler

2007
1 10 Amobi Okoye(out of the league)
3 73 Jacoby Jones(Ravens)
4 123 Fred Bennett(out of the league)
5 144 Brandon Harrison(out of the league)
5 163 Brandon Frye(out of the league)
6 183 Kasey Studdard(out of the league)
7 218 Zach Diles(out of the league)

2008
1 26 Duane Brown(Starting LT)
3 79 Antwaun Molden(out of the league)
3 89 Steve Slaton(out of the league)
4 118 Xavier Adibi(out of the league)
5 151 Frank Okam(out of the league)
6 173 Dominique Barber(out of the league)
7 223 Alex Brink(out of the league)

2009
1 15 Brian Cushing(Starting LB)
2 46 Connor Barwin(Eagles)
3 77 Antoine Caldwell(out of the league)
4 112 Glover Quin(Lions)
4 122 Anthony Hill(out of the league)
5 152 James Casey(Eagles)
6 188 Brice McCain(Part-time CB)
7 223 Troy Nolan(out of the league)

2010
1 20 Kareem Jackson(Starting CB)
2 58 Ben Tate(Backup RB)
3 81 Earl Mitchell(Starting NT)
4 102 Darryl Sharpton(Backup LB)
4 118 Garrett Graham(Part-time TE)
5 144 Sherrick McManis(Bears)
6 187 Shelley Smith(out of the league)
6 197 Trindon Holliday(Broncos)
7 227 Dorin Dickerson(out of the league)

2011
1 11 J.J. Watt(Starting DE)
2 42 Brooks Reed(Starting LB)
2 60 Brandon Harris(Backup CB/STer)
4 127 Rashad Carmichael(Eagles)
5 144 Shiloh Keo(Backup Safety/STer)
5 152 T.J Yates(Backup QB)
7 214 Derek Newton(Starting RT)
7 254 Cheta Ozougwu(Bears)

2012
1 26 Whitney Mercilus(Starting LB)
3 68 DeVier Posey(Backup WR)
3 76 Brandon Brooks(Starting RG)
4 99 Ben Jones(Backup G/C)
4 121 Keshawn Martin(Backup WR)
4 126 Jared Crick(Backup DE)
5 161 Randy Bullock(Starting K)
6 195 Nick Mondek(out of the league)

2013
1 27 DeAndre Hopkins(Starting WR)
2 57 D.J. Swearinger(Backup S)
3 89 Brennan Williams(IR)
3 95 Sam Montgomery(Backup DE)
4 124 Trevardo Williams(IR)
6 176 David Quessenberry(IR)
6 195 Alan Bonner(IR)
6 198 Chris Jones(Patriots)
6 201 Ryan Griffin(Backup TE)