Well the hope before free agency was, "is that highly invested offensive line salary-wise and early round drafted players, finally going to stay healthy and produce?" So that's the million dollar question? High priced free agent doesn't prove to solve the problem. We can look at Shaq Mason who was rated as the 9th best guard in the NFL by ProFootballFocus prior to us signing him. It's a roll of the dice , I had us drafting a offensive tackle in the first 4 rounds as a swing tackle that could cover both guard or tackle in a pinch in case Tytus or Kenyon Green go out with injury. Kinda an insurance policy as we signed Sharpe. I no longer have us drafting or signing a higher priced O-line man. We go to battle with what we got......sign a guy on the fly if injuries mount during the season. I come from an era where we had two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster. QB gets signed after an injury happens. If both QB's got hurt in the same game, well then the punter or RB takes over at QB. Shultz is terrible at Chip Blocking and helping out our RT. That's why I wanted Noah Fant at TE, but we roll the dice on that as well. ____________ Basically I feel CJ Stroud had no offensive line healthy all season, receivers hurt all year, Robert Woods got no separation, Tank missed half a season, Singletary was back seat to Pierce before taking over after about 7 games and yet Stroud led us to the second round in last year's playoffs. Smoke and mirrors and amazed we got so far. Now, we have upgraded Singletary for Mixon, I expect Dameon Pierce to play like he did his rookie season, the offensive line looks good on paper (until injuries happen), I expect Robert Woods replacement by a rookie** (either McConkey or Roman Wilson or Ricky Pearsall ) , Brevin Jordan plays better in his 2nd season in the system. ** Nico and Tank will be WR1 and WR2. Noah Brown is one back up and the rookie drafted will be the other main receivers used. McConkey ran a 4.39 and is often compared to a slightly bigger Tank Dell who can run slot or outside receiver. He can run the entire route tree. Gets separation: which is what DeMeco said he wanted from his receivers. Stroud would have a field day having McConkey as a safety valve. NFL Film maker and expert Cosell gave McConkey high marks on strengths and listed NONE under the category of weaknesses. Roman Wilson ran a 4.39 and much like McConkey is similar. They get separation, can play slot or take the top off the defense by just running Go-routes or skinny posts. Again, impossible to cover with one defender in the first 10 yards and underneath. Stroud would have that 5 yard safety valve that keeps the chains moving 5 yards at a time nickle and diming up the field just like Tom Brady would do as a Patriot. Ricky Pearsall the same as above with McConkey and Roman. A reliable passing attack can help our running game......just like a reliable running game can open up the passing game.
The draft thread is starting to look like a simulator thread, so I'm bringing this back up to the top. Trade - Texans 42 and 247 for Titans 106, 146 and 2025 picks 1,2 and 3. 59.- Ja'Lynn Polk WR Washington 86.- Braden Fiske DT Florida State 106. Theo Johnson TE Penn State 123.- Tanor Bortolini OC Wisconsin 127.- Brandon Coleman OG TCU 2025 TEN 1st 2025 TEN 2nd 2025 TEN 3rd
Just ran a few different ones with players I'd like. And I think could be possible. Some sites have some players going lower than I think they'll actually go. As you can probably see, I like any of the DT/WR/S/CB/LB/RB positions for the top 3 picks.
The variety of choices falling with each run of the simulations makes it a bit more interesting. A player who is not there at 42 in one run may fall to 86 in the next. This is one which will not happen in reality, but was fun: Trade 42 to CIN for 49 and 115. 49. Darius Robinson EDGE Missouri 59. Edgerrin Cooper LB Texas A&M 86. Johnny Wilson WR Florida State 6'6" 115. McKinnley Jackson DT Texas A&M (big body with 0 tech experience like Sweat) Injury kept him lower in the draft. 123. Theo Johnson TE Penn State 6'6" 127. Tanor Bortolini OC Wisconsin Add another Hybrid DE/DT with EDGE experience AND the primo LB instead of having to choose, Tall weapons at the top of the Athleticism chart in Wilson and Johnson and a top RAS IOL man prospect for depth from a school known for producing NFL Linemen. Converting the bend, but don't break into Don't bend or break by inserting Sweat/Jackson. Anderson - Autry - Jackson/Sweat - Davis/Settle - Hunter
Xavien Howard - in at corner (sign pending physical) --------------------- Draft Simulator #42- Roman Wilson (WR) Michigan : grade: A #59- Junior Colson ( LB) Michigan : grade: A #86- Maason Smith (DT) LSU : grade: A+ #123- Bucky Irving (RB) Oregon : A #127- Theo Johnson (TE) : Penn State : A #188- Marist Liufau (LB) : Notre Dame : B+ #238- Josh Proctor (S) : Ohio State : A+ #247- Jontrey Hunter (LB) : Georgia State : B+ ----------- #86 Maason Smith (315 lbs) #123 Bucky Irving #188 Marist Liufau
Trade 1 - 42 and 127 for 47 and NYG 25 Second Trade 2 - 47 for 48, 116 and Jax 25 Seventh 48. T'Vondre Sweat DT Texas - Short yardage specialist. Experimental possibilities. 59. Kamren Kinchens S Miami (FL) - Shore up S is floor. See what we get. 86. Johnny Wilson WR Florida State - Unique possibilities for a unique WR. 6'6" + Likely a limited role. Not slow. 116. Calen Bullock S USC - Shore up S is floor. See what we get. 123. Theo Johnson TE Penn State - Unique possibilities for a unique TE. 6'6" + Likely a High Point short yardage specialist. Better hands than Wilson. 2025 NYG 2nd - should be high 30s or low 40s pick. 2025 JAX 7th - Any pick from a Div Rival. I'm intrigued by what a defense would do to match-up with Two 6'6" + High point guys on the field. Neither are slow, so could make a cut or two for positioning.
I'm intrigued about his potential as a red zone specialist. CJ puts the ball up high and Johnny goes up and gets it. Sounds good in theory.
On PFF: 2a: Tyler Nubian - S 2b: Kris Jenkins - DT 3: Blake Fisher - OT 4a: Elijah Jones - CB 4b: Malik Washington - WR 6: Tanor Bortolini - IOL 7: Nathaniel Watson - LB On PFN 2a: Ladd McConkey - WR 2b: Kris Jenkins - DT 3: Kiran Amegadjie - OT 4a: Dardrion Taylor-Demerson - S 4b: Khyree Jackson - CB 6: Isaac Guerendo - RB 7a: AJ Barner - TE 7b: Jordan Magee - L On NFL Mock Draft Database 2a: AD Mitchell - WR 2b: Kris Jenkins - DT 3: Kiran Amegadjie - OT 4a: Khyree Jackson - CB 4b: Cedric Gray - LB 6: Nelson Ceasar - EDGE 7a: Cody Schrader - RB 7b: Dylan McMahon - IOL
These are fun. I mostly use the PFF app and you can get some ridiculous drafts depending upon the parameters.
Trade with KC 86 for 95 & 131 42.Byron Murphy II DT Iowa 59.Braden Fiske DT Florida State 95.Johnny Wilson WR Florida State 123.Dylan Laube RB New Hampshire 127.Tanor Bortolini OC Wisconsin 131.Theo Johnson TE Penn State
04/03/24 post Stefon Diggs trade Draft Simulator..................site grade #42 Ladd McConkey (WR)......A+ #59 Braden Fiske (DT)............A+ #86 Jeremiah Trotter (LB)........A+ #123 Theo Johnson (TE)........A #127 Caelen Carson (CB).......A+ #188 Walter Rouse (OT)..........A #238 Dominique Hampton (S)....A+ #247 Dylan Laube (RB).............A+ #127 Caelen Carson #188 Walter Rouse #238 Dominique Hampton #247 Dylan Laube
I would say, no. Often teams throw some crumbs to both the the offensive and defensive coordinators. Since I only devote 3 picks for offense.....I give the offense an early quick one. Offense Wide Receivers: Diggs is possibly a one year rental. 50% chance Diggs plays hard and acts right, 50% chance Diggs returns to the huddle saying, "I was open throw me the ball," [ I need to pad my stats for free agency ]. Texans have their: 1a and 1b in Nico & Diggs. combo slot/wide out in Tank Dell. Noah Brown So rookie wide receiver gets trained up if Diggs is a rental, chance a 1st round thru 2nd rounder could shine over Noah Brown. Participate in 4 receiver sets Perfect fits: (DeMeco says he wants receivers that separate) Ladd McConkey: gives the Texans another combo slot/ wide out. Gets separation Roman Wilson: gives the Texans another combo slot/ wide out. Gets separation Ricky Pearsall: slot receiver --------------- Running Back: I'm looking for a quick shifty back. Mixon: can dance along the line of scrimmage and find a hole to cut thru. Dameon Pierce: rookie season played well possibly because of different system possibly because of O-line men blocking. I expect bounce back with healthier line. So I can find a shifty RB around round 4 or 5.....shifty, because line might be like last season Good Fit: Bucky Irving, Corum, others. -------- Tight End: we have Dalton Shultz, Brevin Jordan.....one more in training helps if Brevin doesn't step up. TE around 4th or 5th round brings competition to position. Shultz is not much on blocking. Good Fit: Theo Johnson (as 2nd or 3rd stringer) --------------- Defense Not much chance any supplant a starter except at outside linebacker where To'oTo'o is penciled in at; but a linebacker in 3rd round can fill that role possibly. So I'm going with best DT with one of top two picks. Not expecting to start.....but shore it up. Good Fits: Braden Fiske, Kris Jenkins, others Texans have money for Safety or another Cornerback. So drafted picks in later rounds. Special teams or future contributors
#42 Ladd McConkey (WR) #59 Leonard Taylor III (DT) #86 Trevin Wallace (LB) #123 Bucky Irving (RB) #127 Theo Johnson (TE) #188 Trey Taylor (S) #189 Jarius Taylor (CB) #238 Jason Bean (QB) #247 Amin Dankwah (OT) So I gave in a brought a couple of offensive players at end of draft. #59 Leonard Taylor III #123 Bucky Irving #188 Trey Taylor (S) #189 Jarius Monroe (CB) #238 Jason Bean (QB)
@K9Texan Your draft (above) : #42 Tyler Nubin (I like).............(rather have Simmons free agent after draft) #59 Ruke Orhorhoron (I like) #86 Malachi Corley (I like).....comp of Deebo Samuels. Built like a RB #123 Cam Hart (I like) #127 Braelon Allen (not a fan of)......more of a run over defenders RB. Pierce is ok for that. #188 Jalen Green ( not familiar with) #189 Clark (not familiar with) #247 Carter Bradley (looks decent)
