i'm hearing all the top tier T prospects will be gone by the time we draft so FA might be the best route.
If you mean Warren Moon... he was signed in 1984; Munchak was drafted in '82; Matthews '83. Steinkuler was drafted after they signed Moon in '84. (They passed on Jim Kelly and Dan Marino - also Tony Eason and Ken O'Brien - in '83. No regrets but, FYI...)
Nope, but they've gone your route by picking first round QB's though. In fact, they've picked Johnny Manziel, Brandon Weeden, and Brady Quinn all in the first round since they drafted Thomas.....what people don't seem to understand is that drafting a QB in the first round just to draft a QB in the first round is a foolish plan. In this year's draft, I'd be willing to bet that there's more Weeden and Quinn type QB's than anything that would truly help the team and drafting one of them, just to say that you drafted a QB in the first round, isn't going to help the team.
Spoiler: John McClain (Bouye) Doing everything they can but they have a budget. Texans will offer him almost $13M a year. Other teams that can afford more will make him the highest paid corner not named Josh Norman. Mike Mayock said it's the deepest draft for DBs he's seen in 10 years. One coach told him they'll get guys in the 5th who should go in the 2nd. OL in FA? Depends on how much money they've got. They thought they did last year. Jeff Allen did not play well at all. I'd love to see them get Rick Wagner but he'll get so much money. Draft, never seen a worst draft for OTs. It's better for interior OL. Favorite for Tony Romo? Everyone is saying Denver. Bouye & Demps? Is it either or? (Demps) He'll be 32. Not a market for 32-year old safeties. If Smith gives him another million, he'll be back. If he can get more, go for it. He's done well in the system by Romeo Crennel. They have other safeties & also deep draft for safeties. Trade up for a QB? Rick Smith has never traded up. But because they have a desperate need, if they had a QB in mind, Mahomes from Tech, they shouldn't need to trade up. You won't go in the top 5 from 25. If it's 10-15, you'll have to give up two firsts, two seconds. Smith wouldn't want to do that but if it's a QB they all believe fits the system & can handle their coaching, yes, they'd trade up for the first time. What did you see from the QBs at the combine? Watson was most impressive. What impressed everyone was in the meetings. Mahomes impressed, Kaaya from Miami & Davis Webb from Cal. The one people are down on is Kizer. He has the best size & best overall package but did not play well in the big games. If Kizer came out after 2015, he'd be a high pick. Someone will take him in the first but he'll need time. Derek Newton back to full strength? They need a RT. If/When he comes back, he should move inside to guard. Ideally, the RT they draft can move to the left side in a few years when Brown is done. If you sign Rick Wagner in FA, he's not a LT. Texans are always trying to look down the road. They should be looking towards this year & next year, doing everything they can to win. Then if they gotta be bad & get high draft picks, so be it. This is their window. It's open. We all believe, even though they have problems on the OL, it's that one position they're missing. Unfortunately it's QB. D.J. Fluker? I have not heard his named mentioned but doesn't mean they're not. Anyone available at a need position like QB or RT, they'll check it out. Fluker can play OT or guard. No idea if he's on the radar. David Quessenberry? He always has a great attitude. I'm not gonna say he's never gonna play. It's gonna be hard after missing so much time to play in the NFL. Texans concerned Bouye is a one-year wonder? They'll offer him over $12M a year. They're not gonna spend a lot on a QB. They did that last year. If they were to get Romo, who's had 3 clavicles & 3 back injuries, at 37, you don't get healthier. Everyone I talk to thinks Romo will continue to get hurt. Manning's contract with Denver, after the first year, had to pass a physical & same after the third year. It was a series of one year contracts. Romo will have to give some relief like that to anyone that signs him. Texans are doing everything they can to sign Bouye but they have a budget. Nick Martin moved to RG? They said no. He's a center. They think he can be a dominant center. Greg Mancz was really good. To me, you try Martin at guard. Because he's coming off ankle surgery, he'll be focused on center. If he wasn't as good as Mancz or started slow, maybe eventually but not now. John Simon? Doing everything they can to re-sign him. He's a good strong OLB. He sets the edge, plays the run well, has some pass rush skills & they want him back. If he leaves, they have to come up with someone else. Bringing back Simon is important. Everything has been quiet. Drafting TJ Watt? Wouldn't it be interesting? He's a weak side pass rusher. He's 245, classic weak side rusher in a 3-4. Because he's not a strong side guy who sets the edge, I'd say no. He's working his way into the first and looks like an ideal fit with Green Bay. Osweiler, Savage or Romo? If I could get Romo for a contract that was good for the Texans & he made money based on games play, bonuses for getting to the playoffs, getting beyond the WC round & divisional round, I'd give him more. Super Bowl, more. Win the super bowl, more. He has to play. I'd never give him a big base or signing bonus. When you're that age & beat up, you're not gonna be superman & stay healthy. Contract has to be structured that way. Long term, I'd draft a QB, start Savage & Osweiler backup if I don't cut him. WR group this year & any chance Strong is traded? If you were a team, would you trade for Strong? There might be one team - Indianapolis - because he's played well against them but they're loaded with WR. He's not stepped up like he should have. There are 4 WRs ahead of him. If he doesn't do it in the 3rd year, you're not gonna do it. He's flashed & that's why it's frustrating. Their top 3 WRs will be the same as last year - Hopkins, Fuller & Miller. If they don't move up for a QB & don't sign a QB & lose early again, will that put heat on Rick Smith? You fire a GM for winning a division 3 years in a row? I don't think so. He has 3 years left on his contract. No way Bob McNair does that. Who did the Texans interview at the draft? What positions were they most interested in? The ones you think. Texans will bring in players they didn't talk to at the combine & anyone they had any medical questions on. They're talking to players of every position but mainly QB, CB, OL, RT, TE, RG - just about every position. Thoughts on barring guys from the combine who had convictions for domestic violence? Who gives a rat's you know what about guys that do that. It's not fair to the NFL. They're trying to find out about these players. They should have been there because it's part of the evaluation process. Any way Greg Mancz gets traded? No. Martin got hurt & Mancz stepped up. Everyone is always blasting Rick Smith & wanting him fired. Mancz, Foster, Bouye, Heath - they've had a lot of success with UDFA's that Smith & his staff uncovered. You gotta think there will be a player or two not drafted who will make this roster. Texans regular season game in London? Bob McNair will not give up a home game. I wish they would. Right now, nothing scheduled. New starting QB? I believe when the season opens Savage will be the QB. Everyone would like to see Savage stay healthy & see what he can do over a consistent period of time. But he's been hurt every year. He has a great arm, smart, good attitude, knows the system inside & out, can handle O'Brien's tough love coaching. He's working out like crazy right now. He knows he has a good chance to be a starter & also knows he's in the last year of his contract. Next steps to improve NRG & what is keeping the roof closed? If there is rain within 1000 miles, it stays closed. Truth is, it's louder when it's closed. In all seriousness, there is a section of fans of like 10K people that the sun stays on. It's easier to just close it. If the wind is over 2MPH, they need to close it. So 1000 miles rain & 2MPH wind, that sucker is closed. They don't need to anything now. Within 4-5 years, they'll need to do a face lift. Texans goal for new season? Every year it's to win a super bowl. To win a super bowl, they need to get in the playoffs. They need HFA. They had it for awhile in 2012 & blew it down the stretch & had to go to New England where playoff teams die. New England will keep getting HFA. Texans aren't going to the Super Bowl when it has to go through Gillette Stadium. What other names linked to the Texans in FA? They're being hush-hush. Every QB available they'll check out. Doesn't mean they want them but they'll check it out. That includes Jay Cutler. I don't see him on this team. His attitude doesn't jive with what O'Brien wants. He wants a leader. That's not Jay Cutler. I don't think he'll be here. It'll be Romo or bust for veterans & draft a QB in the 1st or 2nd round. Will Antonio Smith be back? I don't think so. Mike Glennon better than Osweiler? Not based on what we saw. Osweiler was 5-2 as a starter & beat New England. Owen Daniels said we don't win the SB if not for Brock. OD then said the QB he saw this past season was not the QB he played with. If Glennon was good or had a chance to be good, why did they draft Winston? If he goes to Chicago for $15M a year, it's a lot of money but if you got money, why not blow it? Why not take a chance on Glennon if you think there's a sliver of hope?
Huh? Smith has traded up in the draft plenty (Nix, Strong). And it never works out. Because generally it is dumb to trade up, esp outside of the first round.
Sure, with predictions or talent observations but this feels a worse because it is so obvious when Smith has traded up something like 2 out of the last 3 drafts. I don't expect quality but or actual insight but to not even remember what they did 2 years ago is funny.
I don't buy that. He is saying Smith doesn't trade up for the most important position even though he has wasted picks moving up for less important positions? No, I think he is just being dumb.
I understand about picking a QB in the 1st rd just to pick a QB. I We are in agreement. I don't believe in that either. I do believe Mahomes has the ability and mindset to be a top QB in the NFL someday. You must not think that way about him, otherwise I think you would pick him over an OT.
I wouldn't say it's never worked out. He moved up for McKinney who has developed into a good player. And he also moved up for Fuller and Martin. Those are still TBD.
They gave up two picks to move one spot for Fuller. Same to move up two spots for Martin. 3 legit picks to move up for McKinney (plus a useless 7th rounder). Those guys might all turn out to be decent (so far only McKinney is) but that batting average is still overall poor, especially considering the draft capital given up and the almost random outcome of the NFL draft in all rounds but especially later ones.
There's always going to be a guy hyped up in the first round, no matter how bad the QB class is. Honestly, if my homie is that good, he'll be snatched up WAY before the Texans have the chance but even if he's not, you would still be picking a guy for a few years from now while ignoring the current season. I just can't get behind that.
