I don't have high hopes for Richardson, despite all his talent. Draft Network has been pushing this narrative of Jalen Carter and any QB vs Bryce and another prospect for a few weeks now. It's a lazy and terrible narrative. Yeah, maybe next year it's true, but this team isn't competing for next year. It's competing for the years that Young is in his prime, which is 4-5 years away. Even if Carter is Aaron Donald. What if Tyree Wilson is TJ Watt? What if Quentin Johnston is Justin Jefferson? Just a lazy take in general.
All that is valid. You have to start to approach this think situationally. Mahome was a great talent no doubt, but he landed at the absolute perfect spot for him with Andy Reid. Flip side Watson gets attached to Buttchin O'Brien and lucky for us (at least for a few seasons) his strengths in extending plays and escapeability were able to be utilized with the atrocious OL that we had when he arrived. What did we win? A couple playoff games? It reminds me of the debate about whether or not Andy Reid would have been able to win the SB with Watson and whether Mahomes would have had the same impact with the Texans. Football in general is about more than just a singular player I agree, but that also applies to the QB even when its the most important position. If you dont have the peripheral pieces in place then you are going to waste years on the rookie deal hoping to build up. We are so far away and need so many spots that for me I'd rather just look at it as two different teams you need to build - the offense AND the defense. We've been able to add some really nice young defenders over the last couple years so I'd like to just finish that build. We need a solid IDL like Carter and we need an edge rusher. I like our LBs and the secondary has the talent to be a good unit. After that you should be ready to bring in the QB (hopefully with a new coach/OC) and get the skill guys to compliment him. I like Young alot. He is really gifted and in the right scenario should be able to be a good QB, but I question if this is the best place for him with the decision making totem in place. Like I've said before if he comes in with a clean slate of new coaches then I would be more apt to follow along, but it looks like Lovie is going to get more time and not sure what kind of offense they would be able to field for Young if Pep is still here. The IOL is trash and the WR corp is not good either. Expecting Metchie to come back from cancer treatment and be a + player with Young is looking at things with best case battle red blinders on. If you focus on the offense then you'd be looking at Young + a WR in the first round this year I assume - does that really move the needle with all the other holes? I get the big picture thinking of what Young could be in a few years, Im trying hard not to bring up the size issue, but its really hard to have that forecast when most guys his size end up with injury and then you'd have to make a decision if he's going to be worth the extension and if not you have to start all over again. Personally I just feel going defense is safer.
I don't disagree with you, either. First, I think it's a decision that has to be made based off of what you do with your coaching staff. You keep Lovie? (Puke) Go defense and let him sort it out. You fire him? Bring in a competent staff around a good young team. I think this team isn't as far away as others think. We've got some cap and some decent young players. There are a couple good offensive tackles available as free agents. The line is a right tackle and a center away from being well above average, in my opinion. I also think we're one good wide receiver away from having a good WR corps. There are a couple of good defensive tackles available too. I think with our cap and our excess in picks, there are definitely ways to be competitive in two or three years. There are also multiple ways to get there.
Im with you - if Cal is going to start all over with new coaches then go get your QB to grow. At least that offers some sort of hope for new installs and hopefully football guys in tune with the modern game. Adding YOung to Lovie and Pep is just such a disservice to such a nice young talent. Caserio isnt bulletproof for me either. I get he's had a tough hand to play these first couple seasons, but I wonder if much like the Rockets these guys dont have a "suck for X amount of years" type of plan in place. Not fun for fans, but if properly executed sets you up for a longer window of winning/contention.
I have no issues with Mulugheta, a good agent will ride for their client. Bu that little b**** Quincy, I want him nowhere near another Texans qb. Stroud is off my covet list. I'm full boar for Anthony Richardson
Arguably the two biggest knocks on Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud had been that he wasn’t creating enough outside of structure and he didn’t threaten defenses with his legs (either by choice or as demanded by his coaches). He flipped both arguments against Georgia. At the risk of putting too much emphasis on one game, how significant was that showing to Stroud’s NFL outlook? Dane Brugler: NFL scouts focus on the body of work, not single-game performances. But when a prospect puts something new on tape (and not just any tape, but in the biggest game of his career), it forces a reevaluation. Against Georgia in the playoffs, Stroud played his best game in an Ohio State jersey. All of last season and through the 2022 regular season, Stroud proved he can be a surgical passer but was inconsistent when required to move the pocket, change throwing platforms or scramble. It’s not that he was incapable of those things — just that he didn’t appear comfortable. Against the Bulldogs, he showed impressive composure which allowed him to stay in rhythm from the pocket and when on the move. In his first 27 games at Ohio State, Stroud forced one missed tackle; against Georgia, he forced three. Earlier this season, Stroud set a career high with three scrambles against Penn State; against Georgia, he had six. Again, teams grade prospects — especially quarterbacks — based on the body of work, but this was the type of performance that will increase a team’s comfort level in drafting Stroud early. Nick Baumgardner: There is a part of me that wishes Stroud (with NIL money in his pocket, of course) could spend another year learning at Ohio State with Ryan Day and all those receivers because I really think the biggest critiques of his game — which are all fair — are time-on-task issues. The inability to consistently handle pressure, or even for a different coverage than expected or a wrong route, has been the issue. As Dane wrote, though, it’s not that he hates to run or doesn’t know how to run. It’s about him being comfortable enough to slow his brain down to sort through his options. He’s only 21. He’s still growing into the player he’s going to become. The Georgia game was a big step, but it’s also one (important) piece in a giant puzzle. If you were uncertain about why he’s had some of those issues, the playoff loss might have checked off a few boxes. However, I’m still concerned about where his confidence and comfortability will be next season if he’s drafted by a desperate franchise looking for immediate results. There’s so much to like about Stroud’s game, but he’s young and played in a very QB-friendly system in Columbus. It may take time. Diante Lee: Dane made a similar point, but what matters most is that Stroud added a significant data point to his evaluation. It’s one thing to manage collapsing pockets and escape from unblocked pressure, but Stroud turning dead-to-rights sacks into explosive plays against Georgia will mean something in the greater evaluation of his college career. I was astounded by how effectively Stroud managed plays as things broke down, his balance and mechanics when throwing on the run and the handful of times he recognized he could tuck and run. On the other hand, I now have to go back to reevaluate how and why he’d had such an issue managing pressure before that game. I know the Ohio State offense to be more vertical in the passing game than others, and it asks its quarterback to hold the ball as receivers work to open grass. But that means that the quarterback has to use his legs as his own checkdown, a frustration many had with Justin Fields when he played for Day. Stroud is still learning and growing as a player. If he can commit more often to punishing defenses with his legs, there’s still reason to believe he can be the best quarterback in this draft class. For the most optimistic front office, this was a peek into Stroud’s ceiling. That kind of creation out of structure wins tough games on Sundays.
Whatever QB we (hopefully) take, I'd love for him to sit for all/most of the season, watch and learn. There will be a dozen or so vet temp-starter types available for cheap.
12. Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU Houston has to continue to collect talent at key positions, but it has the flexibility to take a true best-player-available approach with its second first-round selection after landing quarterback Bryce Young atop the board. And I see the Texans adding a big pass-catcher for him before Day 1 is over. Pairing the 6-4 Johnston with Brandin Cooks, John Metchie III and Nico Collins would give them a much-improved receiver room, and Johnston's catch radius and big-play ability provides Houston with something that isn't currently on the roster. He has gone over 1,000 yards this season, while the Texans are still looking for someone to crack 600. Biggest needs: QB, WR, EDGE, OL
The Texans defensive front seven is the biggest need. QB is an obvious need as well. If the Texans see a franchise QB worthy of the 1.1 pick, …. but it has got to be defense after that.
Agreed with your last paragraph. What if you think the QB drafted in this draft can be a decent QB but you will never win a championship with him?
Will a rookie qb get his butt kicked here? The interior oline has been pretty bad this year but they still are 14th in sacks allowed. Green should get better next season and/or Howard can move inside. Plus they have money to address the center position in FA. Also this draft seems to have quite a few good edge rushers and interior dlineman that will be available later in the 1st and 2nd round.
Then you sign a free agent. Though I think it's hard to know that. I think the metric has to be whether or not the quarterback you're after can be a top 10 QB in the league. If not, don't draft one.
