I like this right here... except I want Wil Fuller in the 1st and our RT (LT of the future) in the 2nd. If possible...
On the Texans essentially choosing Allen over Brooks you have to take into account Brooks missing multiple games last year due to a stomach ulcer problem. If i remember reading correctly it's a chronic problem Brooks has had to change his diet for
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">10th highest grade of all guards in 2015. Strong marks run blocking <a href="https://t.co/NhjTJlP304">https://t.co/NhjTJlP304</a></p>— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) <a href="https://twitter.com/PFF/status/707668626715877377">March 9, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jeff Allen Texans deal: $28M, $12M gted, $5M signing bonus, salaries $2M, $4.75M, $5.75M, $6M</p>— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/AaronWilson_NFL/status/707752143977975808">March 10, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
For comparison... <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Brandon Brooks' 5-year deal is worth $40M with $21M guar. $11M SB. '16 ($1M) and '17 ($5M) fully guar. $4M in '18 guar for injury only.</p>— Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jeff_McLane/status/707766613890768896">March 10, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Jeff Allen is a decent rotational placeholder, but we will need to draft some OL in the draft. I'd argue he's definitely not better than Brooks.
He was clearly better than Brooks last year. And even if he isn't better, he is still a solid plug and play starter on a fair contract.
Sure, but he was also out half the year. Hopefully last year was the start of a positive trend and not an anomaly.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">On new Texans guard Jeff Allen, hearing good things about toughness, ability to play through injuries, has nasty streak to finish off blocks</p>— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/AaronWilson_NFL/status/707933400301064192">March 10, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Not a big fan of the OL last year, so this is another move I like. Adding the Raiders C and getting an OL or two in the draft... this line appears much improved.
http://www.arrowheadpride.com/2016/3/7/11165656/jeff-allen-play-retained-free-agency-kansas-city-chiefs?_ga=1.54236072.1053805776.1456163186
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Welcome to Houston Tony Bergstrom and Jeff Allen! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreTexans?src=hash">#WeAreTexans</a> <a href="https://t.co/cRkohrwndX">pic.twitter.com/cRkohrwndX</a></p>— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) <a href="https://twitter.com/HoustonTexans/status/708037617380511744">March 10, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Uhmm.... am I the only one who assumed - having no idea who he was previously - that Jeff Allen, the whitest-sounding name in history, was, in fact, a white man? Threw me momentarily.