Everyone keeps saying he is not a Pace or Ogden or Boselli, at this point I'd be happy if he was a good or consistent as the last left tackle a Houston team drafted in the first, Brad Hopkins. I think he can be atleast that good and that would be an improvement over what we have now. I'm on the Barron Bandwagon.
I remember Brad Hopkins having some serious growing pains his first few years...as do most linemen. Barron is a reach at 13. Grab pass rush or a receiver. Get O-line in free agency next year IMO.
I'd be very surprised if we took a OT in the first round. Casserly is on record as saying Wand improved through the course of the year, they like him alot, and he'll be the starter next year, they just played him a year earlier than they wanted to. LT has the second highest learning curve, behind only QB, and playing a rookie LT would likely be another year of Carr getting killed from the blind side. Plus, this is a pretty weak OT class, and next year is a very strong class. All indications point to the Texans taking a WR or LB in the first. I'm hoping for a trade down, pick up an extra 2nd rounder and grabbing a guy like Mark Clayton, I think he'll be a lot better than Williamson.
If the OT isnt a top 5 pick, then he will need time to develop...time that we do not have. Having a rookie manning that spot is not an option. Pass on Barron.
Carr might not make it through another year if something isn't done soon. I don't know if Barron is the man or not, but I do think they need to figure something out. I still say that Chester Pitts needs to be replaced, too. Each and every big play that was called back for a penalty seemed to be Pitts holding.
Another draft picking Barron. It's destined!! :smile: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/don_banks/04/05/mock.draft/index.html Money concerns may shape top of the board First week of April means its time to get serious about this mock draft business. In this, our third attempt at divining how things will go in the first round, we're making some changes to a top five nobody seems all that excited to be a part of. We're moving Michigan's elite receiver Braylon Edwards up and Utah quarterback Alex Smith down. Our logic? Despite its need for a long-term answer at quarterback, Cleveland, at No. 3, might be leaning toward Edwards, whom it views as the closest thing in this draft to a can't-miss prospect. That scenario would likely be bad news for Smith, because the teams holding the 4-7 slots don't really need a franchise quarterback. Arizona at No. 8 would then have the enticing option to either select Smith as its future starter, after the Kurt Warner era runs its course, or entertain trade offers for the rights to take him. Unless of course someone above the Cardinals and below the Browns comes to the same conclusion and swings a deal of their own to give some eager team the chance to nab Smith. See how intriguing things might just get at the top of what has been billed as the most star-less draft in recent history? Mock NFL Draft #3 1 QB Aaron Rodgers California Jr. 6-2 215 Some league observers think the 49ers shortly will open negotiations with their top four candidates, and whichever one they strike the best deal with gets the honor of going first. Leaving a slight chance for Braylon Edwards to rise to No. 1 (a cheaper alternative?), we're sticking with Rodgers for now. 2 RB Ronnie Brown Auburn Sr. 6-1 224 It's clear after listening to Nick Saban at the NFL owners meeting that he burns to turn the No. 2 slot into a package of picks. But that's still a longshot at best, leaving Brown as the logical choice to fill the Ricky Williams void. 3 WR Braylon Edwards Michigan Sr. 6-3 206 The Browns surprise us and go with Edwards, since he's the draft's top-rated prospect. That sends Utah quarterback Alex Smith tumbling down the draft board to where exactly? Arizona at No. 8? Or someone trading up into the top 10? 4 RB Cedric Benson Texas Sr. 6-0 215 The Bears would have been tickled to nab Edwards and team him with Muhsin Muhammad, but the Browns foiled those plans. So Chicago changes gears and looks to upgrade its ground game with the draft's second-best running back. 5 RB Carnell Williams Auburn Sr. 5-11 204 For all his famed facial contortions, Bucs coach Jon Gruden apparently doesn't have much of a poker face. He's been making eyes at Williams since he coached him in the Senior Bowl in January. Fills a backfield need, too. 6 CB Antrel Rolle Miami Sr. 6-1 202 The Titans lost both their starting cornerbacks -- Samari Rolle and Andre Dyson -- in their late February cap purge, so Rolle is a bit of a no-brainer. His edge over West Virginia CB Adam "Pac Man" Jones has widened of late. 7 WR Mike Williams USC Jr. 6-5 230 After helping their defense so much in free agency, the Vikings in good conscience can go shopping for Randy Moss' replacement at No. 7. Williams isn't as fast as South Carolina's Troy Williamson, but his big body will prove irresistible to Minnesota. 8 QB Alex Smith Utah Jr. 6-4 212 If the Browns do take Smith at No. 3, then give Edwards to the Bears and Benson to the Cardinals. But Arizona also could listen to trade offers if Smith still is on the board at No. 8. Barring that, the 20-year-old Smith would be Kurt Warner's heir apparent. 9 CB Adam Jones West Virginia Jr. 5-10 190 With Fred Smoot now in Minnesota, the Redskins' board shows the perfect confluence of need and top-10 value. Jones is a solid tackler and, as a bonus, helps out on kick returns. If Tennessee takes Jones, give the Redskins Rolle. 10 LB Derrick Johnson Texas Sr. 6-4 235 The Lions have invested their past four No. 1s on offense, so it's time to think defense. Johnson is the draft's best linebacker, and Detroit doesn't have to reach a bit to make this athletic, ball-hawking prospect a top-10 pick. 11 DE/OLB Shawne Merriman Maryland Jr. 6-4 250 In our initial mock, we had the versatile Merriman going to the Cowboys with their No. 20 pick. But his "tweener" skills would seem a perfect fit as Dallas prepares to use a 3-4 defensive scheme at least some of the time in 2005. 12 DE Marcus Spears LSU Sr. 6-4 298 The Chargers could lean toward speedy South Carolina receiver Troy Williamson in this slot, or hope like heck that Mike Williams somehow falls. But it's more likely that they'll get some help for their defensive front with Spears, who also can rush the passer from inside. 13 OT Alex Barron Florida State Sr. 6-6 308 The Texans' offensive line has been their weak link since day one, and that's why landing the draft's best tackle is the right call for quarterback David Carr's future health. Barron is good enough to handle either side in the NFL. 14 WR Troy Williamson South Carolina Jr. 6-2 200 We had the Panthers taking Virginia tight end Heath Miller last time around, but the speedy Williamson's stock keeps rising. With Muhsin Muhammad leaving for Chicago, Williamson, a local favorite, could step right into the lineup. 15 CB Carlos Rogers Auburn Sr. 6-1 194 If the Chiefs don't make a deal for Miami's Patrick Surtain pre-draft, Rogers makes sense as the answer to their crying need at corner. Rogers has steadily gained ground in the first round and some like him more than the smaller Adam Jones. 16 S Thomas Davis Georgia Jr. 6-1 230 The Saints signed safety Dwight Smith in free agency, but they still could use a playmaker like Davis, who many project as a weakside linebacker in the NFL. He has great speed at 230 pounds and ran a 4.6 at the Combine.
In that case, there is no chance we will draft Barron. And it's not about him dropping to us at 13th. That would be a reach for him.
i would trade down with dallas or baltmore to get mark clayton or carlos rogers. Texans gain a 2nd or 3rd in the process to imporve our o-line with a guard or center and get either wr or cb as well.
I didn't realize Andre Johnson was being double-teamed on 75% of Texans' offensive plays. That statistic really pushes me to want a receiver. Clayton is my favorite receiver in the draft. I think a perfect complement to Johnson. Clayton was a dominant player at OU and excellent after the catch. He is the Drew Hill/Ernest Givens to our Haywood Jeffries (Johnson). That said, our line sucks. I think the biggest problem is center, where McKinney is good for 2-3 bad snaps a game and multiple pocket collapsing gaffes. David Baas would be a steal in round 2 and would help from day 1, IMO. I think that could allow McKinney to move back to guard, where he played with the Colts. We also need a better pass rush. Wong didn't give us much last year, and it looks like he's moving inside this year. Peek was great in limited action. If he can give us a full season then we should be ok. In a perfect draft, we could get upgrades at the Center, WR, DL and OLB positions, but my guess is that we get 2 impact players for next year and hope the rest develop over time.
I like Baas alot, but I'd be very surprised to see him still on the board when we pick in the 2nd round. I agree about Clayton, he's going to be a great WR, and that's coming from a UT fan. I still think trading down is probably our best option.
I was listening on the radio and they said there's pretty much no possibility this guy drops to us in the 2nd round. Most people expect him to be a late 1st rounder. As for trading down, that seems to be what most GM's would like to do in this draft. The draft appears to be pretty thin in term of instant impact players. That's why i don't see it happening. We could easily trade up to a top 5 team, but we need our picks and i don't see it worth it. If it was last year it might have been worth trading up. I'm all for Barron as well. Though i think he'll need a little extra time to develop, pretty much like the reast of our team. I've never actually seen him play (If anyone has, please inform us of what you thought.) However, all the things i've read about him are great. From what i understand, the only reason he's dropped this low is because of all the WR's available, then there's always your 2 QB's and 2 RB's. However i don't see any of the RB's available as a franchise back...but that's my opinion.
The guys on ESPN Draft Special were saying that Barron is the most overrated player in the draft. They said he has tons of potential, but lacks intensity and commitment and could turn into a bust. They said he could either be a star or a big mistake.
Except that, with Barron, they are right. He can pass block because of his quick feet, wingspan, and size. However, he is not a good run blocker at all. I think if he is going to pan out and be good, it will take at least a couple years. Texans need to stay away.
Love what they had to prospect on Alex Barron: http://s51.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=30J42F1BGUQYB3NQ6Y83S3O7WC http://s41.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=16G90VESIRAME0H2904FC4FDXP
