There has to be a second name in the mix so that we aren't just sitting around saying that the pick will be Clowney. It's Manziel's turn to be that rotating spot. "Clowney or Bridgewater" "Clowney or Bortles" "Clowney or Mack" "Clowney or....." There's always one constant, and there's a reason for that.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>.<a href="https://twitter.com/PittCritic">@PittCritic</a> Good chance <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Texans&src=hash">#Texans</a> move down. Trade similar to Giants-Chargers trade, preaarnged to take Clowney for some other team.</p>— Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) <a href="https://twitter.com/Gil_Brandt/statuses/458706829623578624">April 22, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>.<a href="https://twitter.com/Andy_Fenelon">@Andy_Fenelon</a> Thanks for the 1st question, Dre. 1. Mariota, Oregon 1A. Winston, FSU 3. Petty, Baylor 4. Hundley, UCLA</p>— Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) <a href="https://twitter.com/Gil_Brandt/statuses/458703666749251584">April 22, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Sources: Auburn standout Dee Ford visiting Falcons today, has also visited Texans: Ford has... <a href="http://t.co/eSLbSoVKXZ">http://t.co/eSLbSoVKXZ</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/FootballPost">@footballpost</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23NFL&src=hash">#NFL</a></p>— Aaron Wilson (@RavensInsider) <a href="https://twitter.com/RavensInsider/statuses/458708465049804800">April 22, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>.<a href="https://twitter.com/GilesGman">@GilesGman</a> 1.Manziel, 2. Bortles. 3. Bridgewater. 4. Carr. 5. Garoppolo. 6. Savage.</p>— Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) <a href="https://twitter.com/Gil_Brandt/statuses/458709201716400128">April 22, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
I just still can't understand why everyone is so smitten with Clowney. Why is he the consensus #1 in so many people's eyes? Because he is big, strong, and fast? You're talking about someone who regressed in nearly every single statistical category last season. Performance does matter.
One of these players is going to be a stud. It's on the Texans to determine which one, to draft them, and to develop them. Trading down means they don't trust their own judgement. That's a bad sign. You mean to tell me none of these guys is worth the number one? Not Bortles? Not Clowney? Not Manziel? Not Watkins? Not Mack? None of them?
That's pretty extreme. Trading down just increases the overall talent level of your team. If you could trade down, get Mack, and an additional 2nd? We'd have 3 picks in the top 40 (probably) in a very good draft, all while getting a player some could argue is the top talent in the draft.
You forgot to mention Robinson and Mathews. Atlanta may be the most likely trade partner if they move back and they can still get one of those 7 players.
J.J. regressed to 10 sacks while getting doubled by NFL players. Clowney regressed to 3 in college. That doesn't sound the same.
Of course a trade down could work out, but passing on Clowney with the justification of "he doesn't fit our scheme" when we could have brought in any scheme this off-season is massively embarrassing. Don't buy any regression talk with Clowney whatsoever. An extra 2nd just doesn't excite me that much when we look at our draft history. Take a look at the Rams as a team that got the sweetheart deal to end sweetheart deals but haven't done crap with their extra picks so far. If we manage to get Mack & one of the big 3 QB's I'll still be pretty thrilled, but if we trade down and draft someone to play at effing right tackle then we are gutless team who will remain in the crapper.
