Yeah I certainly agree, I'm just not sure how motivated the staff will be to add a guard/center in FA. Maybe they wait for the dust to settle and see who is available for a near-minimum contract. Blalock would be nice, could probably start for us while allowing Jones to get valuable experience at Center...likely too expensive though.
The '40 catches' was negotiating with Andre' to come off the $16 million cap hit. Have you people never negotiated anything? DGB may be a beast, may be a 100 catch guy, may be a 10 touchdown guy (may bethe next Andre'). You draft playmakers in the first round, unless you think you are filling a hole with a future pro bowler. I just don't know who has seen enough of the guy or knows him well enough, but that's why he's a 16 and not a top 5. There will be good, serviceable, back-up linemen available as late as the last cuts next August. The guys we have, including X at guard and Jones at C are the starters.Unless, a 3rd or 4th rounder takes the spot. OLB or WR, 1st and 2nd. And I really think OLB but he would have to have a better grade than DGB, that'd be tough. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...eenbeckham-shows-no-1-wr-potential-at-pro-day
DGB has potential to be one of the best receivers in the league...honestly, don't care if our 2nd WR is supposed to have a diminished role. If you have a talented player, you utilize that player. Great coaches can figure it out. I'd take DGB over any receiver in this draft...I know others are rated higher, but this dude has been my top guy.
If this is true, then you start off the "negotiations" with Andre as "we want to keep you at a reduced salary" and not "we expect you to catch 40 balls". So, either BOB's system is too rigid to even try to accommodate a larger role for WR2, or the Texans were full of crap. Whether it's the former or the latter, it's a little disconcerting.
Not sure if you meant to quote me...but, I think you are absolutely correct. The Texans approach to this situation was incredibly poor. Like you said, either the system is too rigid or BOB was basically an ******* to a Houston legend. Either way, it's not a good look and I do fault the organization for approaching the situation in this manner.
Andre had 85 catches last year and Deandre had 76. The other WR's had 38. I'm not worried about OB scheming according to the talent we have. I think people might get too hung up on the New England thing and think that OB is incapable of adjusting to his personnel or maximizing what he can get out of what he has.
When negotiating anything, your salary, the price of a used car, you advocate for your side of it. 'Full of crap' is the modus operandi. It can look ridiculous, it can feel ridiculous but that is the way people have operated for thousands of years. That's why people hire lawyers and agents, because they can argue a point without conviction.
I would be happy drafting an impact WR even if its not our #1 need and even with Hopkins. We need more impact players... and we need to increase our success rate in the draft. What wouldbe the downside of a WR coming in that was so good that Hopkins is our WR2? And wouldn't that correlate to an improvement in Mallett? That said... defensive backfield, and specifically safety, moves up in importance with Lewis signing with BAL. Unless there is one we are targeting in the second...
I just looked at one draft site to see were he was ranked and it said per sources the Texans and Eagles have ruled him out. But who's to say how true that is. Todd Gurley is still the guy I would like them to draft though.
After taking Clowney last year and that not turning out so well the Texans can't afford to take a gamble guy. Especially for a guy like DGB who pushed a woman down the stairs and has had multiple drug possession charges. Not a Texans guy. If the top 3 WR's are gone I could see the Texans going with Jaelen Strong over DGB if they still want WR. He's very similar to Hopkins.
If we go pass rushers in the first round, count me in for Bud Dupree. I think he will be great. In fact, if we don't get one of the top 3 receivers, and he's available, I'd take him over anyone else.
2 top quality RB's in this draft - Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon. It's. A huge drop to #3. I keep hearing that Dallas may reach for Gordon to fill the Demarco Murry hole. If so, Texans might be in a great position to trade down from #16. Chargers at #17 have nothing at RB, having lost Ryan Matthews to the Eagles. Their best RB on the roster is Donald Brown. If one of the two top RB's is on the board, I think there is a decent chance they pick them. If someone below the Chargers falls in love with a RB, they'd be wise to trade above the Chargers if they really want them.
