2015 Texans Draft

Randy Gregory:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>From April 1-22, w/ exception of Easter, Randy Gregory will travel to new city every day. This week: NYJ to PITT to STL to AZ to CHI to HOU.</p>&mdash; Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/587661200655159296">April 13, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Are you banking on a healthy Foster for all/most of the 2015 season?

 

Are you banking on a healthy Cushing/Clowney for all/most of the year?

 

You have to. Obviously injuries can happen, but there's only so much you can do to prepare for them.

Are you banking on a healthy Watt for all/most of the 2015 season?

 

Marcus Peters:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Washington CB Marcus Peters, who is in New Orleans on a visit today, heads to the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/49ers?src=hash">#49ers</a> next. Was with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Texans?src=hash">#Texans</a> this weekend. Busy.</p>&mdash; Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/587682681225248768">April 13, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Foster has a history on injuries while knock on wood JJ does not.

The argument for me is not whether the Texans should take a RB with their first pick, but whether that RB should be Gurley given his injury history. If the best available RB is no where near the BPA, then obviously the Texans should select another position.

 

The comparison fails because Marino and Rodgers are quarterbacks. Running back is an interchangeable position in today's NFL. Sure, it is a nice luxury to have a back as good as Foster or say Adrian Peterson. But it's not essential. And I don't think this administration views RB as being indispensable either.

 

I wouldn't mind Collins as a 3rd TE. Great against the run and TEs. Not so much against WRs but that's why they signed Rahim Moore.

 

Melvin Gordon on Foster and the Texans:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Gordon, on RBs, cont'd: &quot;You can't replace (elite RBs).&quot; Mentioned, among others, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Texans?src=hash">#Texans</a> RB Arian Foster. <a href="http://t.co/r7wUyDyCnP">http://t.co/r7wUyDyCnP</a></p>&mdash; Matt Hammond (@MattHammondShow) <a href="https://twitter.com/MattHammondShow/status/587709511881793536">April 13, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Gordon, on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Texans?src=hash">#Texans</a> RB Arian Foster. &quot;Man, I just think, as far as the outside zone game, he just runs it the best.&quot; <a href="http://t.co/r7wUyDyCnP">http://t.co/r7wUyDyCnP</a></p>&mdash; Matt Hammond (@MattHammondShow) <a href="https://twitter.com/MattHammondShow/status/587709984290447361">April 13, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Gordon, on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Texans?src=hash">#Texans</a> RB Arian Foster (cont'd): &quot;He's not super fast, he's not super strong, but he goes out there and gets the job done.&quot;</p>&mdash; Matt Hammond (@MattHammondShow) <a href="https://twitter.com/MattHammondShow/status/587710116230627328">April 13, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Gordon says <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Texans?src=hash">#Texans</a> have expressed interest in him.

said they were at his Pro Day.</p>&mdash; Matt Hammond (@MattHammondShow) <a href="https://twitter.com/MattHammondShow/status/587710335445897216">April 13, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Gordon on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Texans?src=hash">#Texans</a>: &quot;I talked to one of the scouts there. If they take me, and I'm able to learn from one of the greats, that'll be awesome.&quot;</p>&mdash; Matt Hammond (@MattHammondShow) <a href="https://twitter.com/MattHammondShow/status/587710494460420096">April 13, 2015</a></blockquote>
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If the next "Revis Island" was sitting there at 16, I'd recommend drafting a CB. I used the QB position because everybody is familiar.

If you think Gurley is Just Another Guy, the objections make more sense. He's not. The knee is obviously an issue, but if not for the knee he's pretty close to a lock to go in the top 10.

For the sake of argument, let's assume you can draft a nondescript average starter at OLB - Whitney Merciless pt. 2 - or Adrian Peterson (when he entered the league minus the baggage). Who among you would pass on AP in favor of Mercilus because Arian Foster is on the roster for another year?

The other potentially transcendent players that could be available at 16 are the guys with weed issues - Gregory and Green-Beckham. I'd be thrilled with Gregory in the same way as Gurley. I don't believe in Green-Beckham's heart, but he has the talent. I can understand different opinions, so if you just don't see what I see the objections make more sense., but I know a lot I'm not alone in my view.

However, I don't understand passing on a potential star in favor of s JAG at another position because you have a more immediately need at the JAG's position.

 

The position does matter. So does the value of the player you have on roster. How much better is your team with Gurley instead of Foster? Foster has given the team 1600, 1200, 1400, and 1200 yards apart from the season he only played 8 games. I don't expect Gurley to give you more than 1400 yards. Imagine that improvement versus the improvement from Mercilus or Ankray to Shane Ray. You cannot just look at the player in the draft, you also have to look at the difference between him and the player he is replacing. i.e. You don't go from Jamaal Charles to Marshawn Lynch if you can go from Alex Smith to Drew Brees.

 

In 12 months, your starting RB is Alfred Blue, and the difference between Blue and Gurley is as big as possible. I'm talking about getting ahead of a problem by a few months - the same as buying new tires when the tread gets low, but before the tires go flat.

Is that really such a crazy thing? Or do you doubt that Foster's a cap casualty after this year? Last year we ruled out drafting a potential All Pro because we had AJ. Now, 12 months later, does it seem like the ephemeral AJ should have had any bearing on the future? Was that 12 months of grumpy AJ really such a show stopper in the grand scheme? Assume Clowney never plays to potential and Watkins is a HOF'er. 15 years from now, will ruling out the HOF'er because of AJ look like it was a good idea? In retrospect, would you still draft Aundray Bruce over Tim Brown? Because with hindsight, it seems pretty clear to me that you draft Tim Brown every time, even if Aundray Bruce fills a need.

 

I'm not a big fan of Blue either. I am not against picking a RB this year, I am just skeptical about picking him in the 1st round when you can make the team better at other positions. I think the difference is you are much higher on Gurley than I am. I wouldn't mind any of the top 7 RBs (Gurley, Gordon, Ajayi, Yeldon, Abdullah, Coleman, or Duke) in this draft that is available in the 3rd.

I don't think Watkins got ruled out because of AJ. I think he got ruled out because the team didn't think he was worth a #1 overall pick. In fact, two other teams didn't think he was worth a top 3 pick.

 

This is the deepest class of RB's in recent memory for a draft; a lot of good ones. I like Mike Davis in the later rounds; think he's going to be really good

 

1) Ray
2)Dupree
3)Gurley

Out of all the realistic options, if the Texans don't draft one of these players, I will be disappointed. In order of preference.

 

Could you imagine if the Texans drafted Gurley and then traded up for Gregory, should he slip to the second round?

 

2015 NFL Mock Draft: New York adds 'Jet' fuel with Mariota, Dorsett
Rob Rang
http://mweb.cbssports.com/nfl/draft...t-new-york-adds-jet-fuel-with-mariota-dorsett

16. Houston Texans -- Missouri DE/OLB Shane Ray: Should the Texans feel good about the recovery of last year's No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney from microfracture surgery, the team may elect to look elsewhere with this selection, as adding a pass catcher or defensive back would seem to make sense. A less-than-spectacular Pro Day has Ray's stock slipping and the Texans could see the reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Year as providing too much value at this point to pass up, especially given the loss of solid edge rusher Brooks Reed in free agency.

51. Houston Texans -- Ohio State WR Devin Street: Street's straight-line speed makes him an ideal complement in Bill O'Brien's offense to burgeoning primary receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

 

I wonder if he meant Street from Pitt or Devin Smith from OSU...the evaluation appears to resemble Smith.

 

I just read Smith, ha! But yes I think you caught a typo. I'll tweet him.

 

I would like the Smith pick in the 2nd, especially if Dorsett is off the board.