Julius Peppers seems to be the front runner. He got shut down in the Texas games, but has dominated since. There isn't a player on offense that's worthy of the #1 pick.
How about Bryant McKinnie of Miami? He's 6-9, 336 lbs, and has never given up a sack since he's played football, period.
I say start with the O-line, those guys have to have the longest shelf life of NFL players (other than kickers).
He had a solid interview on 610 the other day. Anybody else hear it? The only thing I wory about is whether his overwhelming size might lead to physical problems (i.e. knees), and he basically admited to having problem with 'speed rush' type DE's. There'll be qute a few more of those in the NFL. But I don't think you can question McKinnie too much as #1. Left Tackle about the most important position on the team for giving your QB time to pass.
I now like Julius Peppers as the top pick. (I originally went with Henderson from Tennessee in an earlier thread.) The Texans could get Major in the lower rounds, if they're so inclined. Foster is a badass, but he's not the #1 pick (at least for this team). I'd love to see the Texans trade the top pick for 2 first rounders, if at all possible.
I hope you guys aren't hinting that the Texans pick up Major Applewhite. Please. Please. Please. Say No! to Major Applewhite as a Houston Texan. I think we should pick up Q. Jammer. Before I get blasted, Major is an awesome QB. Correction, an awesome college QB, but no way is he NFL material. If you guys aren't talking about Major, then, nevermind.
The Texans should trade the number 1 pick for the most 2's and 3's they can get. The risks of getting one over-paid bust or losing one player to injury can be reduced by trading for more players. Less than 25% of the quarterbacks taken in the first round over the last 5 yyears are starting in the NFL. When Jimmy Johnson was putting together the Dynasty in Dallas I think he proved your best chance of finding quality NFL players is by drafting a bunch of good players and letting the cream rise to the top. I know Emmit, Troy and Michael were first rounders but the other 18 were not.
Major would be a good pickup....late or after the draft. He should be a decent backup since he is very poised and will be able to understand NFL defenses quickly. I wouldn't mind seeing him start for a year so that the Texans can use their picks on more immediate needs. I am a firm believer in the offensive line. I would want the Texans to trade down a few spots to pick up another 1st rd pick or another 2nd rd pick. I WILL BE DISAPPOINTED IF THE TEXANS DRAFT A FRANCHISE QB BEFORE THEY HAVE FIVE OFFENSIVE LINEMEN TO LENGTHEN HIS CAREER PAST HIS ROOKIE SEASON. Peppers would be a good pick since pass rushers are always a premium....He has the ability to set the tone on defense. Will the texans get the 1st and last pick of each rd?
What about Carr from Fresno. This kid has good size for the NFL, can move, and has a cannon arm. Good O-Linemen can be found in free agency, and the expansion draft. Also I didn't think that expansion teams can trade their picks. I know that they can trade players once drafted but I was under the impression that they had to stick with those picks.
Carr with the #1 pick? Highly doubtful. If Carolina can pick up Weinke in the 5th round, we can pick up a good QB around that time, too. I can see either Carr, Dantzler, or Kittner dropping that far. I'd like to see Applewhite go on and be productive in the NFL, but I'm not sure if that can happen. Look at Josh Heupel. He doesn't have a team anymore after being drafted. Then again, he didn't look so hot at the NFL Rookie Premiere back in May... Yes, Major is better than Heupel, but does he really possess the skills to be a good QB in the NFL? Is he just another good college QB? I think it might be worth it for the Texans to take a shot on him, either in the draft or as a free agent rookie. It doesn't hurt that he's a state favorite, also (well, if you root for UT, that is). The Texans could do worse (ahem... cough... Quincy Carter... hack...).
Actually I think you can use Quincy as a reason to not take Major. Quincy's physical tools are much better than Major's. Look at how much trouble Quincy is having, and just imagine how much trouble Major would have. I personally don't see Major being drafted unless it's in the very late rounds of the draft. As some of you have stated he's a terrific college QB however that doesn't always translate to NFL success. Major is very comparible to Huepel or Danny Wurffel of a couple years ago. Carr won't last to the second round but I'm not really sure if he's worthy of #1 overall status. There is another QB that is available though ... Joey Harrington from Oregon. He's a mobil 6'5" 220lb QB with a cannon arm. He could possibly go top 5 as well as Carr. Washington has been heavily scouting Carr by the way.
What round was Joe Montana drafted in? What about Ryan Leaf? Physical tools don't account for everything in the NFL, and there are plenty of QBs that get by with less than exceptional arm strength. Major could very well succeed through poise and intelligence, though I agree he won't be drafted early, if at all. As for the Texans first pick, I agree with drafting McKinnie. He just seems to have every tool necessary, and it seems like first-round offensive linemen are much more hit than miss.
True physical tools don't account for everything. It also depends on the system the QB is drafted into. The West Coast offense doesn't require the QB to have great arm strenth. What type of offense will be installed in Houston? As for players besides QB's that can be taken. How about a DT? Taking a stud on the D-Line can be just as beneficial as taking an O-Lineman with the first pick. Remember the year Dallas took Emmitt? Emmitt wasn't the first pick by Dallas that year. Russell Maryland was. Even though he left in free agency he was the cornerstone of that line during the back to back super bowls. There is a DT comming out this year from Tenn. named Henderson that looks to be a stud.
