EXCLUSIVE PHOTO FROM INSIDE THE TEXANS’ DRAFT WAR ROOM!!!!!!
I kid, Gary. I know you’re a regular reader… anyway, read this.
I’ve been saying for a while that Robert Quinn isn’t going to be at 11 when the Texans roll up on the podium. Looking at the risers and fallers (in the minds of draft analysts, that is) I’m starting to think I might have been a little premature with that prediction.
Quinn has all the talent in the world, seemingly. But the questions are legitimate ones. The tumor, the year off, etc. None of that stuff bothers me, though. Well, not enough to pass on him if he’s there. Quinn is one of those guys that I wasn’t overly excited about when “draft season” started for the Texans (you know, after the Monday Night Football loss to the Colts). But time has a way of wearing a man down. Repeated beatings over the head by draft analysts, both local and national, have me saying “yes, Quinn. I want Quinn.”
So I want him. And though I still fear a team will jump up and grab him if he falls past the 49ers at #7, I am starting to look at some of the offensive prospects who are allegedly rising, and I wonder if Quinn might fall into our laps.
On the subject of how the lack of free agency affects the draft, there’s one thing that kind of confuses me. I keep seeing people, most recently John McClain, say that teams will look to fill all their needs with the draft, since “they don’t know if or when free agency will happen.”
“IF” free agency will happen? What does that mean? People think there’s a chance that there will be a 2011 season without some form of free agency? Do people know how absolutely ludicrous they sound when they say things like that? If there is no free agency, it likely means there is also no season. There’s no way on God’s (or, you know, whoever’s) green Earth that there will be a season without free agency. I can’t envision ANY scenario where that occurs. Can you? If so, I’d love to hear it.
Back to McClain, I believe he recently floated the possibility that, because the Texans MIGHT NOT HAVE A CHANCE TO SIGN A FREE AGENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! that they will maybe pick cornerback Prince Amukamara so they can at least have their other starting cornerback locked up. Of course, I have no idea who the other starter is, but it’s probably Kareem Jackson (though I hope it’s Glover Quin, because while I thought it would have been a grand idea to move him to safety a year or two ago, I’m not so hot on it now).
As far as worst case scenarios, those are easy to come up with. You know me – Cynic Eternal. So my worst-case goes like this:
1. David Carr left a brown stain on this organization too – Blaine Gabbert, QB
2. Rick Dennison’s preferred job location – Marcell Dareus, DT
3. Hot wings, nothing else – Patrick Peterson, CB
4. Skyline Chili is garbage to even a rat – Da’Quan Bowers, DE
5. Old people and sand – Von Miller, LB
6. Still crying over LeBron, shutup already and get lives – AJ Green, WR
7. San Francisco (I have nothing bad to say about SF… uhhh… ridiculous housing costs!) – Robert Quinn, LB
8. Disgusting, toothless, banjo-picking, Sudafed-cooking, musket-wielding, squirrel sauteing hillbillies – Nick Fairley – DT
9. Michael Irvin’s Searing Hot Crack Pipe – Prince Amukamara
10. The most overreacting, myopic fans in the universe, where Kyle went to be with Da-Da – Julio Jones, WR
No, I don’t think Cam Newton is going to go in the top ten. He probably will, but again – painting a worst-case scenario for the Texans here, so he’s one offensive player that I’m hypothesizing doesn’t go in the top ten. Crazy? Maybe.
11. Sufferin’ Shucks-atash – Forfeit pick due to botched time management.
No, not really.
In this scenario, what do you do? I kind of wanted to have the Redskins take someone aside from Julio Jones just so I could say “it’s still worst-case, because there’s no way the Texans will take Julio Jones.”
If you want a 3-4 rush linebacker… You are kind of screwed unless you’re okay with a reach. I don’t have anything against Akeem Ayers, Aldon Smith or Justin Houston… I just don’t want any part of them this high. Well, I don’t want any part of Houston or Smith this high. I might be swayed on Ayers… but I’d still prefer a trade down + Ayers situation.
If you want a cornerback… (And you shouldn’t) There’s always THE MOST NFL-READY CB IN THE DRAFT, NONE OTHER THAN – I have no idea.
If you want a DT… There’s always Phil Taylor. Again, perhaps too high – but I bet he works his way into the late part of the first round. Would you be okay with the Texans reaching on Taylor, since it would at least signal a monumental shift in how the Texans approach their defensive line?
If you want a defensive end… There’s always Cameron Jordan. I wouldn’t hate that pick, but it would certainly be way down my list of preferences.
If you want a safety… Obviously nobody at that position is worth a pick here, but YOU’LL TAKE GLOVER QUIN AT SAFETY AND YOU’LL LIKE IT!!
If you want the Best Player Available… Shameless promotion – I wrote this thing, so read it. Oh, you’re not going to get the BPA. But, if the Texans were so-inclined, I’d have to bring up Cameron Jordan again. Or, DE JJ Watt. OT Anthony Castonzo? OT Tyron Smith?
So there are some random draft thoughts for you. I’m going to feel really awkward if I log in tomorrow and there are no comments.
I feel your judgement.
Mar 29, 2011 at 08:44:55
Me and you both know what you could have said about SF but I think you being politically correct is fair.
In that HORRIBLE worse case scenario (which really could happen), all the significant upgrades at one position are gone. So I say trade down, try to stack up Low 1st Rd picks/High 2nd round picks and try to go after Rahim Moore, Phil Taylor and/or Ayers. You could agrue they are all upgrades over what we have now and could start.
Another thing we could hope for is some one desperate to get their hands on a QB before someone else will.
Mar 29, 2011 at 10:39:55
Trade down in this scenario, but Kubs will probably want a TE. And Wade will say Ahhh Shucks, you’re the boss… until mid season anyway… snicker. Seriously though, we should trade back unless someone of real value is there, we have more holes than a tub full of krispy kremes. And if we can’t trade back, reach for Phil Taylor or take Cam Jordan.
Mar 29, 2011 at 11:43:36
I’m under the impression that trading down will be even more difficult since it has be pick for picks. But that’s neither here nor there, the easy answer for worst case scenario is trade down. But if this is what we have to pick from who is going to want to give up picks that should be more coveted in this draft since ahem, mcclain says there could be no free agency (…wow by the way), for over reaching for a player. We should pick a player to play Chris’s game and not the easy road.
Who would I pick? I have no clue
Mar 29, 2011 at 12:01:39
Besides trading down (which will only give us an additional 4 or 5 (maybe a 3, but unlikely)), I say the answers obvious. Cameron Jordan!!
Mar 29, 2011 at 12:42:08
Im pretty sure I started the quinn bandwagon. And while I’m still firmly on it, I’m even more on the hell not to prince bandwagon
Mar 29, 2011 at 16:21:47
One of the 3-4 DE (Jordan, Watt) seems like the best pick here. Not a need selection but you can never have too many defensive lineman. Although I would never draft him, I think Cam Newton goes in the top ten.
Mar 29, 2011 at 21:30:24
Don’t be suprised if Ryan Kerrigan shoots up the board. At 6’4″, 260 lbs. he is of prime size to play OLB in a 3-4. He also has a great motor and has a relatively high floor. There may be guys with higher ceilings but few are as safe as Kerrigan. Fans may not like that safe word but the Texans can’t afford a poor pick here.
Mar 29, 2011 at 23:46:59
I think if this is the situation you trade back and pick up Jimmy Smith. I think we are making too much of the rookie corner thing. I think Kareem was just bad and we picked the wrong guy. Devin Mccourtey was also a rookie and made the pro bowl. I still think you need a veteran but say the lock out goes into the season. We have to sign a guy off the street and have him integrate to our terminology and schemes on the fly unless we sign terrance newman who could be cut if they draft prince. Newman knows the terminology and provided he is in shape, he can step in immediately pay dividend. I think it will be easier to trade back being that Newton is still on the board and minnesota picks after us and needs a QB. I would not mind Cameron Jordan if this is the situation because it allows wade to have more flexibility and move mario around. Wade runs some 4-3 within his 3-4 and we need a player like watt or jordan. It is not the biggest need but it is the best player available hands down in this situation. I would not be shocked if it is Kerrigan because he fits the Texan mold of players we look for. He went to purdue, he was a captain and and an all american and his motor is always running. It would not shock me if this is the pick if Quinn or amukamara were still on the board. I would love to trade back as I think that Jimmy smith is going to be a stud.
Mar 30, 2011 at 05:20:23
Trade down with NE and pick up their #17 and #60. This works useing the trade chart and they could pick the best DE, DT, OLB or DB,
Mar 30, 2011 at 10:09:19
@ Brian in katy
while i like kerrigan as a 4-3, like a *cough* jason babin, IMO he is a little slow, especially in his first step to be an impact OLB for the texans…
we need speed, give me quinn
Mar 30, 2011 at 11:40:40
I think the easy answer is trade down … But I think that’s what most of the teams are thinking with the top 15 picks having alot of uncertainties so unless a player drops I don’t see anyone wanting to take our 11th pick so we’re probably stuck. I’m finally convinced we need a DB in the one of the first two picks wether it’s a FS or CB depending on if Quinn moves to FS. We just have to face facts Kareem plays too slow to cover the fast guys and too short to cover the bigger receivers which means we drafted a nickel corner in the 1st. Prince or Smith could be a good number 2 with a vet at #1 and a vet at SS and we should have a respectable defensive backfield. With Wilsons stock dropping we could still get our pass rusher in the 2nd and a NT in the 3rd.
Mar 30, 2011 at 13:06:35
Crap, how did Dallas get 4 out of the top 10 picks?
I’d pick JJ Watt or Cameron Jordan in this scenario. I can’t see the Texans filling all their needs this year anyway, so they may as well get BPA that fits. These are both safe picks whereas all OLB not named Von are not. I also like Kerrigan if they think he can cover. I’d much prefer Aldon Smith to Akeem Ayers. Ayers is slow – in shorts and in pads – even in his own highlights.
Mar 30, 2011 at 16:00:14
I’m just gonna give it to ya straight, no chaser….KAREEM BETTER NOT be starting at PERIOD! He is a Nickle Corner as BEST. So whatever it is we do in the draft, we have to get a CB in the draft whether its prince or falling back and getting J.Smith…Everyday I wake up, I feel like I dislike Kareem more and more. We cannot go into next season without upgrading the Secondary in a major way. OLB draft class is deep so we’ll be fine drafting one. WE GOTTA GET THAT SECONDARY in the RIGHT direction. If not then we’ll be right back in or around the top 10 next yr.
PS. I cant see Kerrigan playing OLB. He is a protypical DE. I dont know why people are so big on trying to change the position of players so much. He will have problems in coverage and is too slow for my liking at that position. So I agree with AllenOU…give me Quinn!(if we end up drafting an OLB)
Mar 30, 2011 at 17:19:17
Chris I think it would be much appreciated if you put up a draft pick trade chart!
Mar 30, 2011 at 19:13:22
Yeah I think their putting to much stock in Kerrigans motor. Yeah Kareem is a nickel but Glover could still be a 2DB if we can get a FS in the draft I don’t think any of the safeties will be gone by our second pick and alot of people would be an upgrade over Eugene. But I doubt they will make Kareem play for his spot.
Mar 30, 2011 at 19:50:37
I can’t believe that nobody is talking about the most interesting thing that Chris said. In the best player available scenario Tyron Smith or Anthony Castonzo could easily be our pick here. I am not advocating the pick but I would like to know everyones thoughts if this really did happen.
Mar 30, 2011 at 21:15:12
@ Dustin…I can’t even lie man. If they drafted Castonzo or Smith, I would probably put a hole(or 2 or 3) in my wall. We got waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too many holes on Defense to be drafting a O-linemen….
Mar 31, 2011 at 00:18:27
1st off Smith and Costanzo won’t be the PBA they are mid to late 1st round grades … Any of those guys who drops from the top 10 or Jordan and Watt will be the BPA.
Mar 31, 2011 at 08:19:15
Even if those linemen were the “BPA”, we wouldn’t take them. Besides QB and RB, OT is the last position the Texans would draft in the 1st Rd. I think that’s why so many people are talking about trading down. Maybe someone wants to trade up for any of the OT or for one of the QBs.
But there will be Free Agency (whenever that will be) so the Texans just have to be aggressive at getting one of the top corners on the market.
Mar 31, 2011 at 08:26:22
I don’t think any OT in this year’s draft would be BPA at 11.
Apr 2, 2011 at 12:03:56
Basically everyone knows our needs. OLB,CB,S,NT
If Quinn or Prince is not there i agree with trading down. But if one of them is there i think we run to the podium with that pick..
I would love to see nnamdi get signed via free agency but honestly why would a guy like that go to a team like ours..
So i am hoping on Quinn or Amukamara
Apr 2, 2011 at 19:00:20
everyone is hoping for one of those guys, i just don’t think it is realistic.
Apr 7, 2011 at 07:57:57
I was reading everyone’s comments and it hit me – this is one mess of a team. Not that it is any kind of revelation of anything. But, say we had an awesome OLB, NT, CR and S on the roster. We’d be talking about how we just had to get a decent backup QB, and good interior offensive lineman, a starting WR opposite Andre, and depth on defense. It’s like it’s 2002 and 2006 all over again.
Apr 8, 2011 at 21:31:21
i disagree T.Willms.
Our only mess is on defense i would love to be talking about a decent “BACKUP” QB, interior line, and someone opposite of Dre.. Instead were talking about “STARTERS” on the defense.. If we could get a couple good defensive players i think we would have a real shot at the postseason this year!