I’ve seen some names mentioned in the comments here and there, and at this very early stage – I thought we would put some of our early favorites for the first round pick up. This list of course doesn’t include guys who will no doubt be off the board, like Suh and Berry.
Right now, the guys I like in no particular order, and with minimal (to this point) research (and yes, very good chance that all or most of these will also be off the board):
Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee
Earl Thomas, S, Texas
Jonathan Dwyer, RB, Georgia Tech
Mike Iupati, OG, Idaho
Joe Haden, CB, Florida
Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State (I know it’s not a need, but if he’s there you MUST think about it.)
I guess you can throw Clemson RB C.J. Spiller and Florida State CB Patrick Robinson into the mix, but I don’t feel as strongly about them at this point.
Right now, if you put a gun to my head – I think my top choice is Dan Williams… but it’s just way too early to lock that in.
Loading ...
Jan 29, 2010 at 18:30:03
Of that list, probably Earl Thomas, but, when I´m hungry it all looks good, and right now Dan Williams, Mike Iupati, Joe Haden would probably all make me happy for different reasons. Whoever it is, has to have a lot of attitude and aggresiveness, I like it when draft sites describe a guy like..he finishes the block when the other guy is on the ground…
Jan 29, 2010 at 18:42:47
I’m with you, 1tex. I’m always looking for guys who play with a mean streak. The Texans finally brought in some guys like that and they were better for it.
Jan 29, 2010 at 19:44:07
Would love Haden But Earl Thomas and Jonathan Dwyer are more likely to be there
Jan 30, 2010 at 04:04:21
You can throw Joe Haden in with the likes of Suh, McCoy, and Berry. He’ll be the 1st CB off the board.
I like these guys:
1. Mike Iupati, G
2. Kyle Wilson, CB
3. Dan Williams, DT
4. Earl Thomas, FS
There isn’t a RB fit for the Texans in the 1st round this year.
Jan 30, 2010 at 10:14:23
Hopefully we free up some money by getting rid of Dunta and can get a solid DT and focus on CB, S, or WR. Dez would be a great addition to the team to take 2 defenders off AJ. Then throw in OD, that’s a very potent offensive attack. But defense is more than likely the way they’ll go. Either way I’m happy.
Jan 30, 2010 at 11:27:45
Yeah I agree with Carson, no way Haden makes it to 20. Also think there is no way Bryant makes it to 20. If either of them do, jump all over it.
The way I see it, 20 goes like this
- Dan Williams
- Anthony Davis (an eye towards pushing Brown to LG)
- Taylor Mays
- Bruce Campbell
- Mike Iupati
- Terrence Cody (I know this is unpopular now, but I think he will be in better shape for the Combine, and I also believe he is a physical freak.)
- Trade down
I’m not sold on any of the CB prospects outside of Haden to the point where I’m not fine with waiting for round 2. I don’t think any of the RB’s are special. I hate me some Earl Thomas as a first rounder cause I don’t see him as a game changer. Don’t see any LB’s with a chance to blitz well going in the first.
Jan 30, 2010 at 13:40:04
I honestly, 100% believe that either Dan Williams or Cody falls to us at 20. To which, I say: “Yes, please.”
Jan 30, 2010 at 14:48:19
Big fan of Dan Williams and Iupati right now.
Jan 30, 2010 at 17:00:23
@BFD
I’m about 100% sure Cody is there. Do we have the balls to pick him?
Jan 30, 2010 at 19:21:45
If Dez makes it to 20, we should be able get some good offers to trade down…
Jan 30, 2010 at 20:49:43
Just to be thorough, which OTs should be available at #20? I am for moving Brown inside if we can find someone to take his place.
Jan 31, 2010 at 15:01:32
I think it will be somebody on the offensive or defensive lines. So I would not be shocked if it is dan Williams or Price out of UCLA. I would love for us to go with Iupati but I can also see a scenario in which Kubiak does not draft him. I would also not be opposed to trading down and drafting Sean witherspoon out of mizzou. I know he is a linebacker, but he covers well and we could use an improvement at weakside LB.I think we take care of the secondary with our 2nd round pick.I could see us drafting Perrish cox or javier arenas.
Jan 31, 2010 at 18:17:59
I´m reading Iupati´s stock went down at the senior bowl. He was too slow and gave up one big sack, and was holding jersys to keep people from going around him to the QB(Bleacher Report). I didn¨t get to see the game. Disappointing.
Jan 31, 2010 at 19:22:06
1 tex your right. Iupati has a bad habit of holding and I think that will pit him into the second.
Dan Williams is exactly what we need and I’m all for it
Trent Williams could be a good pick. Can play all 5 line positions and could be our eventual LT. He was a beast at C against Stanford
Jan 31, 2010 at 19:26:05
Imagine our 3 wr sets with AJ. JJ and dez along with OD.
Oh. My. Goodness.
Jan 31, 2010 at 23:02:26
That my boy matty Ice Shaub.MVP of the probowl baby!
Feb 1, 2010 at 00:24:40
If you read the Senior Bowl recap, you’d see that Iupati got owned by Geno Atkins, as has proven to be a dynamite run blocker but potentially a liability in pass coverage.
You do not draft players in the first round that have an incomplete game.
Dan Williams is my #1 guy in a vacuum, but I’d rather have Earl Thomas because, if we draft Williams in round 1, that means we end up having to pick between corner or safety in round 2, and the losing position sucks for another year.
If we go Earl Thomas and Devin McCourty in rounds 1 and 2, we can throw a 2011 pick towards a team to get a bonus third rounder, than draft both Gerhart and Torrel Troup, who would be a huge upgrade to our NT position without sacrificing.
Feb 1, 2010 at 01:25:30
Kyle,
It’s a good option, but I think one of those guys will be taken before our pick. If Dan Williams gets taken, then we draft Earl Thomas. If Earl Thomas is gone as well, we go best OT available. I don’t think there is a corner outside of Joe Haden worth taking in the first round. That’s why we’ll have to grab one in the second and I’m hoping of Perrish Cox.
Feb 1, 2010 at 09:06:47
http://www.examiner.com/x-778-Houston-Texans-Examiner~y2010m1d31-Texans-draft-watch-DB-Earl-Thomas?cid=examiner-email
Could have been the best ever had he stayed in school…looks good to me
Feb 1, 2010 at 12:06:34
I think the only options at #20 for as of Feb 1st is Haden, Thomas and Williams. Although all three could be gone by then. Anything else would be a reach. Bryant would be tempting but potentially messes up the rest of the draft, need wise (ie, DL, CB (Dunta’s gone), FS).
I say if those guys aren’t available trade down for the best you can. If its a late first it could be a Lupati or Cody, or any number of CB’s. I agree with the thought of not getting a RB until the third (Dwyer (if he falls), Gerhart, or Dixon). TEXANS just take a chance on one at least.
This is suppose to be a deep draft for DT/NT so I could see delaying that pick until the third also. Either way we need an upgrade at RB, CB or FS (that can cover), and DL.
Lookin’ forward to your first Mock, Chris.
Feb 1, 2010 at 12:22:48
HELL NO TO GERHART
rather have a black guy
Feb 1, 2010 at 14:16:44
For what the Texans need I’d take a Larry Csonka (Gerhart) or the Bus (Dixon). I don’t care what color HE is as long as he can guarantee us 2 yds when needed on the goal line and can make the other team BLACK AND BLUE.
Feb 1, 2010 at 18:29:33
I would not mind gerhart and as I said before he seems like a candidate to be on our team. He is this years james casey type player. High effort players that are smart are the type of players we like.
Feb 1, 2010 at 20:51:04
I like Gerhart because it seems like his skill set complements Slaton better than anyone else.
Feb 2, 2010 at 02:11:10
By the way, drafttek.com just updated their simulator, and I was able to make this draft for the Texans without any trades:
1. Earl Thomas, FS, Texas (best FS we ever had by Week 2)
2. Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers (rising star with shutdown potential)
3. Toby Gerhart, RB, Stanford (the guy you can count on on 3rd-and-1)
4. Torrell Troup, NT, UCF (potentially better fit for 4-3; dominated the Shrine Game and practices)
5. Blair White, WR, Michigan State (great fit to replace Kevin Walter if we lose him)
6. Jonathan Crompton, QB, Tennessee (a great developmental project that doesn’t cost $6M over the next two years; if Orlovsky remains on the roster after failing to beat out Grossman, I will be really disappointed)
6a. Zoltan Mesko, P, Michigan (had a mediocre Senior Bowl but is still a gigantic punter who tops the charts for his position)
7. Myron Rolle, S, Florida State (I know we have Pollard, but you gotta take Rolle if he falls that far)
Would anyone NOT be overjoyed by this haul? Of the 8, 6 could/should be starting by midseason, if not by Week 1. SIX!
Feb 2, 2010 at 09:59:15
Kyle,
With Rolle’s showing at the Senior Bowl, I don’t think he will be there in the 7th. I gamble on him in the 5th if there for depth and find a backup WR later or go get a FA WR.
Feb 2, 2010 at 13:06:27
I WAS JOKING WITH THE BLACK COMMENT
ALSO NO TO CROMPTOM, ID RATHER HAVE RADIO
Feb 2, 2010 at 16:04:23
Gee Allen, I think I remember Toby ran for something like 135 yards against a defense with 8 players in the box in the Sun Bowl.
I don’t think the Csonka comparisons with Gerhart are accurate. Most people haven’t watched any of his games and just write him off as a big, bruising power back. He is that, but his running style is a lot more finesse oriented. Sure, he’ll truck people occasionally, but what really sets him apart is that he runs with outstanding balance, footwork, and the ability to consistently fall forward.
This is why he’ll be successful in the NFL. Trucking is good, and can work against most NFL corners and some FS, but against say a cushing, Pollard, or Dawkins it will most often fail. The ability to remain upright during contact and the speed to break through holes (I think he is rumored to run a 4.48 as a freshman/sophmore). I would compare him to a poor man’s matt forte minus the pass catching potential.
Feb 2, 2010 at 21:04:01
I like the kid. But not in the third. There will be some good corners in the third still
and I’d rather have Tate, hardesty, or just keep chris brown…… PSYCHE!
Feb 5, 2010 at 13:37:40
I would like Houston to draft as many solid Longhorns as possible in order to get stupid K-EYE in Austin to actually show all the Texans games instead of Radio and the farging Thumbtacks.