Houston Texans
Posted by Mike Harman on Saturday, April 30, 2011
*************2013 NFL DRAFT GRADES************
1.27 DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson
No. I have waited years for the Texans to learn that they have to improve their offense, and I never believed that they would do it. Now all they need is a QB with some 'it' power.
A
2.57 D.J Swearinger, S, South Carolina
I really like this pick. The team needed a guy to par with Ed Reed and they got him easily with Swearinger.
B
3.89 Brennan Williams, OT, UNC
Good value, fills a need. Can't complain.
B+
3.95 Sam Montgomery, DE/LB, LSU
There was once a time where Montgomery was a top-5 pick, so there is some obvious potential. His value is fine here too.
B
4.124 Trevardo Williams, DE/LB, UConn
6.176 David Quessenberry, OT, San Jose State
Great value here. There were guys that had him as one of their top-100 prospects.
6.195 Alen Bonner, WR, Jacksonville State
6.198 Chris Jones, DT, Bowling Green
6.201 Ryan Griffin, TE, UConn
OVERALL GRADE: A
If this was any other team drafting this it would be a B+ but the Texans get an A. They have needed a receiver across from Andre Johnson since they drafted him, and the finally got one. They then awarded themselves for it by getting a top of good depth throughout the rest of the draft, and at a great value.
I do think that the team will still be limited on offense though. They still need one more element at receiver/tight end (although I LOVE Lestar Jean, Keshawn Martin, Jeff Maehl and DeVier Posey as players that can fill in). The team is lethal running the ball, but they could afford to get a speed rusher to mix up the power punch that they have now. And finally I really wish that they had more depth at QB. They have a capable starter in Schaub and a ton of 3rd stringers for depth, but they need someone to push Schaub to his fullest.
*************2012 NFL DRAFT GRADES************
1:26 Whitney Mercilus, DE/LB, Illinois
This pick was way too obvious. The team needs a wide receiver desperately, but they of course went with a defensive player (and the best pass rusher available). Not a terrible pick, but too obvious.
B
3.68 Devier Posey, WR, Ohio State
The Texans were able to get a 4th out of a trade to fall back some, but the pick for Posey that they made was a bit iffy. Posey has a ton of potential to succeed, but he is a huge risk for the team. The team would have been better off getting a lessor risk like Rueben Randle.
C+
3.76 Brandon Brooks, OG, Miami-OH
Brooks was a guy that most thought would go in this range, so it is a decent overall pick for the Texans who lost some guys on their line to free agency.
B
4.99 Ben Jones, OC, Georgia
The Texans lost a lot of talent on their line this offseason, so getting a quality guy like Jones is great here.
B+
4.121 Keyshawn Martin, WR, Michigan State
The Texans needed to find extra receiver depth, and Martin's range is pretty close to here.
B
4.126. DE/DT, Jared Crick, Nebraska
Crick was once a 1st round guy, so if the Texans can get the best out of him they will have a steal.
B
5.161 Randy Bullock, K, TAMU
I'm not a huge fan of Bullock's, but he is a kicker with good potential and he will be a possible upgrade next year.
B-
6.195 Nick Mondek, OT, Purdue
OVERALL GRADE: B-
This was a mostly predictable Texans draft, but I can't support their desire to not take the next step going forward. The team's biggest need if you asked almost anyone was a receiver (something I've actually been saying for years), and they decided to take.... DeVier Posey. Posey has potential, but nobody had Posey in their top-100, and some thought that he would go undrafted. Add in some good late talent, and you have a draft that is good, but not spectacular.
*************2011 NFL DRAFT GRADES************
Picks
1.11 JJ Watt, DE/DT, Wisconsin
Some thought that the Texans would be set at defensive end, but with a need at NT. I have thought that the team would be better off finding an upgrade at DE while putting a guy (like JJ Watt) across from Mario WIlliams, and next to (NT) Amobi Okoye. I'm not saying that I'm right, but it appears that the team likes the second option going forward.
B+
2.42 Brooks Reed, DE/LB, Arizona
Another pick to love. Reed was worth a top-20 pick, and is the Clay Matthews type of player to match their Cushing.
A
2.60 Brandon Harris, CB, Miami
Another pick I really love. Harris was the third best corner in the draft, and is a steal here. He also could have gone to the Ravens in the first round and there wouldn't have been too many questions.
A
4.127 Rashad Carmichael, CB, Virginia Tech
I don't love Carmichael, but he was a good talent and got good value. The team also is fixing a major issue.
B+
5.144 Shiloh Keo, S, Idaho
Another guy that could have gone earlier that fills a need. This team really made it a priority to fix their defensive issues.
B
5.152 T.J. Yates, QB, UNC
I just don't get the TJ Yates hype. Yates almost got beat out last year by a much younger guy, and he never had a great offense despite numerous talented players around him.
D
7.214 Derek Newton, OT, Arkansas State
Derek Newton was a sleeper to some draftniks, and a 7th round pick for a guy that should compete for a backup role is pretty good.
B
7.254 Cheta Ozougwu, DE/LB, Rice
Major credit to Aaron Aloysius for calling this pick. He's a good developmental pass rusher and the young 3-4 liked him.
Draft Grade: A/C
What does that grade mean? The team went into the draft wanting to set up a good 3-4 defense, and they completely did just that. Most of their picks hit big needs, and they got great talent on every pick.
Sure the team did a great job of drafting talent, and the defense should be good next year. But this is the story we seem to tell every single year. The Texans devote every single draft to finding a way to beat Peyton Manning, and at the end of the year this team looks average. It sounds dumb, but they also get a C grade because for this team to win they need to find more offensive tools. The receiving corps are awful after you get past Andre Johnson who gets banged up each year. The running class always shows up, but it is always injured and always has question marks. The offensive line is fine, but could it be better? Matt Schaub is good, but is he a top-10 QB in the league with the ability to lead a team to the playoffs?
The team has had talented defensive players for years, but they need just a couple of tools to really be elite on offense. Texan fans hate when I make this rant every year, but at the end of the season the team is still just a few tools away from the playoffs. They changed to a 3-4 because their fairly talented 4-3 wasn't cutting it. Why not try the other side of the ball?
NEW GRADE: A/C
I really can't change too much from my original picks. I loved the first four picks based on need and talent, and for the new 3-4 it is hard to not walk away happy. But they keep the 'C' grade because I really don't think it matters how good the defense is when you ignore the small issues on offense. But if the team had looked to find a WR2, or a solid lineman early on, I think the team would have been so much better.
1.27 DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson
No. I have waited years for the Texans to learn that they have to improve their offense, and I never believed that they would do it. Now all they need is a QB with some 'it' power.
A
2.57 D.J Swearinger, S, South Carolina
I really like this pick. The team needed a guy to par with Ed Reed and they got him easily with Swearinger.
B
3.89 Brennan Williams, OT, UNC
Good value, fills a need. Can't complain.
B+
3.95 Sam Montgomery, DE/LB, LSU
There was once a time where Montgomery was a top-5 pick, so there is some obvious potential. His value is fine here too.
B
4.124 Trevardo Williams, DE/LB, UConn
6.176 David Quessenberry, OT, San Jose State
Great value here. There were guys that had him as one of their top-100 prospects.
6.195 Alen Bonner, WR, Jacksonville State
6.198 Chris Jones, DT, Bowling Green
6.201 Ryan Griffin, TE, UConn
OVERALL GRADE: A
If this was any other team drafting this it would be a B+ but the Texans get an A. They have needed a receiver across from Andre Johnson since they drafted him, and the finally got one. They then awarded themselves for it by getting a top of good depth throughout the rest of the draft, and at a great value.
I do think that the team will still be limited on offense though. They still need one more element at receiver/tight end (although I LOVE Lestar Jean, Keshawn Martin, Jeff Maehl and DeVier Posey as players that can fill in). The team is lethal running the ball, but they could afford to get a speed rusher to mix up the power punch that they have now. And finally I really wish that they had more depth at QB. They have a capable starter in Schaub and a ton of 3rd stringers for depth, but they need someone to push Schaub to his fullest.
*************2012 NFL DRAFT GRADES************
1:26 Whitney Mercilus, DE/LB, Illinois
This pick was way too obvious. The team needs a wide receiver desperately, but they of course went with a defensive player (and the best pass rusher available). Not a terrible pick, but too obvious.
B
3.68 Devier Posey, WR, Ohio State
The Texans were able to get a 4th out of a trade to fall back some, but the pick for Posey that they made was a bit iffy. Posey has a ton of potential to succeed, but he is a huge risk for the team. The team would have been better off getting a lessor risk like Rueben Randle.
C+
3.76 Brandon Brooks, OG, Miami-OH
Brooks was a guy that most thought would go in this range, so it is a decent overall pick for the Texans who lost some guys on their line to free agency.
B
4.99 Ben Jones, OC, Georgia
The Texans lost a lot of talent on their line this offseason, so getting a quality guy like Jones is great here.
B+
4.121 Keyshawn Martin, WR, Michigan State
The Texans needed to find extra receiver depth, and Martin's range is pretty close to here.
B
4.126. DE/DT, Jared Crick, Nebraska
Crick was once a 1st round guy, so if the Texans can get the best out of him they will have a steal.
B
5.161 Randy Bullock, K, TAMU
I'm not a huge fan of Bullock's, but he is a kicker with good potential and he will be a possible upgrade next year.
B-
6.195 Nick Mondek, OT, Purdue
OVERALL GRADE: B-
This was a mostly predictable Texans draft, but I can't support their desire to not take the next step going forward. The team's biggest need if you asked almost anyone was a receiver (something I've actually been saying for years), and they decided to take.... DeVier Posey. Posey has potential, but nobody had Posey in their top-100, and some thought that he would go undrafted. Add in some good late talent, and you have a draft that is good, but not spectacular.
*************2011 NFL DRAFT GRADES************
Picks
1.11 JJ Watt, DE/DT, Wisconsin
Some thought that the Texans would be set at defensive end, but with a need at NT. I have thought that the team would be better off finding an upgrade at DE while putting a guy (like JJ Watt) across from Mario WIlliams, and next to (NT) Amobi Okoye. I'm not saying that I'm right, but it appears that the team likes the second option going forward.
B+
2.42 Brooks Reed, DE/LB, Arizona
Another pick to love. Reed was worth a top-20 pick, and is the Clay Matthews type of player to match their Cushing.
A
2.60 Brandon Harris, CB, Miami
Another pick I really love. Harris was the third best corner in the draft, and is a steal here. He also could have gone to the Ravens in the first round and there wouldn't have been too many questions.
A
4.127 Rashad Carmichael, CB, Virginia Tech
I don't love Carmichael, but he was a good talent and got good value. The team also is fixing a major issue.
B+
5.144 Shiloh Keo, S, Idaho
Another guy that could have gone earlier that fills a need. This team really made it a priority to fix their defensive issues.
B
5.152 T.J. Yates, QB, UNC
I just don't get the TJ Yates hype. Yates almost got beat out last year by a much younger guy, and he never had a great offense despite numerous talented players around him.
D
7.214 Derek Newton, OT, Arkansas State
Derek Newton was a sleeper to some draftniks, and a 7th round pick for a guy that should compete for a backup role is pretty good.
B
7.254 Cheta Ozougwu, DE/LB, Rice
Major credit to Aaron Aloysius for calling this pick. He's a good developmental pass rusher and the young 3-4 liked him.
Draft Grade: A/C
What does that grade mean? The team went into the draft wanting to set up a good 3-4 defense, and they completely did just that. Most of their picks hit big needs, and they got great talent on every pick.
Sure the team did a great job of drafting talent, and the defense should be good next year. But this is the story we seem to tell every single year. The Texans devote every single draft to finding a way to beat Peyton Manning, and at the end of the year this team looks average. It sounds dumb, but they also get a C grade because for this team to win they need to find more offensive tools. The receiving corps are awful after you get past Andre Johnson who gets banged up each year. The running class always shows up, but it is always injured and always has question marks. The offensive line is fine, but could it be better? Matt Schaub is good, but is he a top-10 QB in the league with the ability to lead a team to the playoffs?
The team has had talented defensive players for years, but they need just a couple of tools to really be elite on offense. Texan fans hate when I make this rant every year, but at the end of the season the team is still just a few tools away from the playoffs. They changed to a 3-4 because their fairly talented 4-3 wasn't cutting it. Why not try the other side of the ball?
NEW GRADE: A/C
I really can't change too much from my original picks. I loved the first four picks based on need and talent, and for the new 3-4 it is hard to not walk away happy. But they keep the 'C' grade because I really don't think it matters how good the defense is when you ignore the small issues on offense. But if the team had looked to find a WR2, or a solid lineman early on, I think the team would have been so much better.
Tags: "houston texans" "texans draft grade" "2011 nfl draft" "2012 nfl draft"
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