NFL Draft: Houston Texans Edition

The 2010 NFL Draft is fast approaching (it begins this Thursday on ESPN), and every NFL page is inundated with mock drafts by their respective draftniks and would-be general managers. I do not have the time, resources, or willpower to go through an entire mock draft, but maybe I'll reach that level some day. Plus, I figure that there are enough out there already, and there are only so many logical combinations and permutations you can put out there. So for now, you'll just have to be content with me focusing on one or two teams, and an overview of my thoughts on this year's crapshoot draft. Let's start with the hometown team (at least for me): the Houston Texans.

The Picks:
First Round--Pick 20 (20)
Second Round--Pick 19 (51)
Third Round--Pick 17 (81)
Fourth Round--Pick 20 (118)
Fifth Round--Pick 19 (150)
Sixth Round--Pick 18 (187), Pick 28 (197) (from San Diego)
Seventh Round--Pick 20 (227)

Team Needs: The Texans finished the 2009 campaign ranked 30th in the league in rushing yards per game at 92.2 YPG (although we weren't in bad company, Indianapolis finished dead last). So it stands to reason that the biggest need facing the Texans this draft is at the quarterback position. Matt Schaub just doesn't have what it takes to lead a successful running attack. His handoffs are atrocious and his footwork dropping back is nowhere near the level a starting NFL quarterback should be. Just kidding. Running the ball means running backs. The Texans could use a running back. Other needs include everywhere in the secondary, and the interior of the offensive and defensive line.

What Should They Do?: I'm glad you asked. Now keep in mind, this is not necessarily what they will do, only what I think would be real nice. In the first round, Houston holds the 20th overall pick. From the majority of what I've seen and heard, most experts have the Texans picking either Fresno St. running back Ryan Matthews, Boise St. cornerback Kyle Wilson or Rutgers corner Devin McCourty. Earlier mock drafts had Taylor Mays, the hard-hitting safety of Southern California fame, being drafted at or around the Texans' 20th spot. However, recently his draft stock has seen him drop to the very end of the first round. Previously, Mays would have also been my number one choice. However, due to recent events (read: Dunta Robinson leaving), it seems to me that corner would be a more pressing issue. This is not to say that I would not be very happy if the Texans picked up Mays, but I think a more realistic situation is taking either of the corners. Why not Ryan Matthews, rated as the second best running back in the draft? The answer: Toby Gerhart. Last season's rushing yards leader is perhaps the most underrated running back in the draft, or at least at the top of the draft. I'll go more into the running backs in my overview post, but I'll finish by saying that I believe that Ryan Matthews and Toby Gerhart are similar in terms of what they can produce, but the end all in this argument is value. Taking Gerhart in the second round allows you to bolster your secondary with someone who could become the centerpiece of the defensive backfield. Whichever running back you select will still be splitting time with Steve Slaton, who had a bad year but is still a very talented player that should rebound.

Dream Situation: Take Taylor Mays. That is, if Earl Thomas doesn't slip down (which I've seen on a couple of mock drafts). Both of these guys have the potential to be game-changers, something that Houston has really never had in the secondary. Neither are the "sure thing" that Eric Berry is touted to be, but both have plenty of opportunity to become very good NFL safeties. Alabama cornerback Kareem Jackson, a very good player whom some believe may go late in the first round, falls in the second round and the Texans snatch him up. I don't know how teams are rating him on their big boards, so the Texans may have to make a deal to move up in the second round to get their man. In the third round, the Texans select Mr. Gerhart, after several backs are selected before him. Most rankings that I have seen have Gerhart near the end of the top ten running backs, and depending on how it all shakes out, I would not be terribly surprised if he made it all the way to the third round. Then again, it may take something for him to make it all the way to seventeen, but I would love to have him in our backfield. The rest of the draft would be used finding bodies for the middle of the offensive and defensive lines and picking the best players available, regardless of need.

The Houston Texans are a good team. With a good draft, some better breaks and actually showing up to the first game, the Texans are once again favored to make their first playoff run. The team as it is could probably make a very good showing, but if they are able to fill some minor holes they could be a team that starts to realize their potential. If not, heads could roll within the organization. Oh, if we could only reach the day when the Texans are no longer dark horses.