Official 2016 NFL Draft - Round 2 & 3 Thread

[Keith]

So the Texans found a much needed pass catcher in the first round. What are they looking for on Day 2? Some help on the OL and DL? Perhaps a TE? Who's the best available?

Texans start the day with pick #52 overall in the second round and pick #85 overall in the third round.

[Roy P]

1st round talent still available:
WR Michael Thomas Ohio St
NT Jarran Reed Alabama
DE Bronson Kaufusi BYU
WR Sterling Shepard Oklahoma
DE Kevin Dodd Clemson
DE Carl Nassib Penn St
OT Jason Spriggs Indiana
NT A'Shawn Robinson Alabama

Players I gave a 2nd round grade:
RB Kenneth Dixon La Tech
RB Derrick Henry Alabama
TE Hunter Henry Arkansas
TE Austin Hooper Stanford
TE Nick Vannett Ohio St
LBO Shilique Calhoun Michigan St
NT Maliek Collins Nebraska
NT Javon Hargrave S.Carolina St.
NT Hassan Ridgeway Texas
S Sean Davis Maryland

Jason Spriggs intriguing me.

[Roy P]

DE Bronson Kaufusi BYU 6' 6" 285 1.69 4.87 7.03 4.25 30" 9' 3" 25 9 3/4" 34 1/2"
DE Kevin Dodd Clemson 6' 5" 277 1.69 4.86 7.18 4.44 30.5" 9'2" DNP 10" 34"
DE Carl Nassib Penn St 6' 6 7/8" 277 1.62 4.84 7.27 4.37 28.5" 9' 6" 21 10 3/8" 34 1/2"

I don't need a WR now that Fuller is on board. I see plenty of 300lbs DTs who can be groomed to replace Wilfork. I can get a TE in the 3rd or 4th. There are only 3 players who can provide some pass rush from the DE position that Crick's departure demands to be filled.

[Roy P]

My next 3 rounds....
52: R2P21 DE BRONSON KAUFUSI BRIGHAM YOUNG
85: R3P22 TE NICK VANNETT OHIO STATE
119: R4P21 DT MALIEK COLLINS NEBRASKA

Being able to select M. Collins in the 4th round allows me to pass on Reed and Robinson in the 2nd round. I have big faith in Kaufusi and would take him @ #52 to replace Crick. Vannett can block and be an upgrade at TE, so I can pass on Henry and Hooper in the 2nd round.

[Roy P]

Kevin Dodd to the Titans.....Leaving Kaufusi and Nassib.

[Keith]

Traded up again, this time with the Falcons to #50. Gave up their sixth round pick.

Take Nick Martin, center from Notre Dame.

[Roy P]

With Jarran Reed off the board, for the record, I'm taking Bronson Kaufusi with the 50th pick over Nick Martin.

So far:
WR Josh Doctson
DE Bronson Kaufusi

would have been my picks.

On another note, Hackenberg just went to the Jets with Bryce Petty.

[HPF Bob]

We're going for an All Domer draft.

I like the Martin pick, a solid "need" pick. He'll stay at center for several years.

The J-E-S-T, JEST , JEST, JEST just chose Hackenberg over Connor Cook.

[Roy P]

I now have Kaufusi, Nassib, Kenneth Dixon, Austin Hooper, and Nick Vannett at the top of my board.

I had Will Fuller between Hooper and Vannett.

I'm also watching Silique Calhoun, Maliek Collins, Javon Hargrave, Hassan Ridgeway, Sean Davis, Connor Cook, Braxton Miller, and Vonn Bell.

If I wanted a C, then Christian Westerman was my top guy in the 3rd followed by RB C.J. Prosise.

[HPF Bob]

1. Will Fuller
2. Nick Martin
3. Sheldon Day
4. C.J. Prosise
5. Elijah Shumate

Maybe Rick Smith watched ND demolish the Longhorns the first week of the season and decided that was all the scouting he needed to do. :eek:

[HPF Bob]

The Cowboys didn't even draft the best crippled linebacker on the board...

[chuck]

Aguayo in the second round. I am stunned.

[Roy P]

Kaufusi going to Ozzie Newsome. I have to say he is a better GM than TE, and he was a pretty damn good TE.

[Arky]

2nd round results:

1(32) Browns Ogbah, Emmanuel DE 6'4" 273 Oklahoma St. 6.0
2(33) Titans Dodd, Kevin DE 6'5" 277 Clemson 6.2
3(34) Cowboys Smith, Jaylon OLB 6'2" 223 Notre Dame 5.4
4(35) Chargers Henry, Hunter TE 6'5" 250 Arkansas 6.2
5(36) Jaguars (From Ravens) Jack, Myles OLB 6'1" 245 UCLA 7.3
6(37) Chiefs (From 49ers) Jones, Chris DT 6'6" 310 Mississippi St. 6.2
7(38) Dolphins (From Ravens through Jaguars) Howard, Xavien CB 6'0" 201 Baylor 5.6
8(39) Buccaneers Spence, Noah DE 6'2" 251 Eastern Kentucky 5.9
9(40) Giants Shepard, Sterling WR 5'10" 194 Oklahoma 5.9
10(41) Bills (From Bears) Ragland, Reggie ILB 6'1" 247 Alabama 6.4
11(42) Ravens (From Dolphins) Correa, Kamalei DE 6'3" 243 Boise St. 5.8
12(43) Titans (From Eagles through Rams) Johnson, Austin NT 6'4" 314 Penn St. 5.9
13(44) Raiders Ward, Jihad DE 6'5" 297 Illinois 5.6
14(45) Titans (From Rams) Henry, Derrick RB 6'3" 247 Alabama 6.1
15(46) Lions Robinson, A'Shawn DT 6'4" 307 Alabama 6.3
16(47) Saints Thomas, Michael WR 6'3" 212 Ohio St. 5.8
17(48) Packers (From Colts) Spriggs, Jason OT 6'6" 301 Indiana 5.8
18(49) Seahawks (From Bears through Bills) Reed, Jarran DT 6'3" 307 Alabama 6.1
19(50) Texans (From Falcons) Martin, Nick OG 6'4" 299 Notre Dame 5.7
20(51) Jets Hackenberg, Christian QB 6'4" 223 Penn St. 5.5
21(52) Falcons (From Texans) Jones, Deion OLB 6'1" 222 LSU 5.7
22(53) Redskins Cravens, Su'a OLB 6'1" 226 USC 5.8
23(54) Vikings Alexander, Mackensie CB 5'10" 190 Clemson 5.9
24(55) Bengals Boyd, Tyler WR 6'1" 197 Pittsburgh 5.9
25(56) Bears (From Seahawks) Whitehair, Cody OG 6'4" 301 Kansas St. 6.1
26(57) Colts (From Packers) Green, T.J. FS 6'2" 209 Clemson 5.6
27(58) Steelers Davis, Sean CB 6'1" 201 Maryland 5.5
28(59) Buccaneers (From Chiefs) Aguayo, Roberto K 6'0" 207 Florida St. 5.5
29(60) Patriots Jones, Cyrus CB 5'10" 197 Alabama 5.5
30(61) Saints (From Patriots through Cardinals) Bell, Vonn FS 5'11" 199 Ohio St. 5.6
31(62) Panthers Bradberry, James CB 6'1" 211 Samford 5.3
32(63) Broncos Gotsis, Adam DT 6'4" 287 Georgia Tech 5.5

[Nconroe]

Another good WR from Ohio State , converted QB Braxton Miller. I'm ok, but surprised by the pick. Gonna be competitive at WR for sure.

[Arky]

Texans pick #85 - WR Braxton Miller, Ohio St.

Can throw....Multi-talented wildcat/package guy, IMO....... the receiving corp should be good for many years..

[HPF Bob]

Texans take Braxton Miller in the 3rd. I wasn't planning to take a WR for the first two days but Smith thinks we need two of them. Has he given up on Jaelen Strong after the pot arrest?

Needless to say, I'm not thrilled.

[barrett]

The new rules make slot receivers uncoverable. Smaller, quicker WRs are dominating football in ways that were not possible before. It is embarrassing we haven't had a decent slot guy ever. It's been just as glaring a hole as TE in my mind.

Converted QBs make some of the best slot guys in the NFL. They have the phone booth quickness to exploit the choice routes that make the best modern NFL offenses go. Edelman is a perfect example.

I don't know nearly enough about Miller to declare him a WR, but I am very happy we are trying to address the total lack of a real slot guy on our offense.

And Bob, I am not sure how you could possibly look at our roster and think we didn't need a WR in the first 2 days. Our #2 and #3 WRs last year were replacement level vets who combined for just over 1000 yards (Shorts and Washington) and roughly 347 drops. Our #4 WR had 13 more catches than Dope arrests last year. This position was a dumpster fire outside of Hopkins last year.

[Arky]

3rd round results:

1(64) Titans Byard, Kevin S 5'11" 216 Middle Tennessee St. 5.2
2(65) Browns Nassib, Carl DE 6'7" 277 Penn St. 5.6
3(66) Chargers Tuerk, Max C 6'5" 298 USC 5.6
4(67) Cowboys Collins, Maliek DT 6'2" 311 Nebraska 5.6
5(68) 49ers Redmond, Will CB 5'11" 182 Mississippi St. 5.6
6(69) Jaguars Ngakoue, Yannick DE 6'2" 252 Maryland 5.3
7(70) Ravens Kaufusi, Bronson DE 6'6" 285 BYU 5.5
8(71) Giants Thompson, Darian S 6'2" 208 Boise St. 5.5
9(72) Bears Bullard, Jonathan DT 6'3" 285 Florida 6.0
10(73) Dolphins Drake, Kenyan RB 6'1" 210 Alabama 5.5
11(74) Chiefs (From Buccaneers) Russell, KeiVarae CB 5'11" 192 Notre Dame 5.5
12(75) Raiders Calhoun, Shilique DE 6'4" 251 Michigan St. 5.7
13(76) Browns (From Titans through Rams) Coleman, Shon OT 6'5" 307 Auburn 5.8
14(77) Panthers (From Browns through Eagles through Lions) Worley, Daryl CB 6'1" 204 West Virginia 5.3
15(78) Patriots (From Saints) Thuney, Joe OG 6'5" 304 N.C. State 5.5
16(79) Eagles Seumalo, Isaac OG 6'4" 303 Oregon St. 5.4
17(80) Bills Washington, Adolphus DT 6'3" 301 Ohio St. 5.6
18(81) Falcons Hooper, Austin TE 6'4" 254 Stanford 5.7
19(82) Colts Clark, Le'Raven OT 6'5" 316 Texas Tech 6.0
20(83) Jets Jenkins, Jordan OLB 6'3" 259 Georgia 5.7
21(84) Redskins Fuller, Kendall CB 5'11" 187 Virginia Tech 5.6
22(85) Texans Miller, Braxton WR 6'1" 201 Ohio St. 5.6
23(86) Dolphins (From Vikings) Carroo, Leonte WR 6'0" 211 Rutgers 5.4
24(87) Bengals Vigil, Nick ILB 6'2" 239 Utah St. 5.3
25(88) Packers Fackrell, Kyler OLB 6'5" 245 Utah St. 5.8
26(89) Steelers Hargrave, Javon DT 6'1" 309 South Carolina St. 5.5
27(90) Seahawks Prosise, C.J. RB 6'0" 220 Notre Dame 5.5
29(91) Patriots Brissett, Jacoby QB 6'4" 231 N.C. State 5.5
30(92) Cardinals Williams, Brandon CB 5'11" 197 Texas A&M 5.3
31(93) Browns (Fram Panthers) Kessler, Cody QB 6'1" 220 USC 5.4
32(94) Seahawks (From Broncos) Vannett, Nick TE 6'6" 257 Ohio St. 5.7
33(95) Lions (Compensatory Selection) Glasgow, Graham C 6'6" 307 Michigan 5.5
34(96) Patriots (Compensatory Selection) Valentine, Vincent DT 6'4" 329 Nebraska 5.2
35(97) Seahawks (Compensatory Selection) Odhiambo, Rees OG 6'4" 314 Boise St. 5.4
36(98) Broncos (Compensatory Selection) Simmons, Justin FS 6'2" 202 Boston College 5.5

[HPF Bob]

Barrett, I agree that Washington was a waste but Shorts was adequate (not much more) out of the slot and also provided some trick plays. How much of that was the receivers and how much was the guys throwing them the ball? Strong simply didn't see the field that often and my question is why. When he got into games and we threw to him he did pretty well. Did he not understand the playbook? Was he a discipline problem?

Yes, WR was a need and I had no problem adding one in the draft but we have too many needs elsewhere to spend 67% of the first three rounds of the draft on one position. Plus, I remind you we recently drafted guys from Notre Dame (Nix) and Ohio State (Posey) who were busts so why go back to those wells again?

[HPF Bob]

Incidentally, we gave up our sixth-round pick to Atlanta to trade up for Martin so we just have three choices (a 4th and two 5ths) Saturday unless we trade back for more picks.

[chuck]

I can see barrett's point and I can see Bob's, too. I think the team needs the WRs because as barrett points out the production outside of Nuke has been disgusting. My biggest problem is that the team drafts like such dickwits that they can't ever build on a draft because the last draft (and the previous one, etc.) sucked so bad that you can never say Hey, we filled three or four needs last year so let's move on to new problems.

I won't list all of the recent draft disappointments because I know everyone here knows them all too well. I'll just point out that Strong, whatever his potential, whatever his ceiling, could barely see the field. And the team obviously doesn't believe in him otherwise they wouldn't have drafted Miller. But the team traded up to get a guy that couldn't get on the fking field. That is exactly the sort of drafting incompetence we see year after year after year.

I don't mind the Texans drafting two receivers in the first three rounds but I do mind them having traded up for a receiver the year before that they obviously have no confidence in.

[barrett]

Barrett, I agree that Washington was a waste but Shorts was adequate (not much more) out of the slot and also provided some trick plays. How much of that was the receivers and how much was the guys throwing them the ball? Strong simply didn't see the field that often and my question is why. When he got into games and we threw to him he did pretty well. Did he not understand the playbook? Was he a discipline problem?

Yes, WR was a need and I had no problem adding one in the draft but we have too many needs elsewhere to spend 67% of the first three rounds of the draft on one position. Plus, I remind you we recently drafted guys from Notre Dame (Nix) and Ohio State (Posey) who were busts so why go back to those wells again?

Do you seriously equate guys drafted from the same schools? By that logic we never should have drafted Watt in 2011 since Garrett Graham was bad in 2010.

[barrett]

I can see barrett's point and I can see Bob's, too. I think the team needs the WRs because as barrett points out the production outside of Nuke has been disgusting. My biggest problem is that the team drafts like such dickwits that they can't ever build on a draft because the last draft (and the previous one, etc.) sucked so bad that you can never say Hey, we filled three or four needs last year so let's move on to new problems.

I won't list all of the recent draft disappointments because I know everyone here knows them all too well. I'll just point out that Strong, whatever his potential, whatever his ceiling, could barely see the field. And the team obviously doesn't believe in him otherwise they wouldn't have drafted Miller. But the team traded up to get a guy that couldn't get on the fking field. That is exactly the sort of drafting incompetence we see year after year after year.

I don't mind the Texans drafting two receivers in the first three rounds but I do mind them having traded up for a receiver the year before that they obviously have no confidence in.

I wasn't arguing for 2 WRs. I was saying it was dumb to say we didn't need any WRs in the first 3 rounds. I think 2 WRs is smart if we get a great player out of the 2 and dumb if we don't. Drafting is a results based game.

[HPF Bob]

In addition, the Texans' base offense, both with Kubiak and O'Brien, involved a tight end and a fullback. Both are "run first" types of offenses where they want the blocking weapons at those positions, therefore the "slot" receiver wasn't a big part of the offense. Whether it should be is another discussion but you have to take that up with Kubiak and O'Brien.

Now they've spent high draft choices on Hopkins, Strong, Fuller and Miller and, unless they are switching to a 4-WR spread offense, they've overinvested. Then you factor in Posey and Martin in our not-too-distant past and this issue should have already been settled.

Every spring, the Texans have to jettison an expensive veteran just to get under the cap. In the last three years, those were Schaub, AJ and Foster. The next two to go will surely be Brown and Cushing. So we ought to be drafting their replacements now instead of *still* trying to fix a problem they should have already fixed.

[barrett]

In addition, the Texans' base offense, both with Kubiak and O'Brien, involved a tight end and a fullback. Both are "run first" types of offenses where they want the blocking weapons at those positions, therefore the "slot" receiver wasn't a big part of the offense. Whether it should be is another discussion but you have to take that up with Kubiak and O'Brien.

Now they've spent high draft choices on Hopkins, Strong, Fuller and Miller and, unless they are switching to a 4-WR spread offense, they've overinvested. Then you factor in Posey and Martin in our not-too-distant past and this issue should have already been settled.

Every spring, the Texans have to jettison an expensive veteran just to get under the cap. In the last three years, those were Schaub, AJ and Foster. The next two to go will surely be Brown and Cushing. So we ought to be drafting their replacements now instead of *still* trying to fix a problem they should have already fixed.

I think you are not totally wrong, I just think you are making terrible arguments without a hint of logic. First the ridiculous college team thing, and now you point at Posey and Martin who are long gone and were picked by the previous regime.

As for the kind of offense we run, do we really have any idea what O'Brien wants to do? This is the first year he has acquired any offensive talent. Up to now he's played with Kubiak's leftovers and minimum investment veterans. I would think what he chooses to spend his resources on is far more indicative of what he wants to do then what he did when handcuffed by the almost talent free skill group and QB situation of the last 2 years.

And as I already stated, drafting 2 WRs is questionable and will only be worth it if hindsight proves it is. But saying we shouldn't have drafted one in the first 2 rounds makes zero sense when looking at this roster construction. And saying we are terrible at a position but should be good because we invested prior resources there, so we should not attempt to fix it now is even less logical.

Either a position needs to be upgraded or it doesn't. That has nothing to do with what you did with old draft picks. And anyone who says Hopkins, Shorts, and a just arrested guy with 14 career catches is an NFL receiving core is probably smoking some of what Strong has.

[Roy P]

I have no problem drafting 2 WRs. I had many Mocks where I drafted two. However, at #85 I would have taken TE Nick Vannett. Perhaps they like the idea of Braxton being able to be a kick returner and maybe Jerell Adams, Ben Braunecker, Beau Sandaled, or Dan Vitale is a later pick.

[HPF Bob]

I think you are not totally wrong, I just think you are making terrible arguments without a hint of logic. First the ridiculous college team thing, and now you point at Posey and Martin who are long gone and were picked by the previous regime.

As for the kind of offense we run, do we really have any idea what O'Brien wants to do? This is the first year he has acquired any offensive talent. Up to now he's played with Kubiak's leftovers and minimum investment veterans. I would think what he chooses to spend his resources on is far more indicative of what he wants to do then what he did when handcuffed by the almost talent free skill group and QB situation of the last 2 years.

And as I already stated, drafting 2 WRs is questionable and will only be worth it if hindsight proves it is. But saying we shouldn't have drafted one in the first 2 rounds makes zero sense when looking at this roster construction. And saying we are terrible at a position but should be good because we invested prior resources there, so we should not attempt to fix it now is even less logical.

Either a position needs to be upgraded or it doesn't. That has nothing to do with what you did with old draft picks. And anyone who says Hopkins, Shorts, and a just arrested guy with 14 career catches is an NFL receiving core is probably smoking some of what Strong has.

I'm the one making terrible arguments yet you're the one who claims anyone picked during Kubiak was the "old regime". Have you noticed who the general manager is? The same as the "old regime", the one who has the final say on what name goes on the draft card.

Okay, so the position needs to be upgraded. Then let's just draft 7 wide receivers in hopes that two of them might stick. This is the NFL where you have to balance your resources instead of just recruiting another high school All-American. You get, in general, seven chances one weekend of the year, to fix problems and add depth. Focusing on one position is fine if the rest of the positions are stable. For the Texans, it's not.

We drafted Jacoby Jones 2.0 in the first round (losing a sixth in the process) and drafted Kordell Stewart 2.0 in the third round. Meanwhile, we still have no TE to replace Graham, no DE to replace Crick and missed a chance to upgrade at LT, NT, OLB, ILB and SS.

[Nconroe]

It is okay in football, just like politics to have whatever opinion. Draft picks typically take 3 years to maturr, especially if picking juniors, so a lot like gambling on a coin flip. Of the 70 or so guys on roster currently there are several who might surprise at each position.

Texans cap position better now , we didn't release Foster due to cap necessity.

We have often in past 6 or so years drafted two guys at position of biggest need hoping one works out.

Drafting BPA in theory gets you a better team over time than overreaching for perceived need.

Anyways, on to fifth round picks.

[barrett]

I'm the one making terrible arguments yet you're the one who claims anyone picked during Kubiak was the "old regime". Have you noticed who the general manager is? The same as the "old regime", the one who has the final say on what name goes on the draft card.

Okay, so the position needs to be upgraded. Then let's just draft 7 wide receivers in hopes that two of them might stick. This is the NFL where you have to balance your resources instead of just recruiting another high school All-American. You get, in general, seven chances one weekend of the year, to fix problems and add depth. Focusing on one position is fine if the rest of the positions are stable. For the Texans, it's not.

We drafted Jacoby Jones 2.0 in the first round (losing a sixth in the process) and drafted Kordell Stewart 2.0 in the third round. Meanwhile, we still have no TE to replace Graham, no DE to replace Crick and missed a chance to upgrade at LT, NT, OLB, ILB and SS.

Bob, neither Martin or Posey played a game for the Texans last year. You don't make roster moves according to players who moved on in previous seasons. You don't make draft picks in 2016 based on who you drafted in 2012.

You make draft picks based on who is currently on your team.

The current Texans WRs are Hopkins, Shorts, and 28 CAREER CATCHES from Strong, Mumphrey, and Josh Lenz. That's it. That is a giant glaring hole. CJ Fiedorowitz has more catches than any of the guys who started Thursday as our #3 WRs. You are out of your mind if you think a pick on the first two days was unwarranted.

I am fine with you thinking Fuller is Jacoby Jones 2.0. I think you're dead wrong in the comparison you chose (they have nothing in common, Jones and Fuller are way different sized, whole different speeds, with entirely different skill sets, and college experiences on totally different ends of the spectrum). But Fuller might be worse than Jones, who knows. I am fine with you calling Miller Kordell Stewart 2.0 (of course Kordell Stewart accounted for 120 TDs in his NFL career and that would be a heck of a 3rd round pick). But even if you meant Kordell 2.0 as an insult that's fine. Maybe Miller is a terrible pick. I don't pretend to know enough to know if Fuller or Miller are bad picks (I'll leave the certainty to you). But declaring we didn't need a WR is just plain wrong.

[HPF Bob]

In nearly every mock I did, I took a wide receiver. I'm not denying an upgrade would be useful.
But let's look at what receivers made it to the last day:

4th round:
Chris Moore, WR, Cincinnati
Malcolm Mitchell, WR, Georgia
Ricardo Louis, WR, Auburn
Pharoh Cooper, WR, South Carolina
Demarcus Robinson, WR, Florida
Seth DeValve, WR, Princeton

5th round:
Tajae Sharpe, WR, Massachusetts
Jordan Payton, WR, UCLA
Trevor Davis, WR, California
Tyreek Hill, WR, West Alabama
Rashard Higgins, WR, Colorado State

6th round:
Moritz Boehringer, WR, International (Germany)
Jakeem Grant, WR, Texas Tech
Cody Core, WR, Ole Miss
Mike Thomas, WR, Southern Mississippi
Aaron Burbridge, WR, Michigan State

7th round:
Devin Lucien, WR, Arizona State
Demarcus Ayers, WR, Houston
Daniel Braverman, WR, Western Michigan
Devin Fuller, WR, UCLA
Charone Peake, WR, Clemson
Kenny Lawler, WR, California

Granted, many of these guys are stiffs I wouldn't draft but there's some decent quality out there on the third day that could suffice, particularly if you planned on drafting two WRs.

Meanwhile, we did not draft a TE to replace Graham, did not draft a DE to replace Crick and did not draft a second OL after taking our future center.

If those two receivers were future Andre Johnsons and DeAndre Hopkins, that might be one thing but neither of them are which is why I see this as a poor use of our draft resources.

[barrett]

That makes sense to me Bob.

I think we desperately needed an upgrade. I don't think it's strange it came on the first 2 days. I think doubling down is problematic unless they really nail at least one of the picks. I would not have been angry if they waited and addressed it later and went a different direction early. I have no idea if any of the guys they drafted were good picks, nobody really does. But I'm fine with the use of resources outside of the multi-use RB pick. That one seemed strange to me after the WR picks.

[barrett]

If those two receivers were future Andre Johnsons and DeAndre Hopkins, that might be one thing but neither of them are which is why I see this as a poor use of our draft resources.

And I'm guessing you didn't say anything positive when Hopkins was drafted either.

[HPF Bob]

Nice idea. I went back to the 2013 draft thread and looked to see what my reactions were.

Before the pick, I said I wanted defense in the first round.

When the pick came in, I was neither thumbs up or thumbs down.

After everyone gave opinions (and a few others expressed dislike) I said I thought they could have traded down and still found a quality WR but said Hopkins was clearly the one the Texans wanted so it's not surprising the Texans took him.

I think the difference between 2013 and 2016 is that 1) I feel we have larger needs than WR that are being ignored and 2) Fuller strikes me as a guy who will run right by the defender and then probably drop the pass. As a comparison, the Vikings looked silly, dealing a 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 7th to the Patriots for Cordarrelle Patterson who, like Fuller, is really fast and made some big plays but has been largely a bust.

In 2013, it was clear AJ was nearing the end and we had no other receivers who were stepping forward. It was a need you could justify a first-round pick for. In 2016, you could argue we don't have a receiver besides D-Hop but I would say Shorts and Strong can still fill that void and we just need to add another piece.

Let's put it this way. If you replace Fuller on our draft with anyone taken between 27-31 (Kenny Clark, Joshua Garnett, Robert Nkemdiche, Vernon Butler, Germain Ifedi) and then taken Miller in Round 3 as we did, that now looks like a better draft to me. Perhaps we get a TE (Jerell Adams) instead of Reader with our last pick and now it looks a lot better.

[Roy P]

In nearly every mock I did, I took a wide receiver. I'm not denying an upgrade would be useful.
But let's look at what receivers made it to the last day:

4th round:
Malcolm Mitchell, WR, Georgia

5th round:
Trevor Davis, WR, California

6th round:
Cody Core, WR, Ole Miss

7th round:
Charone Peake, WR, Clemson



Meanwhile, we did not draft a TE to replace Graham, did not draft a DE to replace Crick and did not draft a second OL after taking our future center.

I would have been happy with these 4 guys especially when they were picked. I suppose that Covington is the DE to replace Crick. No idea what to do at TE other than hope and pray that the guys we have get better or they aren't on the field because we run 4 WRs out there with Lamar Miller.

[barrett]

Nice idea. I went back to the 2013 draft thread and looked to see what my reactions were.

Before the pick, I said I wanted defense in the first round.

When the pick came in, I was neither thumbs up or thumbs down.

After everyone gave opinions (and a few others expressed dislike) I said I thought they could have traded down and still found a quality WR but said Hopkins was clearly the one the Texans wanted so it's not surprising the Texans took him.

I think the difference between 2013 and 2016 is that 1) I feel we have larger needs than WR that are being ignored and 2) Fuller strikes me as a guy who will run right by the defender and then probably drop the pass. As a comparison, the Vikings looked silly, dealing a 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 7th to the Patriots for Cordarrelle Patterson who, like Fuller, is really fast and made some big plays but has been largely a bust.

In 2013, it was clear AJ was nearing the end and we had no other receivers who were stepping forward. It was a need you could justify a first-round pick for. In 2016, you could argue we don't have a receiver besides D-Hop but I would say Shorts and Strong can still fill that void and we just need to add another piece.

Let's put it this way. If you replace Fuller on our draft with anyone taken between 27-31 (Kenny Clark, Joshua Garnett, Robert Nkemdiche, Vernon Butler, Germain Ifedi) and then taken Miller in Round 3 as we did, that now looks like a better draft to me. Perhaps we get a TE (Jerell Adams) instead of Reader with our last pick and now it looks a lot better.

I don't think Patterson is a very good comparison. They are both fast but that's about it. Patterson is WAY bigger. Patterson was a super raw JUCO guy who played one season of major college football at Tennessee and had his biggest impact on special teams. He was a project as a WR.

Fuller had 29 TDs as a WR the last two years in major college football. He and Patterson may both be combine fast with less than reliable hands, but Fuller has tons of game tape and production to show that his speed is just as impressive on the field as it is in shorts. He is not a project, and if he is a bust it will not be because he doesn't know how to play WR like Patterson. I'd say he's way more like Tedd Ginn than Patterson (though he had way more production in college than Ginn).

And I'm still not advocating Fuller. I have no idea how he'll turn out because I lack your gift of prophecy. I just think you dismissing WR as a need is totally wrong. Any GM who says, I don't need a #2 WR because I have Cecil Shorts deserves to be fired.