2013 Mocks and Needs
 

I know many of you hate to think about next years draft just a week after the current one. And I understand that. But I like to look the building of a roster, and the building of this team.

Also I like to give myself names to watch for this upcoming college season.

As for the Texans, this draft addressed most current needs very well. So what needs jump out at me.

IMO I want this team to become the Steelers, and that means you don't over pay for players, except for a few unique cases. We have a couple of important guys in the last years of their contracts. Matt Schaub, Duane Brown, Conner Barwin and Rashad Butler are all in contract years. In a perfect world they all have good years and need pay increases (after the 2012 season). I see Schaub and Brown as the only must sign guys. I can let Barwin and Butler walk if I like their backups. When is Cushing's contract year, is it this year? If so then he becomes a priority also.

Again this is very early and full of speculation, and I am making some leaps of faith. My needs for the 2013 draft are the following: OG, OLB, ILB, S, developmental QB, RB, developmental #1 WR.

Of course you cannot get this all in one draft, but you can try.

draftsite.com has a 3 round 2013 mock up, and they have use taking the following:

27 Luke Joeckel* OT Texas A&M 6' 6" 304
58 Chase Thomas ILB Stanford 6' 4" 240
90 Adewale Ojomo DE Miami 6' 4" 253

If I resign Brown, I do not need Joeckel. I might look at this:

27 Jackson Jeffcoat* OLB Texas 6' 5" 250
58 Montee Ball RB Wisconsin 5' 11" 234 bye-bye Ben Tate? trade
90 Chris McDonald OG Michigan State 6-5 300

Some guys to watch this coming college season.

Guys to watch this upcoming year
 

Matt Barkley QB Southern California Sr 6-1 218
Landry Jones QB Oklahoma rSr 6-4 230
Tyler Wilson QB Arkansas rSr 6-3 220
Logan Thomas QB Virginia Tech Jr 6-5 254
Tyler Bray QB Tennessee Jr 6-6 210

Montee Ball RB Wisconsin Sr 5-09 212
Knile Davis RB Arkansas Sr 6-0 226
Marcus Lattimore RB South Carolina 5-11 233
Joseph Randle RB Oklahoma St. 6-0 191

Da'Rick Rogers WR Tennessee Jr 6-2 215
Robert Woods WR USC Jr 6-1 181

Tyler Eifert TE Notre Dame Jr 6-6 249

James Hurst OT North Carolina Jr 6-6 313
Luke Joeckel OT Texas A&M Jr 6-5 310
Morgan Moses OT Virginia Jr 6-5 335
Taylor Lewan OT Michigan Jr 6-7 305
Jake Matthews OT Texas A&M 6-5 305

Alex Okafor OLB/DE Texas Sr 6-4 260
Jackson Jeffcoat OLB/DE Texas Jr 6-5 253
Barkevious Mingo OLB LSU Jr 6-4 245
Corey Lemonier OLB Auburn Jr 6-3 242
Sam Montgomery OLB LSU Jr 6-4 245
William Gholston DE Michigan ST Jr 6-7 280

Kawann Short DT Purdue rSr 6-3 310
Star Lotulelei DT Utah Sr 6-3 325
Johnathan Hankins DT Ohio St Jr 6-3 335

Manti Te'o ILB Notre Dame Sr 6-2 255 love this kid and we no shot at him
Kevin Reddick ILB North Carolina Sr 6-2 240
Chase Thomas ILB/ OLB Stanford rSr 6-4 240

T.J. McDonald FS Southern California Sr 6-2 205

Tyrann Mathieu CB LSU Jr 5-9 185
David Amerson CB NC St. Jr 6-3 194
Tharold Simon CB LSU Jr 6-3 188
Xavier Rhodes CB Florida St Jr 6-2 210
Carrington Byndom CB Texas Jr 6-0 181

WalterFootball 05.03.12
 

Walter Football has us doing the following:

You never know who's going to get injured or who's going to come out early so it's almost pointless now, even if it gets a little conversation going during our off-off-season.

I will say this - if there's a choice when we pick between Jeffcoat and Byndom, I'd choose Byndom. He's been much more impressive to me.

The list of players I have is all the 5 star players that will be draft eligible next year. There are 35 players listed. Some will fall, and other will come out of nowhere, to be added to this list.

I am speculating from a place where everyone improves, and no one gets hurt. Both of those speculations are going to happen, players backslide and players get hurt, so yes that does change everything.

One thing I am trying to do is account now for losing a few guys to FA again. One of the biggest loses I foresee is Conner Barwin. If he has another year like last year, he will be in line for a big pay raise. And I do not see the team being ale to pay everyone that is going to be due a raise.

So I hope that clears up why I have OLB at the top of my mock. And for the record, IMO Ball has no chance right now of being available at 58. So this is just to kill some time in the off off season.

This planning ahead with another tight salary cap is eye opening. I could see this affecting 53 man rosters, trades, and draft next year. Hopefully Texans can extend some of these guys early and keep some team consistency .

I think there is a long list of UFA and RFA next year.

UFA - Matt Schaub, Rashad Butler, Shaun Cody, Bradie James, Brice Mccain, Conner Barwin, Duane Brown, Glover Quin, Antione Caldwell, james Casey, Tim Jamison, Troy Nolan.

RFA
Brian Cushing, Antonio Smith, Wade Smith, Earl Mitchell, Daryl Sharpton, Ben Tate.

Lots of guys who will deserve to get paid.

Any deal Schaub signs next year is likely to significantly lower his cap number. I was amazed they didn't extend him for some cap relief this summer. I guess they are not as sold on him as the guy to lead us to the superbowl as McNair claimed during the manning flirting. I for one love the guy as a playoff QB but am not sold either. I guess he has this year to prove it.

The guys in red should all be looking for a big payday. I'm don't think we can keep them all.

As for the guys in blue, they both have over 4 years in the league, and this can not be restricted. Only 3 year vets can be restricted.

The two Smiths were UFAs we signed from other teams so their availability for free agency comes at the end of their current contracts (whenever those are) and they would become UFAs again.

I think it's safe to take Duane Brown off the list when talking about FA's potentially leaving. If he remains healthy and doesn't suffer a devastating injury like Charles Spencer, no way in hell the Texans let him walk. Without a doubt he'll get the F-Tag if it even gets that far.

Draftsite.com 06.01.12
 

26 Kevin Reddick ILB UNC 6' 3" 230
57 Tony Jefferson* S Oklahoma 5' 10" 199
89 Jordan Hill DT Penn State 6' 1" 297

I could see the Texans going ILB in the 1st, but that is a guy that will only see 40-50% of the defensive snaps, so maybe not. I still see them going OLB in the 1st with Barwin being a FA.

Shaun Cody will most likely be gone after this season so the Texans can afford Brown's new contract. Hopefully this is the year that the Texans get a big oversized NT.

Draftsite.com 08.24.12
 

26 Kevin Reddick ILB UNC 6' 3" 230
56 Chase Thomas ILB Stanford 6' 4" 240
88 Jheranie Boyd WR UNC 6' 2" 190

OK IMO there is no way they take two ILB with their first two picks. Not with Cushing being on the verge of being an All Pro.

ILB is showing a lack of depth right now, but we have a nice mix of youth and veteran at the position. If Sharpton does come back from his injury and looks OK then we maybe OK here at ILB, at least in the first two rounds.

I agree that a NT may be a position of need next year and likely one where someone good might appear at the bottom of the first round where I expect the Texans to be. I could also see them going o-line or DB. I think we are fine in terms of impact positions and can focus on depth primarily.

WalterFootball 08.15.12
 

29 59 I can understand the national press's thinking at OT, but I think they are wrong.

Butler will be a free agent, I can see the Texans trying to pinch pennies on guys like him to afford someone like Quin

My precollege football mock
 

This is my mock for the Texans 2013 draft.

32 Jesse Williams DT Alabama Sr 6-3 320
64 Robert Lester FS Alabama Sr 6-2 212
96 *C.J. Fiedorowicz TE Iowa Jr 6-6 265
128 Omoregie Uzzi OG Georgia Tech rSr 6-3 302
160 A.J. Klein ILB Iowa State Sr 6-1 244
192 Tavarres King WR Georgia rSr 6-1 200
224 Sean Renfree QB Duke r Sr 6-4 225

My 1st pick is a guy who came to football late, so he is raw, he has played the 5 technique and now is moving to the nose.
Lester will be a 3 year starter in the SEC, has excellent ball skills and could project well into Wade's system.
CJ was just starting to emerge when the season ended last year. Has the size and speed to be a nightmare for defenses to match up with.
Uzzi projects to be my LG to ultimately replace Wade Smith, he would be the final piece of my Future OL. Brown, Uzzi, Jones, Brooks, Newton.
Klein is a ball hawk with cover skills.
King is set for a breakout season for the Bulldogs.
Renfree is dropback passer who has been coached by the man who developed the Manning brothers.

Now remember this is to give us some names to watch this upcoming season. Real college football starts this week. Time to start watching.

Draftsite.com 09.04.12
 

28 D.J. Fluker* OT Alabama 6' 6" 340
58 Jonathan Cooper OC UNC 6' 3" 295
90 Brad Madison DE Missouri 6' 4" 250
122 Craig Roh DE Michigan 6' 5" 269

I really hate it when guys who have no clue of our roster make picks for us. I do not see them going with an OC and two DE's in the first four picks.

My cherry picks:

28 Alex Okafor OLB Texas 6' 4.5" 260
58 Chase Thomas ILB Stanford 6' 4" 240
90 Rod Sweeting CB Georgia Tech 6' 0" 184
122

Only if Barwin leaves in FA.

I took a look at how I'd have cherry picked the last draft...I would have taken Nick Perry over Mercilus, but regardless they addressed the void of pass-rusher by Mario. Insted of Brooks & Posey - I went CB Jammel Flemming and NT Brandon Thompson. So, I'm hopeful for a NT especially with concerns over Cody's back. I also want another CB for depth. I'm still scratching my head on the OC Ben Jones pick over OT Bobbie Massie. We need a RT. I liked the Crick selection and Martin. I went for big WR Marvin Jones & Juron criner and I hate we went with Posey. Maybe LeStar Jean is a surprise. I also went Markelle Martin so I could play Quinn as the Nickleback, again just trying to match up. I would like to see another ILB to push Dobbins since I have little faith in Bradie James.

After this weekend, a little different take on the cherry pick:

28 Jesse Williams DT Alabama 6' 4" 320
58 Chase Thomas ILB Stanford 6' 4" 240
90 Wes Horton OLB USC 6' 5" 260
122 Chris McDonald OG Michigan State 6' 5" 295

It's more about the positions than the players at this point.

1 William Gholston DE MSU
2 Desmond Trufant CB Washington
3 DT Jamarkus McFarland Okla
Mario Compensation Pick ILB Shayne Skov Stanford
4 DT Dave Kruger Utah

Basically following Paine's idea on picking positions more than players.

I think this draft the Texans may try to trade up in first round. There seem to be three potential 1st round NTs. Getting an impact 3-4 defensive end would be a nice consolation prize if the Texans can't get a NT.

One player at a position outside of need that intrigues me is QB Logan Thomas, Virginia Tech. I want to see another game or two with him. Looks to have a big time arm, good feet, great height, good play action, but he seemed very raw and seemed like release point may be a little low. If he drops low enough in draft, I could see the Texans pulling a Green Bay and drafting Schaub's successor.

We just extended Jamison so I doubt we go 1st round DE. NT seems a priority. CB, WR, TE, ILB, will depend on performance of guys already on our roster and may or may not be needs. RB and OLB could become needs based on what we do with the guys at those positions. OL is still potentially a future/immediate need at 3 positions.

I think Antonio Smith is a goner after seeing Schaub's contract. Gholston would give Jamison competition for start spot, but at worst provide solid depth with Crick.

It almost has to be that way. Texans are at a point where they can truly pick BPA and not worry about position but there are a few spots that may become weak points as the season rolls along.

I think Smith is probably gone too. I still think that the extension makes a round 1 DE a real longshot, especially when we already have one at the other DE spot and a mid round rookie they seem to like as depth already.

I was reading today something that Rick Smith said, and it changed my thinking about the draft. They have extended Brown, Schaub and Jamison, and they had talked to Barwin. At this time according to Smith, Barwin is apart of the core guys they want to go forward with. Smith said if they can not sign him before FA then they could franchise him. At the OLB position that is "only" $9MM. So I am thinking right now that OLB is not the 1st pick.

Also if you guys are correct about them letting Smith go after the season, then Jamison is the current top rotational guy. With Crick added as the rotational guy.

I am thinking that the middle of the defense is the top need, that could be NT, ILB or S. I also think that Brooks and Jones will be the most likely starters at the guards next season.

I agree, I want to see Thomas also, but I was not that impressed with his first game this season.

Draftsite.com 09.11.12
 

30 Sean Porter OLB Texas A&M 6' 2" 230
60 Jonathan Cooper OC UNC 6' 3" 295
92 Jamarkus McFarland DT Oklahoma 6' 2" 296
124 Carson York OT Oregon 6' 5" 286

Porter's size does not fit our OLBs. They need to be larger in order to set the edge. Now if Porter can carry some more weight and play inside he might be a fit. Again I do not see the Texans going with another OC, I think Meyers and Jones have us set.

The last two picks might work.

There's one site that lets you set the draft priorities but, unfortunately, they don't seem to update their ratings so you still don't wind up with a good mock draft.

The problem with many mock drafts is that they are done by people with only a cursory knowledge of each team so they don't really know (unless its obvious) what positions a team is most interested in.

are you talking about DraftTek.com?

They only have 100 players ranked right now, they say that will be increased soon.

I have never been able to figure out how to set the priorities, so I just look at the one they run.

If I had to pick a position of need right now for the Texans to use a #1 pick on, I'd hope they'd find a fast, aggressive, mean as hell ILB. OL would be my #2 and #3.

As of right now, my draft priorities would be:

1. DT - If a good one is there, that will be hard to pass up.
2. ILB - Perhaps a greater need but really good ones should still be there in the second round, unlike d-linemen. Remember, that's where we found Demeco.
3. RG, RT - This is a need that slides up or down based on how well the current solutions perform. Not sold on them yet.
4. DB - It's been better since JJo arrived and we found a pass rush but I'd still like to see some better talent.
5. WR - This is another one where current solutions may drive this need up or down the chart.

The statement highlighted in red could be said about the ILB, RG, RT, DB, and WR.

At ILB we have Mister Alexander, in his first year of real action. He might be a carrier backup/ST type, or a diamond in the rough. And I agree that this is a high priority position. The best ILB in the draft is Manti Te'o, who is looking to be a top 10 pick, the next guys on the list are looking to be mid to late 2nds. So there is no ILB worth a late 1st IMO. That is why we have to look else where in the 1st.

Jones, Brooks, and Newton are all in there 1st or 2nd year, so they will only get better with more reps.

The DBs have Roc and Harris who have shown flashes in their 2nd camp. They both look to have great upside. Safety could be an option.

WR, 3 targets to guys with 2 or less years in the NFL is not a big enough sample to determine their progress. (As you pointed out). I hope Mercilus does not make us regret passing on Stephen Hill.

I feel good, generally, about the defense since Wade Phillips took over. He's a lousy HC but a great DC. Bradie James knows the system and I think he's a good band-aid. We seem to find some other guys in the middle who are competent though not flashy. As long as we aren't hit hard by injuries, the defense should be fine. The offense is a harder question because you wonder just how much we would suffer if Schaub or Johnson missed significant time. We got some answers to this last year but I hate to see that again this year.

I would definitely agree with a DT in the top slot, especially since I'm seeing the Ninja as a cap casulaty next year.
I might move DB up a bit, rds. 2 or 3, as if Quinn has a good year, he could get something in the D Manning contract ranges. Don't think we have ever drafted a legitimate S.

So taking into account some of the suggestions above how about this cherry pick:

30 Jesse Williams DT Alabama 6' 4" 320 can play the 5 tech or the NT
60 Chase Thomas ILB Stanford 6' 4" 240 smart, big inside guy
92 Sonny Vaccaro S Texas 6' 1" 215

then we will have a comp pick and so on.

I would be OK with trading down out of the 1st round to get extra picks.

This makes entirely too much sense for it to ever actually happen ;)

Draftsite.com 09.18.12
 

31 Kawann Short DT Purdue 6' 3" 305
61 Chase Thomas ILB Stanford 6' 4" 240
93 Erik Highsmith WR UNC 6' 3" 175
125 Matt Scott QB Arizona 6' 3" 195

I could see the first three picks but not the 4th one. They just extended Schaub, and they have Yates and Keenum tied up for a few years also. Plus no one is going to touch Beck.

This will be a year in which I truly see the Texans going with a BPA approach. IMO the team needs: NG & ILB, all the other needs have yet to truly be worked out. The WR, OL, DBs are all works in progress. So it's hard to decide what we need.

Didn't Arizona have Nick Foles last year? The Arizona QB will probably not be very polished when he comes out.

And how does a guy that's 6-3 get the name "short"?

Watching him a little today. He doesn't seem to lead the receivers well. I love his mobility in the pocket,but I just don't know if he places ball well enough to be successful in the NFL.