Time to Look Back at the Rick Smith Drafts

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by barrett

I was desperate to trade down and would have taken less than the trade chart. I said that before the draft. Then in the preseason I fell in love with Clowney off of that one great series against Atlanta. So what do I know.

You know atleast as much as any GM in the NFL when it comes to predicting the future, so as far as I'm concerned Rick Smith (and you) are off the hook for not knowing Clowney was going to have these injuries, just like the Texans' organization should not be blamed for drafting Benny Joppru back in 2003 because he ended being IRed multiple seasons for knee issues and did nothing while in Houston (or the NFL for that matter).
It just annoys me that so many people affix this "bust" label on players who fall short of expectations because of injury. Aaron Curry & Vernon Gholston are busts, but Luke Joeckel and Jadeveon Clowney are not busts, net yet anyway.