Time to Look Back at the Rick Smith Drafts

[barrett]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

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.

As long as Clowney had a clean bill of health with every team before the draft then the Texans are off the hook for taking him (but on the hook for having a poor quality field surface that injured him).