Rang's First Mock. At #27, We Pick...

[HPF Bob]

Patience, PK. It's only January and there's always movement between then and now - a workout warrior who climbs the charts, a guy everyone thought would be gone the first day who is still on the board, needs that pop up through free agency moves. There's always somebody chomping at the bit to move up and get some guy before anyone else does but it's way too early to know who or for what.

[Keith]

Trading down has less financial allure now with the new CBA. First round picks will not be as expensive as they were before.

And while adding an extra pick would be nice in a trade down scenario (esp given the added confidence we should have from the 2011 draft haul), if there is a good CB available 5-10 picks before the Texans select, trading up may not be that poor of a notion.

Of course the Texans are not 'one player away', but they are sure a heck of a lot closer than any of us thought they were even six months ago. One promising CB could be worth it. The Texans hit jackpot in FA signing Joseph, but FA CBs are expensive.

[chuck]

I'm with barrett in that I don't think the team sees CB as a need, or at least they aren't ready to admit that it is. I guess we'll see by their actions in the draft.

Where I differ from barrett is that I generally don't like to take OL very high, certainly not OL in a zone scheme. My reasoning is that an OL works together as a unit and you can find productive guys to fit the unit all over the draft board. With high picks I like to take guys with individual skills that operate individually, mainly cover corners and pass rushers. I would be good with a safety with exceptional speed and coverage abilities, and I suppose I would be good with the big WR I've been saying I want.

Of course Duane Brown worked out pretty well.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by chuck

I'm with barrett in that I don't think the team sees CB as a need, or at least they aren't ready to admit that it is. I guess we'll see by their actions in the draft.

Where I differ from barrett is that I generally don't like to take OL very high, certainly not OL in a zone scheme. My reasoning is that an OL works together as a unit and you can find productive guys to fit the unit all over the draft board. With high picks I like to take guys with individual skills that operate individually, mainly cover corners and pass rushers. I would be good with a safety with exceptional speed and coverage abilities, and I suppose I would be good with the big WR I've been saying I want.

Of course Duane Brown worked out pretty well.

I agree about OL in general. I think two things make me think OL. (1) RG is one of the only places on are team that needs a clear upgrade. #2CB is one but will not likely be addressed. #2 WR, #2 MLB, and NT are others but are part-time players in our schemes. And (2) I think OTs fit more in your individual skills category. Our offense still struggles when they are forced to pass in straight drop back situations. Eric Winston is about the best RT in the league when it is not a straight drop, and one of the worst when it is because of his short arms and cement shoes.

If we could move him inside to RG and put a tackle who could pass protect on the outside, I think it would be worth the pick more than any defensive position (other than CB which I think we ignore), and any other offensive postion (unless we can get a difference making return man with our #2 WR).

[HPF Bob]

I'd love to see a playmaking safety along the lines of Polamalu or Dawkins - one that creates turnovers. I realize there probably won't be some superstar type picking from #27 but very good OGs and safeties are always available in the low-first, upper-second because those aren't glamor positions like pass rushers and pass receivers.

If, as Rang believes, good NTs are available, that's another good direction. I'm happy to take a CB but it appears we did much better fixing that with an FA that has a proven record instead of unproven draft choices with questionable learning curves.

2011 was an unsexy draft and we got great results. I think (hope) that our 2012 selections inspire the same grumbling but produces the same results.

[NBT]

I think the first pick should be a #2WR. We badly need one that can get separation from the DB.

If not WR then then ORT. Move Winston in to RG.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by NBT

I think the first pick should be a #2WR. We badly need one that can get separation from the DB.

#2 WR is a need, just skeptical to use a 1st rounder to get one. I at least hope the Texans don't give away their draft to get one like the Falcons did with Julio Jones. Jones may turn out to be a great player, but that's too expensive of a way to go for my tastes.

Hopefully there is a good CB available. If not then maybe WR. Or maybe a RT, NT. Team needs a good safety to develop, too. Quin and Manning have been great, but I'm not crazy about the depth there.