McNair: Texans Open To Trading Down

[HPF Bob]

My bad. Cleveland has the 4th and the 26th picks of the first round and they *are* as desperate for a QB as we are.

I would not take Matthews at 1-1 but it should be noted that the Chiefs already had Brandon Albert who was a higher draft pick than Duane Brown when they selected Eric Fisher at 1-1 last spring and he has helped turn their club around.

Jake Matthews can be used in a similar capacity - as an RT until Duane Brown is done then an LT for emergencies and for later down the road. There's no doubt to me that we haven't had decent play on the right side of the OL since Winston and Briesel left which had as much to do with the downfall of the offense as anything else. Solidify the line and put in an offense that emphasizes quick-strike throws and you can get by great with a mediocre quarterback.

If you can acquire a good QB some other way than a high first-round choice, I think you're further ahead than getting a rookie QB 1-1 and watching them go through a couple of years of learning curve.

[Joshua]

[QUOTE=HPF Bob;Solidify the line and put in an offense that emphasizes quick-strike throws and you can get by great with a mediocre quarterback

If you can acquire a good QB some other way than a high first-round choice, I think you're further ahead than getting a rookie QB 1-1 and watching them go through a couple of years of learning curve.[/QUOTE]

When you say "get by", does that include win a Super Bowl? The last 20 years suggest that's a long shot. While it's happened a couple times, it is not a course I would recommend.

Agreed that it would be nice to somehow find a franchise QB somewhere besides our first pick, but I note that the details of this plan are absent.

There are no guarantees in the NFL so you have to play the percentages. The numbers overwhelmingly suggest that a good QB is damn near a prerequisite to sustained success and that the best place to find one is the 1st round (and often the 1st pick). Or to bring it back to the particulars here, who do you think we're more likely to land in the 3rd round-a franchise QB or a RT?

[HPF Bob]

I see your point but we've already tried drafting a franchise QB at 1-1 and it didn't pan out. So folks will immediately come back with "Carr was ruined because they didn't build an offensive line for him" which kinda makes my point in reverse. The Oilers (God rest their souls) drafted Matthews, Munchak and Steinkuhler in the first round for three straight years, signed Warren Moon out of Canada and had a prolific offense for seven years.

Building an offense around a quality offensive line is just as valid as building around a QB.

Where I'm going with this is that Matthews is the safe pick in this draft. If we're not gobsmacked by Bridgewater, Manziel or Boritles, we can add elsewhere and then take our chance with a good QB at 2-1 bring aboard Ryan Mallett or Kirk Cousins or Matt Cassel and wait for the QBOTF to take over.

[Warren]

Speaking of RT, it will be interesting to see what the new staff does with Brennan Williams and David Quessenberry, last year's draft picks who spent the year on IR. Same with OLB Trevardo Williams on the other side of the ball.

[popanot]

Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt)
1/6/14, 3:00 PM
O'Brien likes big QBs. I could see #Texans trying to trade w #Patriots for Ryan Mallett, going diff direction in draft.

Couldn't figure out a good place for this post, but it could factor into a trade down. Don't like Mallett at all.

[Joshua]

Originally Posted by popanot

Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt)
1/6/14, 3:00 PM
O'Brien likes big QBs. I could see #Texans trying to trade w #Patriots for Ryan Mallett, going diff direction in draft.

Couldn't figure out a good place for this post, but it could factor into a trade down. Don't like Mallett at all.

I just find humor in Brandt saying he likes big QBs. Name me a coach that doesn't. Has any coach ever said, "he's good and all but he's 6' 4" and I'm looking for a guy 5'11"." And last year he played McGoin who's about 6', 200 lbs.

[popanot]

I don't think O'Brien had much of a choice with McGloin. It was his first year at PSU and McGloin was his best option. He quickly went with a bigger Brady-type QB in Hackenburg when he was able to go with 'his' recruit/guy.