New Texans (FA/Trade)

[Keith]

I will be impressed if they retain Kendrick Lewis after signing Rahim Moore. That will really help the depth at safety, keep D.J. Swearinger off the field more in passing situations (hopefully). Might mean the end of Danieal Manning in Houston.

So next up will be a decision from Wilfork on where he wants to play. Also interested to see if the team makes any moves at WR... glad they passed up Eddie Royal at what the Bears paid, though Cecil Shorts for similar dough would be good to me. Stevie Johnson also available now... might be a good option when paired with someone from the draft.

And I guess the team is satisfied with Ben Jones as the starting center? Not sure I would be.

Hasn't been a real 'splashy' offseason for the Texans, but extremely effective so far... I'm a fan of it.

[chuck]

I'm wondering who they think the OLBs are going to be.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by chuck

I'm wondering who they think the OLBs are going to be.

No doubt. Which is why anyone still clamoring that WR is the top need is forgetting that neither Clowney nor Reed may be starting in week 1. Mercilus is nearing the end of his rookie contract, too.

I hope this means good things about Clowney's progress, but I have been a fan of this team too long to be anywhere near that optimistic.

In unrelated news, the Jets have apparently expressed interest in Cecil Shorts.

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by Keith

No doubt. Which is why anyone still clamoring that WR is the top need is forgetting that neither Clowney nor Reed may be starting in week 1. Mercilus is nearing the end of his rookie contract, too.

I hope this means good things about Clowney's progress, but I have been a fan of this team too long to be anywhere near that optimistic.

In unrelated news, the Jets have apparently expressed interest in Cecil Shorts.

Happy to sign Rahim Moore, he is a Centerfielder-type Safety, not a small linebacker-type.

As for OLB....Beason, Fowler, Gregory, and Dupree should all be off the board before our first pick in the draft. After those guys, 5he drop-off is pretty significant. So, the value is most likely WR in the likes of Cooper, White, Parker, or Strong. So, the decision may come down to Jaelen Strong > Eli Harold. Danielle Hunter has the workout numbers that were impressive, but not much production at LSU. My "sleeper-value pick" is Anthony Chickillo, who may be a 3rd rounder, but I would even consider the 2nd round.

I am not much of a fan of this Safety class, which makes the R. Moore signing even more important. To be honest, I'm not a big fan of the ILB candidates in this draft either, so I was hopeful that someone could be signed with better coverage skills and a better health history than Brian Cushing.

[HPF Bob]

I'd be okay with investing a second on McKinney or Perryman as ILBs if either is available.

[HPF Bob]

Overall, I'm still waiting for the DT hole to be filled and a few other spots. I'm trying to hold off evaluating until I see how they were able to manage the cap and spread the wealth from letting go of Johnson and Myers.

[Keith]

Some ability to spend money is still there too... there is $8.5 million in JJoseph's base just dying to be addressed. And I can't imagine the Texans believe that Garrett Graham will play up to the $3 million base he still has. Considering the Ravens just lost Owen Daniels, and considering that Kubiak might want someone there for when Daniels need a breather, he has to have some market value as a late day pick.

Ideally, the team addresses needs at OLB, DT, WR, and ILB (& center?) before the draft so they can just go after value with every pick. They're in a good spot still to accomplish these goals. Way better position than they were in a year ago.

[popanot]

Originally Posted by Keith

Also interested to see if the team makes any moves at WR... glad they passed up Eddie Royal at what the Bears paid, though Cecil Shorts for similar dough would be good to me. Stevie Johnson also available now...

Apparently the Texans have their sights set higher... At least ceiling/potential wise. Inquired Vikes about Patterson.

http://hou.scout.com/story/1526785-t...atterson?s=116

[Keith]

Originally Posted by popanot

Apparently the Texans have their sights set higher... At least ceiling/potential wise. Inquired Vikes about Patterson.

http://hou.scout.com/story/1526785-t...atterson?s=116

Lol, now the Texans are stealing my moves in dynasty. Young, depressed value, huge upside.

Patterson seemed on the brink of superstardom in training camp last year. Then the wheels fell off. Apparently he is MUD spelled backwards.


I'm all for it. And actually, adding Cordarelle shouldn't preclude going after a slot like Shorts imo.

[popanot]

Originally Posted by Keith

Lol, now the Texans are stealing my moves in dynasty. Young, depressed value, huge upside.

Patterson seemed on the brink of superstardom in training camp last year. Then the wheels fell off. Apparently he is MUD spelled backwards.

I'm all for it. And actually, adding Cordarrelle shouldn't preclude going after a slot like Shorts imo.

Shorts would be a serious upgrade in the slot. As far as CPat, apparently he's not available. But the Texans even inquiring about him is very interesting. Supposedly Stills is available for trade. Not sure why the Saints would want to give up a young, cheap starting-caliber player, but if he's not a complete ass and locker room cancer, I'd certainly call them and ask what they want in return. I'd also make a contract offer to RFA WR Andre Holmes (no pick compensation required).

[chuck]

I don't get the fascination with Shorts.

[popanot]

Just think he's a lot better than anything we have now and has the potential to develop into a really good slot guy. He was pretty good before he got injured and carried a pretty crappy Jags O there for awhile. I certainly wouldn't overpay for him. Only on the cheap.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by chuck

I don't get the fascination with Shorts.

It's a depressed value, low-cost gamble on a 27-yr old player entering his prime. Shorts is a guy from a small school, 4th round pick, buried on a team far worse than the Texans. He has posted unspectacular numbers (10.5 YPC & 1 TD in 2014, both career lows) while catching passes from a series of rookies and scrubs.

He has measurables of a potential slot receiver on an offense where he does not need to be the focus. A middling 40 time and lack of breakaway speed keep his cost low. But he ran a 6.50 3-cone and a 4.07 shuttle while lifting 21 reps at the combine in 2011... elements of a strong player with some short-area quickness.

The real downside, apart from his lack of stellar #s while catching passes from golden arms like Blaine Gabbert, is that he hasn't played more than 13 games in a season in his first four years.

[barrett]

I guess everyone is convinced Shorts will really flourish when he gets a chance to play with the Texans' QBs?

I really don't want to fill holes. This team is going nowhere this year. Accumulate talent. Draft BPA. Finish clearing the books of the regime change victims. Find out if Mallet can play. We should not tie up $1 of 2016 or beyond money in the name of signing veterans who might help us win that 10th game this year.

[Keith]

The Texans are not filling a 53-man roster with 53 1st round picks. All teams fill holes. And Shorts in particular is 27... I believe anyone the team would be signing (including Wilfork) would be doing it for more than just the 2015 season.

Anyone care to guess what Wes Welker looked like after the 2006 season, his last in Miami (led by Joey Harrington at QB)? Pedestrian speed and build, he was 26 years old and averaged 10.3 YPC with 1 TD in his final season with the Dolphins.

I am not suggesting Shorts is even half the player Welker was, or that the Texans have Tom Brady ready to throw him passes, but the point is there are underrated, affordable players out there who would fulfill secondary roles and thrive in the right opportunity.

[popanot]

Originally Posted by barrett

I really don't want to fill holes. This team is going nowhere this year. Accumulate talent. Draft BPA. Finish clearing the books of the regime change victims. Find out if Mallet can play. We should not tie up $1 of 2016 or beyond money in the name of signing veterans who might help us win that 10th game this year.

I highly doubt anyone at Kirby is operating with this philosophy. At least I hope not. I sure hope they're trying to upgrade at every conceivable spot they can, when they can, without killing the cap/future - regardless if they're doing it via the draft or FA. How do you find out if Mallett can play or be successful if you don't improve the talent around him (soon)? The Texans were already looking at Hartline. I'd rather take a flyer on Shorts over Hartline if the price is the same and he's affordable and without doing a stupid contract. I'd rather have Shorts in the slot over Martin or Johnson. Shoot, I'd almost take anyone in the slot over those two guys.

[popanot]

Another slot guy I hope they take a long look at during camp is Alan Bonner. Pretty sure he's still on the roster.

[barrett]

Free Agency is a racket. Out of every 100 URFA who sign about 10 will live up to their contracts and very few will exceed them. Unless you are a destination that players want to be at you have almost no chance at getting good deals because the Oaklands and Jacksonvilles of the world flood the marketplace with terrible contracts because they have money and nothing to do with it. This just isn't the time to build a roster. It's the time to finish one. And we are far from finished. The kind of smart bargain shopping you guys are talking about happens after the FA push is done and veterans spend a few weeks with no contract and no bidder.

And Welker did not leave Miami as a no name FA who could be had for a little contract. He left for a 2nd round pick. So if your argument is that we should be sending out 2nd rounders on unproven players because it worked in 2006, then I disagree. If your logic is we should sign a FA like 2006 Wes Welker, that FA never existed. The only time Wes Welker was ever an URFA it was as an old, overpaid, slot guy with concussion issues who signed with Denver.

Everybody gets excited about FA, but about 30 teams come out with buyer's remorse every year and end up cutting the guys they signed and carrying the dead money before the contracts ever end. Who is the best FA the Texans ever signed? Jonathon Joseph I guess? What's that make them? 1 for 10? 1 for 20?

Let me put it this way, when is the last time a non-playoff team successfully used FA as a significant part of building a roster?

[Arky]

Interesting part of the Cordarrelle Patterson inquiry was that he's also a kickoff return guy and a pretty good one. Got a feeling the Texans are making more of an effort to upgrade the return game....

re: Shorts, gotta say he always looks great when the Jags play the Texans....

[Arky]

Originally Posted by barrett

Who is the best FA the Texans ever signed? Jonathon Joseph I guess? What's that make them? 1 for 10? 1 for 20?

Off the top of my head, Anthony Smith and Daniel Manning (the first go-round) were upgrades.

Let me put it this way, when is the last time a non-playoff team successfully used FA as a significant part of building a roster?

Why limit it to non-playoff teams? Your question makes it sound like FA is not worth participating in. It's an opportunity to bolster your roster. On paper, don't the Colts look really smart for picking up AJ and Gore?