Length to Impact and the 1st round

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by Joe Joe

For LTI, getting a CB, RB, or OG is probably the best bet for immediate impact for the first two picks for the Texans.

Of those 3, RB has the shortest 'shelf-life' so, that's why I'd hate to take Ryan Mathews in the 1st round. My prob is I don't know which RB will be available in the 3rd round. So, yes, getting an extra 2nd round pick by trading down would be WONDERFUL. I'd probably go with something like....

1. CB Devin McCourty
2. OG Jon Asamoah
2. RB Ben Tate
3. DT Geno Atkins

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by Roy P

Of those 3, RB has the shortest 'shelf-life' so, that's why I'd hate to take Ryan Mathews in the 1st round. My prob is I don't know which RB will be available in the 3rd round. So, yes, getting an extra 2nd round pick by trading down would be WONDERFUL. I'd probably go with something like....

1. CB Devin McCourty
2. OG Jon Asamoah
2. RB Ben Tate
3. DT Geno Atkins

Or maybe Wilson falls to the spot we trade down to... it might happen.

Along with trading down, I would trade next year's 2nd rounder for a an early 3rd this season. Might be the season to go all in at the draft, build the foundation.

1 CB Kyle Wilson
2 RB Montario Hardesty
2 DT Lamarr Houston
3 OG Mike Johnson
3 DT Linval Joseph

I am with Roy on the short shelf live of the RB being an issue, that is why I pass on Mathews in the 1st, but if he is available in the early 2nd might have to look at a trade up.

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by painekiller

1 CB Kyle Wilson
2 RB Montario Hardesty
2 DT Lamarr Houston
3 OG Mike Johnson
3 DT Linval Joseph

I think that Kyle Wilson may be off the board before we pick (Steelers). Interestingly, Patrick Robinson is being shown as a 2nd round pick these days which makes me wonder about his 'off the field' 'character' issues and the Academic scandal. I haven't followed him around, hired a private investigator, or talked to his teammates, but I wonder if he'd be a good teammate. I'd like to know what he ran for a Shuttle time at his Pro-Day. He gets 'dinged' for his lack of willingness to tackle in the run game (Phillip Buchanan, anyone?) but has the hands to make an interception. Then there is Ghee who may be a better FS than CB and has hands like feet. I'm being a 'wishful thinker,' but would realllllly like for Devin McCourty to be there after a trade down.

On another post, I think Nunu was asking about Drew Boylhart's mock draft. Looking at the mock, he has McCourty being drafted by the Ravens at #25. Wouldn't the Eagles like to trade up to #20 and let us slide down to #24 so we could get McCourty? The 'bad news' is that D.B. loves Linval Joseph so much that he has the Vikings selecting him at #30. First they have Pat & Kevin Williams and now they get this guy! Anyway, I have him with a 3rd round grade too, and hope that one of the 3-4 teams don't snag him up.

1. CB Devin McCourty 5'11" 186 4.48 Rutgers
2. OG Jon Asamoah 6'4" 308 5.08 Illinois
2. RB Ben Tate 5'11" 218 4.43 Auburn
3. DT Geno Atkins 6'2" 293 4.86 Georgia
3. DT Linval Joseph 6'5" 328 5.12 East Carolina
4. S Darrell Stuckey 5'11" 205 4.49 Kansas

[Roy P]

I found an article that articulates what I was trying to convey....

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/s...-breakdown/rss

Picks 51-100: *BEST VALUE*
The running back position has been devalued over the years, as very few bell-cow backs have earned a place in the top 20 overall because of attrition at the position. Look for Anthony Dixon, Jonathan Dwyer, Toby Gerhart, Montario Hardesty and Ben Tate to be selected in the third to early fourth rounds

Picks 21-50: *BEST VALUE*
The interior offensive line class is fairly thin, so any teams looking for a difference-maker inside must break into the bottom half of the first round or top half of the second round -- Jon Asamoah, Mike Iupati and Maurkice Pouncey could all be chosen in the first round.

Picks 51-100: *BEST VALUE*
Teams will reach for big bodies who can anchor the middle of their defense, especially those looking for a nose tackle in a 3-4 defense. Cam Thomas and Torell Troup will go higher than some expect because of the need for stout run-stuffers, as may Arthur Jones and Jeff Owens. Tyson Alualu, Geno Atkins and Lamarr Houston could also get calls in the second or third rounds to be defensive ends in three-man fronts.

Picks 101-150: *BEST VALUE*
There are major questions about all of the ends listed in the top 100, save Derrick Morgan. Greg Hardy, George Johnson, Brandon Lang, Daniel Te'o-Nesheim all have enough upside that their value isn't significantly different from Carrington, Cunningham or Lane, meaning teams might be better off waiting to meet this need until Saturday.

Picks 21-50: *BEST VALUE*
Look for a run on corners starting somewhere around the 20th pick with Kareem Jackson, Devin McCourty and Kyle Wilson probable first-rounders likely to land with the three or four teams looking for help at the position. Chris Cook and Patrick Robinson won't be far behind the top tier. Depth at corner continues to be very good in the next two groups, as well, with Dominique Franks and others potentially sneaking into the mid-second round and strong value likely available in the early-to-mid fourth round.

Picks 51-100: Dominique Franks, Brandon Ghee, Jerome Murphy, Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, Amari Spievey
Picks 101-150: Javier Arenas, Perrish Cox, Walter McFadden, Kevin Thomas, Alterraun Verner

Picks 51-100: *BEST VALUE*
Though some consider the safety class as deep as it has ever been, the value of this year's class is in the same place it usually is: the late second and third rounds. Morgan Burnett could sneak into the top 50, but Chad Jones, Reshad Jones, Darrell Stuckey and Major Wright will all contend for starting jobs as rookies for several teams looking to upgrade their defensive backfield.

[Joe Joe]

Originally Posted by Roy P

Of those 3, RB has the shortest 'shelf-life' so, that's why I'd hate to take Ryan Mathews in the 1st round. My prob is I don't know which RB will be available in the 3rd round. So, yes, getting an extra 2nd round pick by trading down would be WONDERFUL. I'd probably go with something like....

1. CB Devin McCourty
2. OG Jon Asamoah
2. RB Ben Tate
3. DT Geno Atkins

RBs burn quickest, but also burn the brightest. Houston passed for the most yards last season. The only things missing from a dominating offense are a running game for which they need a RB and at least one more interior lineman. The Texans need the running game now. The defense was thirteenth last year and should be better as the best players are young. The defense also needs the offense to hold more time of possession.

While early first round may be too high for a RB, I don't think pick 20 is especially early considering the RB that should be available played in a very similar system and displays what the Texans attempt to do.