Houston Texans 2013 Draft Needs

For something a little different, my look at the Texans depth chart and what positions I'd like to see them pick.

It seems like the same positions are on this list year after year... WR, right side of O Line, nose tackle, cornerback.

Needs (in order )-
 - Starting WR - Texans have enough young talent to fill the 3rd and backup WR spots, but need a starter opposite Andre Johnson.  It would be good if they could find a #1 WR guy to take over for Johnson in a couple years.
 - Starting RT - the right side of the line was a big question mark last year.  I was hoping they'd get Eric Winston back in free agency.
 - Starting NT - Shaun Cody was alright last year but he's gone, Earl Mitchell ain't the guy.  I've been waiting for a space eater since they made the move to the 3-4.  Will take some heat off the inside linebackers in the run game.
 - Starting ILB - giant, giant hole when Cushing went down with an injury.  It made the loss of DeMeco Ryans sting even more
 - OLB depth - lots of talent and a couple top 2 round picks, but anyone drafted should see playing time rotating with the two young starters
 - Starting CB - Kareem Jackson isn't so much of a train wreck anymore, but it's a "safe" pick because they need a nickle too.  And a long-term replacement for FS Ed Reed.
 - Starting RG - Ben Jones looked ok here last year, and Brandon Brooks might be a better fit at RT.
 - Backup C - Meyers, the starter is getting old and expensive
 - Backup RE - ditto with Antonio Smith, although last year may have been the best of his career starting across from JJ Watt
 - Backup ILB - As much as I root for Tim Dobbins, him and Sharpton are replacement level players

What I think we'll see the Texans select
1st round - trade down - I really don't think they pick a WR this high.  Kubiak might have one guy in mind that he might take, otherwise he'll try to do something else with it.  I don't think you take a RT this high, and any big time nose tackles are probably gone
2nd round - WR - they took one in the 3rd and 4th last year, I think they try higher
3rd round - OLB - they love them some outside linebackers
3rd round - RT - could find a starter here
4th round - TE - only thing Kubiak loves more than OLBs is TEs.  We might see two selected.
5th round - RG - they'll find the same talent as Jones and Brooks, won't clear anything up
6th round - NT - can't find a space eater here
6th round - ILB - Wade Phillips will have to work some special magic to find a starter this deep
7th round - CB - speed guy to maybe have a shot at returning punts

extra picks - if they get any, and they probably need to, I see them being used in any of the follow ways - TE, QB, H back/FB, safety

Before I started, I thought the Texans were in good shape.  Now I'm not so sure.  They don't have huge holes so if they nail every pick, most could be filled.  I'd be ok with them trading down in the first to take some more shots to fill depth.  Wade will find at least one starter in this draft, but Kubes will waste a couple picks on his fetishes.  Hopefully they listened to owner Bob McNair when he said he wanted to see a wide receiver.

Texans 2012 Draft Outlook

It's draft time again!  And with that, some predictions.  After too many Gary Kubiak drafts, a few things are certain.  He will draft safely - no skill players in the first round, no trading up, no reaches for potential until 5th at the earliest.  He will draft players I haven't heard of - of course last year J.J. Watt worked out pretty well, and Duane Brown before that.  He will draft at least one TE.  He will draft small, quick WR or CB in the late rounds that won't even compete for the return spot.

IF he strayed from this at all, Houston would be a happy place.  And with the talent base they have FINALLY built, its time for the to take some risks to get a playmaker.  But I don't think they will, and my picks below reflect that.

Losses
Traded DeMeco Ryans
Free Agency Mario Williams
Released Eric Winston
Released Lawrence Vickers
Released Matt Leinart

Free Agency Mike Brisiel
Free Agency Jason Allen
Free Agency Joel Dreesen


Pick ups
Re-signed RB Arian Foster
Re-signed Chris Myers
Signed Quintin Demps
Signed Brady James
Re-Signed Tim Dobbins

The Texans had some major losses over the off-season, but I'm not concerned about the "big" one.  Mario could have been a nice player, but the cost would have been too high.  Even with the nice start to last season, he's always been more potential than production.  Brooks Reed and Conner Barwin kept the pressure up in his absence.  With Wade Phillips ability to find defensive talent, the Texans should be able to find some depth in the draft.

I'm afraid DeMeco Ryans will be quite missed.  When he missed time in 2010, the defense fell apart.  He called the plays and was captain of the team.  What's truly sad is that even though he was hurt, he was playing the most physical football of his career.  He was playing with a swagger and HITTING people.  Now he'll be replaced with Brian Cushing who has struggled with the additional burden of play calling in the past or Tim Dobbins.  Dobbins was with Phillips for a year in San Diego, maybe Wade knows something we don't.

Losing two-fifths of your offensive line is an issue.  While none of the linemen were elite, they were obviously  a great group together.  Rashard Butler was a utility lineman, able to fill in anywhere, which is very beneficial, allowing the other lineman to continue playing their given positions.

The Texans lost their FB for a second straight year.  They're getting risky with a very important offensive position to them.  They also lost Joel Dreesen, a very solid 2nd TE who played a lot with the two TE sets, and effective backup for Owen Daniels.  They've tried finding others in the draft and haven't been effective.

Here's what I think they'll look at, in order.
Offensive tackle - you wouldn't take a guard with the first pick, so I'll assume they look for a tackle early.
Wide Receiver (again) - it seems every year this position is on the list.  The Texans inexplicably kept Jacoby Jones around, let's hope they don't feel that's enough.
Cornerback (again) - every year for this one too.  Need someone (anyone) to keep Kareem Jackson from starting.
Guard - 4th round would be appropriate here, and should still be able to compete to start.
Linebacker - The Texans can use depth at both inside and outside linebacker.
Fullback - James Casey won't cut it as a full-time fullback.
Tight End - Kubiak loves drafting tight ends so I imagine we'll see one somewhere
Wide Receiver - I figure there'll be a couple WRs drafted, with one later to compete for a return job

Other possibilities -
Defensive tackle - at some point, the Texans will look for a proper 3-4 nose tackle.
Quarterback - Kubiak likes to draft a QB every year or two, but I'm not feeling it this year with the way T.J. Yates played last year
Defensive End - I've never thought Antonio Smith was a long-term play.  They could look for another another young DE/OLB
Safety - I can't remember when the Texans have drafted a safety, so I doubt it will happen this year.  It seems the smart play would be to draft cornerbacks and linebackers and drop them to safety if it doesn't work out.