Questions: Is it possible that our OL is set for this season and that we don't draft any OL with our first 4 picks? Is it possible that we use a top-4 pick on a CB and then add him to our starting 5 DB'S? Is Texas Tech LB Jacob Rodriguez the best LB in this draft? Would you use a top-4 pick on him? Would you be ok using our pick at #59 to grab Oscar Delp? I think I am. I think he could be a much needed weapon for CJ.
1 Kayden McDonald DT Probable instant starter and best DT in the draft assuming that Caleb Banks is damaged goods. Immediate impact for Houston's DL. 2 Emmanuel Pregnon G Can we convert him to center? 2 Oscar Delp TE Possibly most dangerous receiving threat outside of Kenyon Sadiq. A matchup problem for opposing LB and an instant and dynamic weapon for CJ. 3 Jake Golday LB Big, strong, physical, LB. Only concern are his coverage skills but he would provide a massive upgrade to our LB room. 4 Will Lee CB Solid corner. Find a spot for him in our starting-5 DB's and gives us depth at corner in case Stingley or Lassiter are out. 5 Zane Durant DT A great value pick and a young and quality depth piece and potential starter. 5 Jeff Caldwell WR 6'5 and ran a 4.3 40. He gives us a deep ball threat and could be a great red zone weapon with his height. He might be a steal in the 5th. 7 Pat Coogan C Hard to pass on Coogan here. He too might be a steal here. Note: I usually mock TE Will Kacmarek in the 7th because he's 6'6, 260, pounds of raging muscle who is actually a damn good run and pass blocker and a better receiver than most realize. He's not a project. He can start on Day 1 and be a force on short-yardage situations.
I dont think they're going to trade up unless it's for Sadiq. I guess I could see them trading up for Price if he fell to say 2-45-50 and they really liked Price, but I cant see that happening either. I like Randle enough to trade a 5th and a 6th, (Yeah I know they dont have a 6th.) to trade up to pick him. I love RB's that have WR backgrounds. He would be a really good fit with the type of offense it appears that they want to be. A RB room of Monty/Woody/Randle would be a massive upgrade from what they had at RB last yr. IMHO
Yeah, if they draft Proctor after the FA additions they've added, it will tell me that they're finally getting serious about fixing the OL.
Here is Kayden McDonald from today's Ohio State pro day. He moves very well for as big as he is! https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8bV9E1k/
Before the draft, the Texans have already addressed the most pressing deficiencies on last season's team. Number one. Run the ball on offense starting with rebuilding the OL, not just with players, but with attitude. They brought in a new culture and retained depth. They replaced the Mixon/Chubb RB which was great when out there, but couldn't be counted on from week to week. On defense, the biggest problem was the big play on 3rd or 4th down after holding them on 1st and second. This was largely a matter of getting Safeties on the field and experience for younger players. Addressed with both quality and depth. Now we have a decent schedule, so were not facing every damned playoff team each week. We still want to get better, but we're talking about rotational and depth pieces. So we now have the luxury of drafting for UPSIDE rather than Floors. Players like Caleb Banks, with injury concerns pushing him down the draft board.
Caleb Banks with the multiple foot injuries is a big red flag. Especially for a big man who weighs over 300 lbs I watched Yao Ming end his career early because of foot injuries related his size. There's plenty of other prospects without the red flags in that range.
So he is basically AJ80 at TE. I'm thinking about this. Dang. Double dang. I wouldn't be made if a trade-up.
I believe medicals are going to be real important for Proctor. He's had several injuries at Alabama and the Texans medical staff need to be able to clear him. If he falls in the draft, it's because of uncertainties about him staying healthy.
I've gone back and looked at Edge rushers at the end of Day1. I came back really impressed with Gabe Jacas. I would prefer Gabe over Parker, Faulk, Young, Thomas, Howell, and Lawrence. He fits the Texans scheme perfectly. Relentless motor, plays smart, understands containment. You can bring him on 1st and 2nd downs so that Anderson or Hunter can come in fresh on 3rd downs. He's a player that coaches are much more interested in than the talent evaluators. I don't know if he would be available at 38, but I would be fine with the Texans taking him earlier.
As the draft gets closer I find my thoughts changing pretty radically. Free agency and the combine/pro days have really altered what I thought the Texans would do. And other posters have found players I had no idea about that I think are really interesting. So, at this moment, this is what I would do if I were to switch places with Casserio April 23rd-25th: TRADE 1.28 to Arizona for 2.34, 4.104 and a 2027 2nd : Arizona moves up to select Ty Simpson - QB, Alabama 2.34: Kayden McDonald - DT, Ohio State 2.38: Emmanuel Pregnon - OG, Oregon 2.59: Gennings Dunker - OL, Iowa 3.69: Oscar Delp - TE, Georgia 4.104: Jordan van den Berg - DT, Georgia Tech 4.106; Michael Trigg - TE, Baylor 5.167: Tyren Montgomery - WR, John Carroll 7.243: Adam Randall - RB, Clemson
