And this is a legitimate concern given shelf life of most NFL RBs. But I guess the counter-argument is no one is paying RBs beyond rookie contract anyway so you’d probably be drafting the “next one” in a few years anyway
So I’m not going to lie and say I’m not slightly biased, but I always liked Stingley more than sauce(geaux tigers). I personally think they both end up being 2 of the top players from this draft, but I had Stingley higher, dude was made in a lab for CBs. He was the best defensive player on the national championship team and had to practice against Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase everyday. He will be a top CB as long as he stays healthy(which is a legitimate, and prob his biggest concern) Green was the best G in the draft, a position of more need on the OL than T. He can play anywhere on the line but he’s got elite G play talent. This hopefully keeps Tytus at RT as well cause that’s his best spot. Overall I think the picks themselves are very solid and start the filling needs process. The trade back was an excellent move and I do think there’s a trade up coming tonight at some point. I give day 1 an A-
There is tape of this kid absolutely shutting down Jamar Chase in practice 1 on 1 as a freshman... If he is healthy. He deserves the area he was drafted in. He runs a 4.3 effortlessly with ball skills.... Can't hate the pick.
I don't know jackshit about the individual players, but I do like the positions we're focusing on, and from a strategy perspective, that trade was magnificent. This draft is loaded with extra talent due to covid and so there will be many more hits in rounds 3-5 than normal. Load up on em, Nick. This could be a historic haul that we look back and reference for years.
https://theathletic.com/3276800/2022/04/28/2022-nfl-draft-grades-round-1/ 3. Houston Texans: Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU Stingley (6 feet, 190) made 25 starts for the Tigers, although he was limited to just three games last year because of a Lisfranc injury. He totaled 26 passes defended and six interceptions, and opposing quarterbacks completed just 41.1% of their passes when targeting him. The Athletic’s Diante Lee made a strong case for Stingley as the top corner in the draft. He has elite cover skills and isn’t even 21 years old. The Texans are another team that just needs blue-chip players. They shouldn’t be drafting for Lovie Smith’s scheme because, let’s be honest, there are no guarantees beyond 2022 for Smith. Drafting Stingley carries some risk, given that last year didn’t go great for him. But I have no issue with swinging for a home run at a premium position here. Grade: B 15. Houston Texans: Kenyon Green, OG, Texas A&M Green (6-foot-4, 323) started 35 games — 17 at left guard, 15 at right guard, two at right tackle, one at left tackle — in three seasons for the Aggies. Green is a mauler in the run game, and he allowed just one sack on more than 700 pass-blocking snaps in the last two years. Green’s versatility is a big plus, and given that he just turned 21 in March, there’s reason to believe he has plenty of room to improve. The Texans acquired a fourth and two fifths by moving back. I think Green is a fine prospect. But if you’re a Houston fan, you’re probably wondering whether you might have been better off staying put and taking Davis or Hamilton rather than an interior offensive lineman. Grade: C
Nope. Makes a ton of money and he’s not very good. If mills is not the answer just draft one next year.
https://theathletic.com/3280731/2022/04/29/draft-quarterbacks-mayfield-garoppolo/ The Panthers and Seahawks have remained in the mix in the veteran quarterback market throughout the offseason, and the Texans will likely explore their options with Garoppolo and Mayfield, according to a source. Of course, this all continues to hinge on the rest of the draft. […] Don’t rule out the Texans, though. They are indeed encouraged by quarterback Davis Mills’ rookie season and would be comfortable with him as their starter again in 2022, according to a source. And they had no intention of selecting a quarterback Thursday with a pair of picks in the top half of the first round. However, the Texans hadn’t ruled out the possibility of jumping up for Willis or Pickett if they fell to the bottom of the opening round. The Texans, sitting at No. 37, could still get their guy Friday night. It’s conceivable the Buccaneers (No. 33), Vikings (No. 34), Titans (No. 35) or Giants (No. 36) jump on a quarterback as a succession plan for their current starters, and they also have to consider that they could get leapfrogged by the Seahawks or another team. The patient approach might backfire if they truly like Willis or another quarterback. Otherwise, the Texans want to make sure they’re competitive with a difficult schedule on the horizon in 2022. The AFC South has improved, and they’ve also drawn the daunting AFC West slate, along with the NFC East, Browns, Dolphins and Bears. As much as the Texans like Mills, are they giving themselves the best chance to win when Garoppolo and Mayfield are options? Texans general manager Nick Caserio worked with the Patriots when they drafted Garoppolo in the second round in 2014, so they have history. Garoppolo would also be an easy stopgap if they want a younger option in 2023, including Mills. But so far, the 49ers’ asking price for Garoppolo has been too high, according to a source. Mayfield would be another consideration because of the asking price. The Texans had no interest in Mayfield as part of the Watson trade, but things have changed, according to sources. Notably, at the time of the Watson trade, the Browns wanted to see if another team would take Mayfield’s entire contract. Now that it’s become apparent the Browns must consume a portion of Mayfield’s contract, the Texans might consider that type of deal.
I hear you. But it’s fair to call the Kenyon Green pick a bit of a reach given where the NFL and analysts collectively projected him (late 1st, early 2nd). Definitely violates the view that a team with so many needs should be drafting best player available instead of drafting for need (though clearly guard is a need). It’s also fair to point out that even for the experts the draft is as much a guess as an analysis. Only 50% of 1st Rd QBs actually pan out based on history and that number goes down significantly past RD1 to very rare beyond RD3. Motivation is also a fickle factor as in how often have we seen a player that falls in the draft bust their butt to prove to the world that they were wrong? Definitely no ‘definites’ in any draft day opinions, just how much each person individually trusts the collective draft boards and the judgement of individual organizations when assigning “benefit of the doubt”
Green was projected as a first rounder and the best guard in the draft. All of the guards were taken higher than draft pundits projected. We were just ahead of the rush.
Mock from the Athletic With 32 picks in the books, our focus now shifts to Friday night and Day 2 of the 2022 NFL Draft, with most eyes on the quarterbacks. Pitt’s Kenny Pickett was the only quarterback drafted in the first round, leaving several passing prospects searching for a home in Rounds 2 and 3. For the first time since 2007, there is a good chance we have more quarterbacks drafted in the second round than the first round. Second Round 33. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Logan Hall, DL, Houston An ascending player, Hall gives Tampa inside-outside versatility on the defensive line. 34. Minnesota Vikings: Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington After adding Lewis Cine in the first round, the Vikings continue reshaping their secondary with Gordon. 35. Tennessee Titans: Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati Ridder is an athletic passer who can be groomed behind Ryan Tannehill (the Mike Vrabel-Luke Fickell connection doesn’t hurt). 36. New York Giants: Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia The Giants added a pair of cornerstone players in the first round and could add a third with Dean. 37. Houston Texans: Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State The Texans have shown considerable interest in Hall as the potential feature back of the offense. 38. New York Jets: Jalen Pitre, S, Baylor The Jets already upgraded the secondary with Sauce Gardner and might be looking to add a safety on Day 2. 39. Chicago Bears: George Pickens, WR, Georgia Despite a few red flags, Pickens has the traits to develop into Justin Fields’ WR1. 40. Seattle Seahawks: Malik Willis, QB, Liberty Seattle is in good position to land a quarterback with one of these next two picks, and Willis is still on the board. 41. Seattle Seahawks: Arnold Ebiketie, Edge, Penn State Ebiketie has twitch and length that will appeal to the Seahawks’ decision-makers. 42. Indianapolis Colts: Skyy Moore, WR, Western Michigan One of my favorite fits on Day 2 would be teaming Moore with Michael Pittman in Indianapolis. 43. Atlanta Falcons: Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss It will be interesting to see if the value of one of these quarterbacks is too great for the Falcons to pass on. 44. Cleveland Browns: Drake Jackson, Edge, USC A young player with disruptive rush traits, Jackson checks a lot of boxes with the Browns. 45. Baltimore Ravens: Travis Jones, DT, Connecticut After missing out on Jordan Davis in the first, the Ravens land a powerful, explosive interior presence with Jones. 46. Detroit Lions: Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson Injury concerns dropped Booth this far, but the Lions stop his slide. 47. Washington Commanders: Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina Washington is ready to ride the Carson Wentz roller coaster, but Howell gives the organization a long-term plan. 48. Chicago Bears: Perrion Winfrey, DT, Oklahoma Winfrey gives the Bears the interior disruption they have been searching for this offseason. 49. New Orleans Saints: Jaquan Brisker, S, Penn State Brisker would be the finishing touch as the Saints revamp their safety depth chart. 50. Kansas City Chiefs: David Ojabo, Edge, Michigan The Chiefs already drafted George Karlaftis in the first round, but the value with Ojabo, who will need a redshirt year as a rookie, is too good to pass up. 51. Philadelphia Eagles: Christian Harris, LB, Alabama An above-average athlete, Harris has speed and coverage ability that will appeal to the Eagles. 52. Pittsburgh Steelers: Bernhard Raimann, OT/G, Central Michigan The Steelers got their quarterback, and now they must protect him by adding more pieces on the offensive line. 53. Green Bay Packers: Boye Mafe, Edge, Minnesota Three picks, three front-seven defenders for the Packers, which is very on-brand. 54. New England Patriots: Leo Chenal, LB, Wisconsin With his size and competitive profile, Chenal is an ideal fit with what the Patriots traditionally covet at linebacker. 55. Arizona Cardinals: Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn McCreary might lack ideal length, but he can play inside or outside, which is what the Cardinals need at the position. 56. Dallas Cowboys: Sam Williams, Edge, Ole Miss Like with Tyler Smith in the first round, some might consider this a reach, but Dallas will stick to its draft board. 57. Buffalo Bills: Kenneth Walker III, RB, Michigan State The Bills passed on the temptation to draft a running back in the first round and still land one of the best this draft has to offer. 58. Atlanta Falcons: Troy Andersen, LB, Montana State Andersen is a special athlete and the type of building block the Falcons should be targeting for their rebuild. 59. Green Bay Packers: Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota State After going defense, defense, defense with their first three picks, the Packers finally land a toolsy pass-catcher. 60. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Trey McBride, TE, Colorado State Regardless if Rob Gronkowski plans to return, McBride would give Tampa and Tom Brady another weapon in the passing game. 61. San Francisco 49ers: Cam Jurgens, OG/C, Nebraska With his athletic profile and tenacity, Jurgens is a promising center prospect ideal for the Niners’ scheme. 62. Kansas City Chiefs: John Metchie, WR, Alabama The Chiefs have gone defense-heavy so far, but Metchie is a dependable receiver who will form a quick connection with Patrick Mahomes. 63. Cincinnati Bengals: Josh Paschal, DL, Kentucky The Bengals will be looking to upgrade the defensive line at some point in the draft, and Paschal offers inside-outside versatility. 64. Denver Broncos: Chad Muma, LB, Wyoming With his blend of smarts and speed, Muma is an active tackling machine who will see the field very early as a rookie.
Third Round 65. Jacksonville Jaguars: Cam Taylor-Britt, CB, Nebraska 66. Minnesota Vikings: Nik Bonitto, Edge, Oklahoma 67. New York Giants: Dylan Parham, OG/C, Memphis 68. Houston Texans: Nicholas Petit-Frere, OT, Ohio State 69. Tennessee Titans: Jamaree Salyer, OG, Georgia 70. Jacksonville Jaguars: Luke Goedeke, OG/C, Central Michigan 71. Chicago Bears: Darian Kinnard, OT/G, Kentucky 72. Seattle Seahawks: Tariq Woolen, CB, UTSA 73. Indianapolis Colts: Zyon McCollum, CB, Sam Houston State 74. Atlanta Falcons: Cameron Thomas, DL, San Diego State 75. Denver Broncos: Greg Dulcich, TE, UCLA 76. Baltimore Ravens: Daniel Faalele, OT, Minnesota 77. Minnesota Vikings: Jalen Tolbert, WR, South Alabama 78. Cleveland Browns: Alec Pierce, WR, Cincinnati 79. Los Angeles Chargers: Abraham Lucas, OT, Washington State 80. Houston Texans: Nick Cross, S, Maryland 81. New York Giants: Joshua Williams, CB, Fayetteville State 82. Atlanta Falcons: Isaiah Spiller, RB, Texas A&M 83. Philadelphia Eagles: Kingsley Enagbare, Edge, South Carolina 84. Pittsburgh Steelers: Phidarian Mathis, DT, Alabama 85. New England Patriots: Damarri Mathis, CB, Pittsburgh 86. Las Vegas Raiders: Coby Bryant, CB, Cincinnati 87. Arizona Cardinals: DeAngelo Malone, Edge, Western Kentucky 88. Dallas Cowboys: Jeremy Ruckert, TE, Ohio State 89. Buffalo Bills: Calvin Austin III, WR, Memphis 90. Tennessee Titans: Myjai Sanders, Edge, Cincinnati 91. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Luke Fortner, OG/C, Kentucky 92. Green Bay Packers: Joshua Ezeudu, OT/G, North Carolina 93. San Francisco 49ers: DeMarvin Leal, DT, Texas A&M 94. New England Patriots: Khalil Shakir, WR, Boise State 95. Cincinnati Bengals: Jelani Woods, TE, Oklahoma State 96. Denver Broncos: Akayleb Evans, CB, Missouri 97. Detroit Lions: Channing Tindall, LB, Georgia 98. Washington Commanders: Brian Asamoah, LB, Oklahoma 99. Cleveland Browns: Alex Wright, Edge, UAB 100. Arizona Cardinals: Sean Rhyan, OG, UCLA 101. New York Jets: Rasheed Walker, OT, Penn State 102. Miami Dolphins: Amare Barno, Edge, Virginia Tech 103. Kansas City Chiefs: Charlie Kolar, TE, Iowa State 104. Los Angeles Chargers: Danny Gray, WR, SMU 105. San Francisco 49ers: David Bell, WR, Purdue
exactly, geezus. why are people over thinking this. It's ridiculous. Our best RB is washed-up Marlon ****ing Mack. It's really not that difficult.
Caserio admitted they thought about moving back and taking Green but they decided not to get too cute, which honestly I think is fine.
Geez, all of y'all on here just repeating what the blowhards said about concerns regarding Stingley. News flash, if he didn't miss time in 2020 and 2021 he would have been the FIRST OVERALL PICK IN THIS DRAFT, WITHOUT QUESTION. That's the reason we were able to get him at 3! Deal with it, and enjoy eating crow while you watch him blossom into an all-pro.
https://theathletic.com/3280350/2022/04/29/draft-best-available-texans/ The Texans addressed two major needs by drafting cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. and offensive lineman Kenyon Green in Round 1, but this rebuilding team still has plenty of holes. GM Nick Caserio will keep working to fill them on Day 2 of the draft, when the Texans have one pick in Round 2 (No. 37 overall) and two in Round 3 (Nos. 68 and 80). Trading up for an additional pick in those rounds is possible, too, after a trade with the Eagles on Thursday left the Texans with a total of six picks in Rounds 4 and 5. The volume of picks and number of needs makes it hard to predict what direction the Texans will go Friday, but with the help of Dane Brugler’s draft guide, “The Beast,” we’ve identified some potential fits. Kenneth Walker III, RB, Michigan State: Walker is Brugler’s No. 1 back in this class. He transferred from Wake Forest to Michigan State before running for more than 1,600 yards in his lone season as a full-time starter. With 263 carries in 2021, Walker proved he could be the workhorse the Texans backfield is missing. Like a lot of college backs, Walker is unproven as a receiver, catching a total of 19 passes in his college career. But according to Pro Football Focus, Walker led the nation last season in broken tackles, a stat that tends to be sticky from college to the NFL. Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State: Brugler’s second-ranked back strung together two years of All-America production at Iowa State. He’s a more polished pass protector and receiver than Walker. He had at least 23 catches in each of his three college seasons. Brian Robinson Jr., RB, Alabama: Robinson finally got his chance to be the Tide’s lead back during his fifth and final year in Tuscaloosa. He averaged 5.0 yards per carry in Bill O’Brien’s pro-style scheme and showed upside as a receiver (35 catches for 296 yards). Robinson is likely an option toward the end of Round 3, if not later. Khalil Shakir, WR, Boise State: Slot receiver was a rotating door for the Texans in 2021. Shakir, who averaged 121.5 all-purpose yards per game during his junior and senior seasons, could offer some stability. He’d be an option in the return game, too. John Metchie, WR, Alabama: A two-year starter at Alabama, Metchie is an average athlete but polished route runner. He tore an ACL in the SEC championship game in December 2021, which could hurt his stock, but the Texans are in position to be patient. Jeremy Ruckert, TE, Ohio State: Ruckert, Brugler’s third-ranked prospect at the position, was primarily a blocker for the Buckeyes. He could make an immediate impact in that area for Houston while improving as a receiver. The Texans are currently set to run it back with an underwhelming pair of inline tight ends in Pharaoh Brown and Antony Auclair. Jelani Woods, TE, Virginia: Brugler’s fifth-ranked player at the position is a mid-round option who could also help the Texans right away as a blocker. He also has the potential to be an asset in high-leverage situations, as he used his 6-foot-7 frame to produce a first down or touchdown on 70.5 percent of his receptions in 2021. Daniel Faalele, OT, Minnesota: A native of Australia, Faalele didn’t suit up for a football game until his senior year of high school, but his large frame — currently 6-8, 384 pounds — was enough to get the attention of college programs. However, his size also limits his range and speed. At the next level, he’s likely to stay at right tackle, the position he played in college. Dylan Parham, OG/C, Memphis: At 6-2, 311 pounds, Parham is best suited to play center in the NFL, but he was a guard and tackle in college. Still, The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner loves his consistently savvy use of leverage in the run game. The Texans have center Justin Britt on a two-year contract, so they could be patient while Parham adjusts to the position. Logan Hall, DL, Houston: Relative to the rest of the roster, defensive tackle is one of the Texans’ deeper positions, but Hall could be hard to pass up at the right spot. After recording 6.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss last season, he earned a fringe Round 1 grade from Brugler. At 6-6, 283, he has a versatile frame that allows him to play all over the line in odd and even fronts. As an interior lineman, he’s perhaps the best pass rusher in this class. Arnold Ebiketie, edge, Penn State: Brugler’s top remaining edge rusher after Day 1, Ebiketie (6-2, 250) transferred from Temple to Penn State and turned in 9.5 sacks and 17 TFLs for the Nittany Lions. He could face some growing pains vs. the run early in his career. Cameron Thomas, edge, San Diego State: He’s an average athlete but possesses a nose for the ball in the backfield, as evidenced by his 20.5 TFLs and 11.5 sacks in 2021. He likely won’t be as productive on a play-to-play basis in the NFL, but he has the prototypical size (6-4, 267) to be an every-down edge rusher in Lovie Smith’s four-man front. Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia: The Texans linebacking corps is a collection of veterans on short-term deals along with 2021 fifth-round pick Garret Wallow, so Dean could make an impact right away. Dean is on the smaller end at 5-11, 231, but Caserio hasn’t stocked the position with more traditional run thumpers, so that might not be an issue. Chad Muma, LB, Wyoming: The Athletic’s Diante Lee is a big fan of Muma, who stands out in coverage. Muma had three interceptions in 2021, including two returned for touchdowns. Joshua Williams, CB, Fayetteville State: Currently holding 11 picks in this draft, the Texans can afford to take a few big swings, especially after Day 1. Williams is just that, having played corner for one season in high school and just two at the Division II level. His background as a receiver gives him the ball skills Smith covets (24 pass breakups and five interceptions in his last 20 games), and the Texans can afford to be patient while Williams refines his technique as an outside corner. Jalen Pitre, DB, Baylor: With the right development, Pitre could fill more than one of the various holes in the Texans secondary. He played all over the field for Baylor and was the only player in college football to finish with at least three fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles and two interceptions in 2021. It could take time to find the right role for Pitre at the next level, but Brugler projects he can add immediate value on special teams.
