Texans rewind: it’s all about the draft
We spent this past week looking back at the Texans draft. While most of the focus was on the players selected, it’s always important to look at the guys that were signed as UDFA’s. Houston signed 16 guys after the draft, so it took a couple of posts to fit them all in. Although we can’t get overly excited about undrafted free agents, let’s not forget how Arian Foster became a Texan.
Rick Smith, Bill O’Brien, and company were clearly intent on adding offensive weaponry. It’s exciting to think of the possibilities, but was it done at the expense of the defensive line? Houston lost Jared Crick to free agency, leaving a vacancy at defensive end. Will Christian Covington, Devin Still, or Jeoffrey Pagan step up to make plays opposite of Watt? Or is there a veteran free agent out there who will be in a Texans uniform in the near future?
The draft pick that I was most impressed by, was that of third rounder Braxton Miller. Miller, now a wide receiver, was a two-time Big Ten Player of the Year at quarterback. Twice he finished top ten in Heisman voting. He is now an uber-athletic slot receiver who can do a bit of everything. It makes my head spin to think of Hopkins, Strong, and Fuller doing work on the outside, while Miller wreaks havoc on the inside. Oh the possibilities!
It was an offense heavy draft, but Houston added a defender in round five who could turn into a big steal. Former West Virginia safety K.J. Dillon was often overshadowed by his secondary mate Karl Joseph. Dillon, however, is a versatile guy who can play in the box as well as tend to coverage duties. He plays physical, smart, and with just the right amount of swag.
I would be remiss if I didn’t post the draft grades from all the “experts” out there. As we would expect, the Texans received mostly high grades for their selections. Whether you agree with the grades or not, it’s hard to argue that the Texans didn’t go in with specific intentions to address needs, and they accomplished just that.
And finally, all the Texans rookies and practice squad players gathered for their first day of minicamp. They guys were predictably excited as they stepped onto the field for the first time. Coach O’Brien was optimistic afterwards, but knows that they have a long way to go. They will continue their meetings and practices today and tomorrow.
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