Another sleeper is NT Chase Baker. He is only around 300, but also only a little over 6' and plays low with great leverage. I can't remember ever seeing anyone drive him and he drew a lot of double-teams. He kept the linebackers clean and got good penetration from his position. Starter from his sophomore season on. I saw at KFFL.com he has visits scheduled with the Vikings and Cowboys.

Draftsite.com 3.27.12
 

26 Mark Barron S Alabama 6' 2" 210
58 A.J. Jenkins WR Illinois 6' 1" 185
76 Brandon Washington* OG Miami 6' 4" 320
99 Josh Chapman DT Alabama 6' 1" 310
121 Brandon Lindsey DE Pittsburgh 6' 2" 250
161 Matt Reynolds OT BYU 6' 6" 325
195 Sammy Brown OLB Houston 6' 3" 240
233 Robert Blanton CB Notre Dame 6' 0" 200

Not a bad day for us, but is it the best we can do?

26 Stephen Hill* WR Georgia Tech 6' 5" 206
58 Coby Fleener TE Stanford 6' 6" 248
76 Harrison Smith S Notre Dame 6' 2" 212
99 Mike Martin DT Michigan 6' 2" 299

Not that this is going to happen but I would be happy if it did.

I am kind of intrigued with Akiem Hicks from Canada. 6-5-,324, 4.98/40. Mammoth player with elite measurables, light feet, and impressive length. However, he is extremely raw. Long arms (35") and a wingspan of 84". Surprising atheletic ability for a player his size. Rare movement skills, explosive hitter. He would be a good fit for those of you who think our nose tackle should be bigger. And due to his inexperience, he will probably be available as late as the 5th, or 6th round.

Works for me. I'd even snag him with one of our two fourths. I remember how inexperience Seth Wand was and we still took him in the third. You can't teach size and quickness.

Source: Grambling WR Mario Louis to visit Texans next week: http://t.co/krBtV0lP -- Aaron Wilson (@RavensInsider)

Hicks isn't the typical guy from Saskatoon State or wherever. He's from California and signed with LSU out of junior college. He never played there though because an assistant coach set him up with some illegal benefits (rides and a place to stay) and they were tried to cover it up when it was investigated. He then headed to Canada.

I wouldn't be surprised to see someone reach for him by following Bill Parcells' "planet person" philosophy -- there's a limited number of 300 pounders on the planet with that kind of athleticism, so you shouldn't pass them up. He supposedly isn't as impressive on the field, though.

Per PFT, the Texans have visits set up with:

• Old Dominion DT Ronnie Cameron
• Grambling WR Mario Lewis
• Kansas St. S Kelcie McCray
• Illinois S Tavon Wilson

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...rkout-tracker/

And to put that in perspective, they didn't draft any of the eight guys it was reported they brought in last year: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...kouts-tracker/

And that has been the trend since Rick Smith took over the draft. The Texans tend to only bring in for a meeting with UDFA types, they almost never draft guys they have in for visits.

DraftTek.com 04.3.2012
 

26 Dont'a Hightower Alabama SILB
58 Bruce Irvin West Virginia OLB34
76 Mitchell Schwartz California LOT
99 A.J. Jenkins Illinois WRF
121 Derek Wolfe Cincinnati DE34
161 Nicolas Jean-Baptiste Baylor DT34
195 Ryan Miller Colorado OG
233 Terrence Frederick Texas A&M CB

IMO they are over stating our need at ILB in the 1st round. The loss of Ryan is a big one and he will be missed, but his position is only on the field 50% of the defensive snaps. Going ILB in the 1st is luxury we may not be able to afford. As for Irvin, I do not see the Texans selecting him.

Overall not a bad mock.

Draftek now has a simulator where you can tweak their priority formulas so I changed a few of them and got this:

26. Andre Branch 3-4OLB Clemson (Poe, Fleener, Wright, Perry still on board)
58. Marvin Jones WR California
76. Mitchell Schwartz, OT, California
99. Demario Davis, ILB, Arkansas St.
121. Reuben Randle, WR, LSU
151. Matt Conrath, 3-4 DE, Virginia
195. Ishmaa'ily Kitchen, 3-4 DT, Kent St.
233. Jaymes Brooks, OG, Virginia Tech

The problem with Draftek is that they don't seem to update their databases as players become fallers and risers. They still have Poe as a low 1st even though he has risen to mid-first on many boards. Rang has us taking Randle - but in the first round.

Still, I like this draft in terms of the depth it provides. I think the Texans will probably fill some other needs besides these.

If I were to choose by position, not player, I would probably draft this way:

1. OLB or WR
2. WR or LT
3. LT or OLB
4a. TE or NT
4b. NT or TE
5. trade down for two sevenths
6. OG
7a. QB
7b. FB
7c. PK

It would be really cool to me if the sevenths turned out to be Case Keenum, QB, Houston, Cody Johnson, FB, Texas and Randy Bullock, PK, Texas A&M. They could all be useful parts and could fall all the way to the seventh (or might possibly be UDFAs).

IMO, a 7th rounder isn't likely to play for us anytime soon, UNLESS he's a K. I would be on board with that, as he would be on the cheap for atleast 4 years.

But all three of these would help. Keenum would be the development QB now that Leinart is gone and Yates has playoff experience. Fullbacks are not even a part of many team's rosters anymore. We're one of the few. Johnson has a great deal of experience both as the designated short yardage back and lead blocker. And, as you noted, a PK will be an immediate help and Bullock was an exceptional one with the Aggies. So, there you are - three guys the Texans can use now that Leinart, Vickers and Rackers are gone for the puny cost of a 5th and a 7th. Plus, as an added bonus, each will bring a bit of their old college supporters with them.

By Position:

1. WRz or TE (Fleener)

2. ORT/OG

3. WRf* or OLB

4. ILB or S

5-7 BPA

*( Oklahoma's WR Ryan Broyles - ACL surgery)

DraftSite has added the compensatory picks:

3rd round:
95. Oakland

4th round:
128. Minnesota
129. Oakland
130. Baltimore
131. NY Giants
132. Green Bay
133. Green Bay
134. Minnesota
135. Dallas

5th round:
168. Oakland
169. Baltimore
170. Indianapolis

6th round:
202. NY Jets
203. NY Jets
204. Cleveland
205. Cleveland
206. Indianapolis
207. Carolina

7th round:
240. Pittsburgh
241. Green Bay
242. NY Jets
243. Green Bay
244. NY Jets
245. Cleveland
246. Pittsburgh
247. Cleveland
248. Pittsburgh
249. Atlanta
250. San Diego
251. Buffalo
252. St. Louis
253. Indianapolis

At this point before the Draft, my ideal would be:

26 WR Stephon Hill

58 TE (who could play a little slot) Coby Fleener.

Reality, I don't think Fleener will last to #58. We will be lucky if Hill lasts to #26! But one can always hope.

If it should happen, it would make us infinitely more dangerous for our opponents.

Draftsite.com 4.10.12
 

26 Mark Barron S Alabama 6' 2" 210
58 Ronnell Lewis* OLB Oklahoma 6' 2" 234
76 Brian Quick WR Appalachian State 6' 5" 220
99 Josh Chapman DT Alabama 6' 1" 310
121 Matt McCants OT Alabama, Birmingham 6' 7" 295
161 Matt Conrath DE Virginia 6' 7" 270
195 Grant Garner OC Oklahoma State 6' 3" 289
233 Austin Davis QB Southern Miss 6' 2" 208

Even though I cannot argue all the positions taken, I am not sold on the priority/players with these picks.

By now a lot of my cherry picks will be the same old guys I have been selecting for some time now.

26 Stephen Hill* WR Georgia Tech 6' 5" 206 - offensive explosion with the #1 pick, but does not have to start day one.
58 Shea McClellin OLB Boise State 6' 3" 262 - depth/rotational OLB to help with the lose of Mario
76 Mike Martin DT Michigan 6' 2" 299 - High motor quick NT
99 Derek Wolfe DE Cincinnati 6' 5" 298 - Rotation guy who could be Smith future replacement
121 Jerry Franklin ILB Arkansas 6' 1" 241 -tackling machine in the middle
161 William Vlachos OC Alabama 6' 1" 292 - OL depth
195 Randy Bullock K Texas A&M 5' 9" 205 - could be our kicker for next 10 years
233 Donald Stephenson OT Oklahoma 6' 6" 309 - OL depth

I see this draft as a chance to add depth, not to force anyone into starting roles, finally!!!

26 Peter Konz OG/C Wisconsin 6'4" 315 - Competes for the guard spot and ST OC Day 1. Drafting Badgers with the first pick is lucky.

58 Shea McClellin OLB/ILB Boise State 6'3" 262 - Can play multiple LB spots, so a potential 3-down backer sometimes, as well as ST.

76 Brian Quick WR Appalachin St 6'3" 222 - Big, fast target with big hands for red zone packages. Needs coaching up, though.

99 Mitchell Schwartz OT/OG Cal 6'5" 318 - Ideal RT for our blocking scheme, with long arms even.

121 Greg Childs WR Arkansas 6'3" 219 - Big, fast target with big hands. Knee looks healed.

161 Chris Rainey RB/WR Florida 5'8" 180 - In Sproles/Bush/McCluster mold, which could be a nice change of pace.

195 Coty Sensebaugh CB Clemson 5'11" 189 - Fast leader of sucky Clemson backfield. Can man-up with tall, fast WRs, just not with strong, fast WRs. ST gunner.

233 Evan Rodriguez TE/FB/HB/QB/ST Temple 6'1" 242 - What's that position that Casey plays? He can back that up like a Brinks truck.

26. Ruben Randle WR
58. Ronnell Lewis OLB
76. Dwight Bentley CB Jason Allen's replacement
99. Nick Foles QB
121. Bobby Wagner ILB/OLB
161. Cody Johnson FB
195. Jeff Allen OT/OG
233. Keshawn Martin WR/PR

UDFA- James Hanna TE
UDFA- Greg Zuerlein K
UDFA- Jonas Gray RB