Pick's Picks 2012
 

Hello all. You'd think that a divorced guy would have more time to devote to such hobbies as the NFL draft. Unfortunately, I am even busier than ever. At any rate, I wanted to put together a draft list for the Texans like I do every year. Not a lot of names like normal, but my cream of the crop.

1 NT Dontari Poe Memphis 6'3" 346
2 DE Nick Perry USC 6'3" 271
3 DE Fletcher Cox Mississippi State 6'4" 298
4 DE Kendall Reyes Connecticut 6'4" 299
5 ILB Luke Kuechly Boston College 6'3" 242
6 OLB Andre Branch Clemson 6'4" 259
7 ILB Donta Hightower Alabama 6'2" 262
8 OLB Courtney Upshaw Alabama 6'1" 272
9 WR Stephen Hill Georgia Tech 6'4" 214
10 CB Stephon Gilmore South Carolina 6'0" 190
11 NT Jerel Worthy Michigan State 6'3" 308
12 ILB Zach Brown North Carolina 6'1" 244
13 LB Shea McClellin Boise State 6'3" 260
14 RB David Wilson Virginia Tech 5'10" 206
15 RB LaMichael James Oregon 5'8" 194
16 OC Peter Konz Wisconsin 6'5" 314
17 OG Kevin Zeitler Wisconsin 6'4" 314
18 LB Ronnel Lewis Oklahoma 6'2" 253
19 RB Doug Martin Boise State 5'9" 223
20 RB Isaiah Pead Cincinnatti 5'10" 197
21 LB Mychal Kendricks California 5'11" 240
22 OLB Bruce Irvin West Virginia 6'3" 245
23 LB Cam Johnson Virginia 6'3" 268
24 NT Alameda Ta'amu Washington 6'3" 348
25 WR Juron Criner Arizona 6'3" 234
26 WR Nick Toon Wisconsin 6'2" 215
27 RB Chris Rainey Florida 5'8" 180
28 LB Travis Lewis Oklahoma 6'1" 246
29 WR Devon Wylie Fresno 5'9" 187
30 WR Tommy Streeter Miami 6'5" 219
31 WR Marvin McNutt Iowa 6'3" 216
32 CB Coryell Judie Texas A&M 6'0" 194
33 OT Nate Potter Boise State 6'6" 303
34 WR AJ Jenkins Illinois 6'0" 190
35 WR T.J. Graham Wisconsin 5'11" 188
36 WR Chris Owasu Stanford 6'0" 196

Finished draftboard and went the Drafttek to see how it works....

OLB Nick Perry USC 6'3" 271
Fills a hole left when Mario leaves.

NT Jerel Worthy Michigan State 6'3" 308
Could be a Jay Ratliff type player in Wade's 3-4

RB Isaiah Pead Cincinnatti 5'10" 197
Change of pace back with return ability.

WR Devon Wylie Fresno 5'9" 187
Slot receiver like Wes Welker this offense has not had. Also return ability.

WR Marvin McNutt Iowa 6'3" 216
Could replace Kevin Walter and make losing Jacoby Jones a non-issue.

CB Ron Brooks LSU 5'10" 190
Decent size and incredible speed. A good project player this late in the draft. Had to add him to my board.

DE J.R. Sweezy North Carolina St. 6'5" 298
Can push Bullman and Jamison and make the roster.

I'm guessing you presume that Kendall Wright and Alshon Jeffrey are off the board by then. I'd also rate Konz ahead of any RB, plus I would move him to the top of the list if Meyers isn't re-signed.

I think there are equally talented WRs who can be had later in the draft. I also think Caldwell can play OC as well as Konz will next season, so I am not too worried about drafting a Center. Hopefully, we resign Meyers and it is a moot point.

I really liked wylie at the combine. fast, quick, good footwork/hands. seems like he could start the year off as a great 3rd down conversion guy and increase his role as the season progresses. does he have any experience as a return man?

At Fresno, here are the stats...

http://espn.go.com/college-football/...38/devon-wylie

Thanks Roy, glad to see that he had some success this last year. I'm all for him coming in to replace Jones or Walter and would love to hear his name called in the 4th.

I really like the Stephon Hill kid from Ga. Tech. He really lit it up at the combine. There is a fairly good chance he would still be there at #26.

The Ides of March
 

Okay I was surprised that we cut Eric Winston. Hopefully we sign a replacement, and I have my eye on Guy Whimper. If we can't sign a Center, then we will have two OL holes to fill, so I've adjusted my draftboard. Not many prototypical Zone Blocking Scheme guys out there in the draft this year. So, I'm adding Mosley, Brewster, Compton, and Wynn. So here it is...

1 NT Dontari Poe Memphis 6'3" 346
2 OLB Nick Perry USC 6'3" 271
3 DE Fletcher Cox Mississippi State 6'4" 298
4 ILB Luke Kuechly Boston College 6'3" 242
5 WR Stephen Hill Georgia Tech 6'4" 214
6 DE Kendall Reyes Connecticut 6'4" 299
7 OLB Andre Branch Clemson 6'4" 259
8 ILB Donta Hightower Alabama 6'2" 262
9 CB Stephon Gilmore South Carolina 6'0" 190
10 NT Jerel Worthy Michigan State 6'3" 308
11 ILB Zach Brown North Carolina 6'1" 244
12 OC Peter Konz Wisconsin 6'5" 314
13 LB Shea McClellin Boise State 6'3" 260
14 RB David Wilson Virginia Tech 5'10" 206
15 RB LaMichael James Oregon 5'8" 194
16 OLB Whitney Mercilus Illinois 6'4" 261
17 OG Kevin Zeitler Wisconsin 6'4" 314
18 OLB Bruce Irvin West Virginia 6'3" 245
19 LB Ronnel Lewis Oklahoma 6'2" 253
20 RB Doug Martin Boise State 5'9" 223
21 OT Brandon Mosly Auburn 6'6" 314
22 RB Isaiah Pead Cincinnatti 5'10" 197
23 CB Jamell Fleming Oklahoma 5'11" 206
24 WR Chris Givens Wake Forest 5'11" 198
25 LB Cam Johnson Virginia 6'3" 268
26 LB Mychal Kendricks California 5'11" 240
27 NT Alameda Ta'amu Washington 6'3" 348
28 WR Juron Criner Arizona 6'3" 234
29 S Trumaine Johnson Montana 6'2" 204
30 RB Chris Rainey Florida 5'8" 180
31 WR Marv Jones California 6'2" 199
32 OC Michael Brewster Ohio State 6'2" 312
33 WR Nick Toon Wisconsin 6'2" 215
34 WR Greg Childs Arkansas 6'3" 219
35 OT Nate Potter Boise State 6'6" 303
36 ILB Keenan Robinson Texas 6'3" 242
37 CB Coryell Judie Texas A&M 6'0" 194
38 WR Devon Wylie Fresno 5'9" 187
39 WR Jarius Wright Arkansas 5'10" 182
40 LB Travis Lewis Oklahoma 6'1" 246
41 WR Tommy Streeter Miami 6'5" 219
42 WR Marvin McNutt Iowa 6'3" 216
43 WR AJ Jenkins Illinois 6'0" 190
44 OT Tom Compton North Dakota 6'5" 314
45 WR Danny Coale Virginia Tech 6'0" 201
46 WR Rishard Matthews Nevada 6'0" 217
47 OLB Brandon Lindsey Pittsburgh 6'2" 254
48 WR T.J. Graham Wisconsin 5'11" 188
49 OG Desmond Wynn Rutgers 6'6" 303
50 CB Ron Brooks LSU 5'10" 190
51 WR Eric Page Toledo 5'9" 186
52 CB Coty Sensabaugh Clemson 5'11" 189
53 OG Jaymes Brooks Virginia Tech 6'2" 310

OL
 

After sleeping on it for a few days, I'm actually not as upset by the OL defections as I was at first blush...and I'm glad we didn't blow $100 million on Mario.

I think Myers is pricing himself out of Houston too and I wouldn't pay him more than 4-4.5 million...and I get the since somebody will. I've never really considered Breisel irreplaceable either so if somebody gives him stupid money I'd rather move on there too.

With that said Peter Konz is looking pretty good at 26 right now

I think they like Butler at RT and that's why Winston was expendable...so a swing tackle is all we need there to back-up

It's looking to me like OLB/WR will be addressed in rnd 2/3 barring a trade like the rumored Tate to CLE rumor floated a couple days ago.

Not sure any of the WR left are worth the price...but we'll see. Wallace is a pipe dream but would certainly solve WR...I doubt PIT would let him go though, they would find a way to match.

Well looks like we panicked and overpaid Meyers to salvage the OL situation. My guess is OLB at 26 now...which one I'll leave to the pros. Nick Perry keeps coming up but I can't say I've ever seen him play. We do need a third OLB for that rotation though.

You wern't alone, but his replacement is already on the roster. Guy by the name of Rashad Butler. OK, he is kinda a finesse tackle, really more of a LT than RT but pass-protection is better with him instead of Winston, though he definitely can't run-bloc as well.
Now that you're in free agency, out there hitting the traps as a single man again Roy, you are gonna need to step it up and find some solid ZB center/guard types for the Texans with Breisel being a Raider now and Myers needing backup.

With ZBS losing popularity, a solid C-G swing guy can be found in the 4th-5th round. I might look for an OT before that. Wasn't Briesel an undrafted free agent originally? Good ones can be found that are quick/light more than big/powerful.

While we need OLB depth, I'm not sure it becomes a first round priority. I could see us trading down or choosing a modified BPA since there are few positions we could not upgrade but none that are just a glaring need.

I can see, however, where the third draft day may be where we can draft a C-G swingman, a pure FB, a backup QB and possibly a P-K with all of them making the roster hypothetically and all of them being possibly good value since those are not positions of high demand.

Trading down does have appeal. Feels like we really could use one more top 100 pick to reload some thinning positions. This is what consistently good teams do.

I have changed my mind on Dontari Poe and have dropped him down a bit, thus moving up OLB/DE Nick Perry. Having signed OC Chris Meyers has helped a bit considering the OC candidates in this draft. Anyway, my latest tweeks...

1 OLB Nick Perry USC 6'3" 271
2 DE Fletcher Cox Mississippi State 6'4" 298
3 ILB Luke Kuechly Boston College 6'3" 242
4 WR Stephen Hill Georgia Tech 6'4" 214
5 DE Kendall Reyes Connecticut 6'4" 299
6 OLB Andre Branch Clemson 6'4" 259
7 NT Jerel Worthy Michigan State 6'3" 308
8 NT Dontari Poe Memphis 6'3" 346
9 CB Stephon Gilmore South Carolina 6'0" 190
10 ILB Donta Hightower Alabama 6'2" 262
11 ILB Zach Brown North Carolina 6'1" 244
12 OLB Shea McClellin Boise State 6'3" 260
13 OLB Whitney Mercilus Illinois 6'4" 261
14 OC Peter Konz Wisconsin 6'5" 314
15 RB Doug Martin Boise State 5'9" 223
16 CB Jamell Fleming Oklahoma 5'11" 206
17 RB David Wilson Virginia Tech 5'10" 206
18 OLB Bruce Irvin West Virginia 6'3" 245
19 LB Ronnel Lewis Oklahoma 6'2" 253
20 WR Chris Givens Wake Forest 5'11" 198
21 RB LaMichael James Oregon 5'8" 194
22 OT Brandon Mosly Auburn 6'6" 314
23 RB Isaiah Pead Cincinnatti 5'10" 197
24 OG Kevin Zeitler Wisconsin 6'4" 314
25 LB Cam Johnson Virginia 6'3" 268
26 LB Mychal Kendricks California 5'11" 240
27 WR Marv Jones California 6'2" 199
28 NT Alameda Ta'amu Washington 6'3" 348
29 WR Juron Criner Arizona 6'3" 234
30 S Trumaine Johnson Montana 6'2" 204
31 RB Chris Rainey Florida 5'8" 180
32 OC Michael Brewster Ohio State 6'2" 312
33 WR Nick Toon Wisconsin 6'2" 215
34 WR Greg Childs Arkansas 6'3" 219
35 OT Nate Potter Boise State 6'6" 303
36 ILB Keenan Robinson Texas 6'3" 242
37 CB Coryell Judie Texas A&M 6'0" 194
38 WR Devon Wylie Fresno 5'9" 187
39 WR Jarius Wright Arkansas 5'10" 182
40 LB Travis Lewis Oklahoma 6'1" 246
41 WR Tommy Streeter Miami 6'5" 219
42 WR Marvin McNutt Iowa 6'3" 216
43 WR AJ Jenkins Illinois 6'0" 190
44 OT Tom Compton North Dakota 6'5" 314
45 WR Danny Coale Virginia Tech 6'0" 201
46 WR Rishard Matthews Nevada 6'0" 217
47 OLB Brandon Lindsey Pittsburgh 6'2" 254
48 WR T.J. Graham Wisconsin 5'11" 188
49 OG Desmond Wynn Rutgers 6'6" 303
50 CB Ron Brooks LSU 5'10" 190
51 WR Eric Page Toledo 5'9" 186
52 CB Coty Sensabaugh Clemson 5'11" 189
53 OG Jaymes Brooks Virginia Tech 6'2" 310
54 WR Chris Owasu Stanford 6'0" 196
55 WR Junior Hemmingway Michigan 6'1" 225

My latest mock draft with updated board...


OLB Nick Perry USC 6'3" 271
NT Jerel Worthy Michigan State 6'3" 308
WR Chris Givens Wake Forest 5'11" 198
RB Chris Rainey Florida 5'8" 180
WR Greg Childs Arkansas 6'3" 219
OG Desmond Wynn Rutgers 6'6" 303
OG Jaymes Brooks Virginia Tech 6'2" 310

For discussion I might consider OT or OC rather than the RB.

Good board, thanks.

I was looking hard at Mosley, Potter, and Brewster...I would not be too unhappy to see Mosley at RT replacing Winston.

You have Worthy ahead of Poe. I don't see that. Both are inconsistent on tape, but Poe is the better prospect.

I hear you, PK. I had not seen much of Poe except for the Combine and was blown away by his athleticism. Saw a cut up where he ran down a RB by the sideline, so initially had him #1 since finding an Athlete at that size is hard. I want a Vince Wilfork or Haloti Ngata or BJ Raji or Marcel Dareus - type player as our NT. Then I keep hearing about how he did not dominate at Memphis St. and that scared me enough to move him down. On the other hand, I saw Worthy play 3 games and he impressed me with his motor. So, with my limited exposure, I just feel more confident drafting Worthy & could possibly get him in the 2nd round, so that would be VERY nice in my opinion. His ceiling may not be as high, but I see his floor as a better risk.