Free Agency About to begin

[Warren]

I'd be okay with Cassel as a short-term starter during the transition who eventually backs up a drafted QB, but not as the answer at the position. He should know the system and is supposed to be an accurate passer with a good but not great arm, but isn't very mobile and takes a lot of sacks. He seems to get hurt a lot and will turn 32 in May.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by Warren

I'd be okay with Cassel as a short-term starter during the transition who eventually backs up a drafted QB, but not as the answer at the position. He should know the system and is supposed to be an accurate passer with a good but not great arm, but isn't very mobile and takes a lot of sacks. He seems to get hurt a lot and will turn 32 in May.

But isn't "conventional wisdom" that if the Texans go QB in the Draft with their 1.1, then that guy starts from Day 1 or very shortly after Day 1 ? So if they were to sign a Cassel, then that implies that the Texans aren't using their 1.1 on a QB ?

[Joshua]

While he could be pressed into service as a starter, it's just as likely that he would be brought in to be the "veteran QB" and "mentor" to whoever they draft. I don't think whether or not they sign him impacts the draft process in any way.

[HPF Bob]

The problem is that a drafted QB that needs development years is out of sync with the talent we've acquired. By the time Bortles/Manziel is ready to lead us to the playoffs, AJ will be on his last legs, Foster will be beat up and Daniels will probably be gone and the surrounding pieces (except possibly Duane Brown) will need to be found all over again.

I'm not fond of the idea of Matt Cassell. I'd almost just keep Schaub if that's who our QB is. But it is a question with no really exciting answers because there's no Luck or Manning available to us. Whoever we get is going to be an imperfect fit.

That's why, without a trade down, the only two acceptable choices to me are Clowney (the best non-QB on the board) or Bridgewater (the most pro-ready of the three top QB prospects). Both come with risks but they would be the only smart choices at 1-1 for the Texans.

[Joshua]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

The problem is that a drafted QB that needs development years is out of sync with the talent we've acquired. By the time Bortles/Manziel is ready to lead us to the playoffs, AJ will be on his last legs, Foster will be beat up and Daniels will probably be gone and the surrounding pieces (except possibly Duane Brown) will need to be found all over again.

I'm not fond of the idea of Matt Cassell. I'd almost just keep Schaub if that's who our QB is. But it is a question with no really exciting answers because there's no Luck or Manning available to us. Whoever we get is going to be an imperfect fit.

That's why, without a trade down, the only two acceptable choices to me are Clowney (the best non-QB on the board) or Bridgewater (the most pro-ready of the three top QB prospects). Both come with risks but they would be the only smart choices at 1-1 for the Texans.

How many years are you talking about? I mean, even Andrew Luck (the most pro-ready guy in years and your own example) has had a learning curve and while he has been successful, he still wasn't ready to lead his team to the promise land in his first 2 years. So, unless you think Bortles or Manziel is going to take 5 years, I don't think the pace of their development is much of an issue.

To me, it's virtually impossible for any QB to come in and be good enough to win a Super Bowl in his first couple years (although Wilson was just the exception). It's generally going to be year 3 or 4 when they're ready to do that. What having a more pro-ready QB the first couple of years gets you is maybe a little better success in those first 2 years (i.e., 9 wins instead of 7). In other words, Bridgewater may win a couple more games than Manziel or Bortles the first couple of years because he's more ready, but at the end of the day, none are likely to win it all in their first couple of years and assuming they actually pan out, will all likely reach the point where they can lead a team deep into the playoffs at about the same time. So, if your ultimate goal is to win a Super Bowl, how good they're going to be in their first 2 years is not terribly relevant in my mind.

[Warren]

Cancel the reunion plans -- Cassel has re-signed with the Vikings.

[Keith]

Any QB's agent is bound to use the Texans as a potential suitor through the media. The Texans have been verrrry quiet in using the media in the past, and I doubt the hiring of BOB changes that.