BRB Groupthink: 4/7

[Matthew Weston]

Now that Battle Red Blog has submitted their posts for SB Nation’s mock draft, nailing down Kyle Hamilton and Travon Walker, and the NFL Draft at the end of this month, who would be your two reasonable dream selections for the Texans to take with picks #3 and #13?

[Scott Martin]

Where the draft is concerned, I am a bit more conventional/conservative. This league is all about the pass and stopping the pass. Do those things, and success will follow. For the collective mock draft, Hamilton and Walker can work towards that goal. I would rather they be flipped. I am leery of taking a safety at #3. The top 3-5 picks are generally for the best QB/DL/OL prospects. Clearly no QB in this class approaches that level based on talent/potential. Someone may overvalue a QB, and that QB could possibly evolve to play to that level. However, this draft is all about a plethora of top DL/OL prospects at the top of the draft. That would be a reasonable and safe pick to look at a top-level OL/DL guy. A guy like Walker would be fine, but if Neal or Ekwonu are available, or Hutchinson or Thibodeaux,  the team should take any of those at #3. I feel like there is better flexibility/value for a Hamilton at #13, or if by some luck, Gardner or Stingley Jr. are available there, get those guys. 

Ultimately, I am not as worried about where a guy is drafted vs. how they do on the field. Draftology is not an exact science, and it is possible that Hamilton becomes the 1st to make the HoF while the top OL/DL prospects top out at Just-A-Guy level. But for me, I guess my instinct is to stick with the current wisdom, looking to the trenches for the top #1 pick and then opening the aperture for the 2nd 1st rounder, primarily for more DL/OL reinforcements or secondary help. With the Texans, there is no shortage of areas that need addressing, but the trenches and secondary are the priorities with this draft, taking into account the talent in this year's draft. 

On Thu, Apr 7, 2022 at 12:03 PM Matthew Weston <mbw...@gmail.com> wrote:

Now that Battle Red Blog has submitted their posts for SB Nation’s mock draft, nailing down Kyle Hamilton and Travon Walker, and the NFL Draft at the end of this month, who would be your two reasonable dream selections for the Texans to take with picks #3 and #13?

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[Rivers McCown]

Define reasonable for me. 

On Thu, Apr 7, 2022 at 11:03 AM Matthew Weston <mbw...@gmail.com> wrote:

Now that Battle Red Blog has submitted their posts for SB Nation’s mock draft, nailing down Kyle Hamilton and Travon Walker, and the NFL Draft at the end of this month, who would be your two reasonable dream selections for the Texans to take with picks #3 and #13?

[Mike Bullock]

If I was drafting for the Jacksonville Jaguars, I'd take Evan Neal. You just invested big in Trevor Lawrence, so double down and build him a real offensive line. Then, if I was picking for the Detroit Lions, I'd take Malik Willis cause Detroit has been rebuilding since 1957, so why not roll the dice on a boom or bust quarterback prospect? If you misfire, no big deal, it's not like anyone expects you to actually win, and if you hit a home run, then you can make everyone expect you to win. So, what's to lose? I mean, NO ONE thought Tom Brady was worth a top 5 pick and look how that worked out for 30 teams... 

That would leave my dream pick for the Texans, Aidan Hutchinson, sitting there to spend the next five years trying to fill J.J. Watt's shoes. After that, I'd try and package a trade for Sauce Gardner - don't know what the draft pick value calculator says it's worth to jump from 13 to 7 or 8, but I'd work on making that happen. 

Odds are, neither of these players will wind up in Battle Red, but this is all about wish fulfillment... 

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[Matthew Weston]

as in the player should be available by the time Houston selects according to the mock draft

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[Geoff Mueller]

The "problem" with this draft is that the Texans need two things more than anything else: a QB with a higher ceiling than below average, and at least two players who can get to the QB consistently. This draft is deep in other ways, but not in these two true team needs.

We could probably take Malik Willis at three, but I don't think he's worth the gamble.

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[Rivers McCown]

Kayvon Thibodeaux at 3, Drake London or Chris Olave at 13.*

*-note that reasonable in this case is defined under Matt's suggestion of "the player should be available by the time Houston selects," rather than "players I think the Texans will actually consider."

On Thu, Apr 7, 2022 at 12:57 PM Matthew Weston <mbw...@gmail.com> wrote:

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[T.D. Durham]

You know what I want out of the first two picks for the Texans in the draft? A display of competency by the front office. If Caserio and Co. package a whole bunch of picks to move up and take someone like, say, Kenny Pickett, I'd lose my mind. 

Personally, I love the pairing of Ikey Ekwonu and Jermaine Johnson II at No. 3 and No.13, respectively. This draft is full of guys who aren't at all perfect prospects, so focusing on key projectable traits for big picks would be my strategy. The consensus isn't even in yet on whether Ekwonu will play guard or tackle in the NFL, but anyone who has watched his tape knows that he is an inexorable force in the run game. Johnson only has one college year under his belt as a full-time starter, but his super power is pass rush (go watch the Senior Bowl 1-on-1s), and the Texans need pass rush. 

I don't know what the identity of the Lovie Smith Texans will be yet, but if the team picks up players that we know can improve its ability to run the ball (Ekwonu) and rush the passer (Johnson), I'll walk away with more confidence that this front office understands what it's doing, and that the team is moving in the right direction. 

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[Scott Barzilla]

I’d like to see them double up on offense or defense. Get two linemen. Get two defenders on the back end. Get an edge rusher and a corner. Get a lineman and receiver. Each draft is organic so I’m not completely selling out for any individual eventuality but I’d like to see one of the two units significantly upgraded after day one.

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 7, 2022, at 1:23 PM, T.D. Durham <t.d.du...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Randall Bronn]

I’d like to see Kyle Hamilton and an offensive linemen like Tyler Linderbaum. Hamilton is still the best defensive back in this draft regardless of his combine performance and getting Linderbaum who could easily be the answer at the center position for years to come would be huge. Getting a solid center to work with a young quarterback is key and Linderbaum could be that guy. 

This is a very deep edge rusher class in which you could very easily find value in the later rounds. Same goes for wide receiver there is plenty of talent to be found in day 2 or day 3 picks which is why I suggest the Texans grab the Center and safety who are far and away better then anyone else at their respective positions on this draft.

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 7, 2022, at 3:04 PM, Scott Barzilla <sbar...@gmail.com> wrote:

I’d like to see them double up on offense or defense. Get two linemen. Get two defenders on the back end. Get an edge rusher and a corner. Get a lineman and receiver. Each draft is organic so I’m not completely selling out for any individual eventuality but I’d like to see one of the two units significantly upgraded after day one.

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[Matt Robinson]

I would say grabbing edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux at 3 followed by guard Kenyon Green at 13. Would help compliment the trenches on both sides of the ball.

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[Rivers McCown]

Why Green over Zion? 

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[Matt Robinson]

I like both but prefer Greens upside. I think he’s more of a people mover in the run game which suits this offensive MO. 

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[Kenneth Levy]

Hamilton and Walker aren't 'my guys' per say, but the combination of both could revolutionize the defense. It would certainly be a landmark haul for the team and I don't think anyone would complain. Both players are in one aspect or another leaders in their position in this draft. But there's something I just can't describe that I don't like about this. Maybe because neither are pure trenches guys, or maybe because Hamilton didn't play much this past  year and Walker was surrounded by elite talent. 

My ideal scenario would be Evan Neal at three then trading down with the Steelers to the 20th pick. We'd secure a second round pick and most likely a third next year. With the 20th pick, I'm hoping we'd get Trent McDuffie or George Karlaftis. If we stay at 13, Jordan Davis is my guy and would be ecstatic to see him in rotation with Roy Lopez and Ross Blacklock. 

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[sbarzilla]

If it's not too late I would like to amend mine.

"If we are being honest with ourselves we know two things going into this season. First, we know that this team will not be all that competitive in 2022 with what is currently on the roster. Secondly, we know that Davis Mills might be a decent placeholder at quarterback, but he is not likely a championship quarterback. Both of those facts set up the Texans picking a quarterback near the top of the 2023 draft. So, from there it becomes a question of we get THAT quarterback to be as successful as possible.

I've always been a proponent of building through the trenches. My preferred draft would see us draft two offensive linemen and pair them with Tytus Howard and Laremy Tunsil to be passable at the very worst and good at the very best. I realize 3 and 13 might not be the best positions to get the most bang for your buck. I'd prefer Ekwonu to Evan Neal, but I won't feel terrible if it is Neal. From there I'd like to see them pick Tyler Linderbaum. Here is where a trade back is likely. Most mocks have him going 20 or later, so taking him at 13 might not be maximum value. if we could get another 2 or 3 in addition to him that would be nice. The upshot is that Mills gets more time to throw and when/if you take your stud QB in 2023 then at least you can keep him fairly clean.

The second thing that helps a young quarterback is a kick butt defensive that can get him short fields and plenty of time to run more plays. So, if you can't go offensive line then go defense. There are plenty of defensive linemen and secondary players that fit at those two spots. I'm not a scout or huge college football fan, so I'll leave the particular guys to the experts, but those are the two directions I'd like to see them choose from."