Despite being unable (or unwilling, depending on whom you ask) to adequately address the quarterback position, the Houston Texans have reason to be optimistic following the 2014 NFL Draft. Couple their solid draft class with the return of numerous starters who missed significant time due to injury in 2013 and the Texans should easily improve upon their win total from a season ago.
Texans Draft Picks
1st Round, 1st Overall – DE Jadeveon Clowney (South Carolina)
2nd Round, 33rd Overall – OG Xavier Su’A-Filo (UCLA)
3rd Round, 65th Overall – TE C.J. Fiedorowicz (Iowa)
3rd Round, 83rd Overall – NT Louis Nix (Notre Dame)
4th Round, 135th Overall – QB Tom Savage (Pittsburgh)
6th Round, 177th Overall – DE Jeoffrey Pagan (Alabama)
6th Round, 181st Overall – RB Alfred Blue (LSU)
6th Round, 211th Overall – FB Jay Prosch (Auburn)
7th Round, 216th Overall – CB Andre Hal (Vanderbilt)
7th Round, 256th Overall – FS Lonnie Ballentine (Memphis)
For our full NFL Draft Coverage, please click here.
2014 Texans Draft Review
The Best Player: Jadeveon Clowney
The consensus “Best Player Available” on virtually everyone’s draft board, Clowney was a no-brainer for the Texans with the first overall pick, especially given the dearth of top grade talent at the quarterback position. With his freakish speed and athleticism, Clowney should immediately improve a Texans pass rush that ranked 31st in the league last season. Former NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt has already vowed to take Clowney under his wing, which should only help his ascension to elite status among NFL pass rushers.
The Best Value Pick/The Steal: Louis Nix
The Texans traded back into the third round to nab Nix, to whom many had given an early second round grade. Nix is a load at 350 pounds who can occupy blockers at the line of scrimmage and free up Watt, Clowney, and company to rush the passer. His weight is a bit of a concern (most agree that he should lose around 20 pounds to get to his ideal playing weight) but he was a steal at #83 overall.
The Head-Scratcher: C.J. Fiedorowicz
Despite the decision to release former Pro Bowler Owen Daniels, the Texans re-signed tight end Garrett Graham to pair with last year’s impressive rookie Ryan Griffith, making the decision to draft another tight end with such a high pick somewhat of a mystery. Clearly Bill O’Brien is intent on improving his squad in the trenches first and foremost, as Fiedorowicz was the best blocker at his position in the draft. Still, the decision to pass on secondary and linebacker help puts pressure on Fiedorowicz to come in and contribute immediately.
The Elephant in the Room: Tom Savage
The Texans lost out on not one, but two higher-rated quarterback prospects when Minnesota traded back into the first round at pick #32 to draft Teddy Bridgewater (one pick ahead of the Texans at #33) and New England surprisingly selected Jimmy Garoppolo at #62 overall (three picks ahead of Houston’s pick at #65). The Texans’ decision not to trade back into the first round to draft either Johnny Manziel or Bridgewater suggests that they weren’t particularly high on either player, and they didn’t seem to lose much sleep over the Patriots’ selection of Garoppolo either. Still, any of those three would have provided a bit more hope for Houston fans than journeyman Tom Savage, who attended three different schools in his college career and didn’t exactly set the world on fire at any of them. Unless Savage or veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick greatly overachieve this upcoming season, Houston could very well be looking for its “quarterback of the future” again in 2015.
Bottom Line: The Texans should expect significant contributions from their top four draft picks, all of whom should compete for starting positions immediately. With the return of Pro Bowlers Arian Foster on offense and Brian Cushing on defense, look for Houston to improve its record to around .500 this season and perhaps even compete for a wild card spot in the AFC.
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