The Houston Texans finished 2-14 a year ago and have several areas of need. All offseason long they have had to deal with what they were going to do with the first pick. Are they going to pick Clowney? Are they going to pick Manziel? Are they going to trade out of the first pick?
I have said all along that the Texans should pick Clowney. Check out my draft analysis of Jadeveon Clowney here.
You can also check out my article on the Houston Texans' 2014 team needs here.
Round 1, Pick 1
Jadeveon Clowney, OLB, 6.6, 266, 4.53, South Carolina
- Athletic freak with long arms and big hands
- 12 sacks in 2012, 8 sacks in 2011
- Versatile: Will be an OLB and can put his hand down as a DE in obvious passing situations
- Pick Grade: A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucjIhbPf1ko
Round 2, Pick 33
Xavier Su'a-Filo, OG, 6.4, 307, 5.04, UCLA
- Prototype size and speed
- Effective pass blocker
- Can pull and trap
- Versatile: Can play guard and tackle
- 3 year starter
- Will compete for starting spot at LG
- Pick Grade: B
Round 3, Pick 65
C. J. Fiedorowicz, TE, 6.5, 265, 4.76, Iowa
- Outstanding size and speed ratio
- Can block and catch. Caught 30 passes last year with 6 TDs
- He can widen the hole or seal a DE
- Pick Grade: A
Round 3, Pick 83
Louis Nix, NT, 6.2, 331, 5.42, Notre Dame
- Coming off knee injury in November
- Gives good effort
- Has a gregarious attitude
- Must watch his weight
- Pick Grade: C
Round 4, Pick 135
Tom Savage, QB, 6.4, 228, 4.97, Pittsburgh
- Terrific size
- Excellent arm strength
- Had a good completion percentage and touchdown to interception ratio
- Team captain, solid personal and football character
- Pick Grade: B
Round 6, Pick 177
Jeoffrey Pagan, DE, 6.3, 310, 4.92, Alabama
- Prototype size and speed for an NFL DT
- Will compete for starting spot at the 5 tech DE spot in their 3-4 defense
- Only 1 year starter with average production
- Pick Grade: C
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkObX9NRaz4
Round 6, Pick 181
Alfred Blue, RB, 6.2, 223, 4.63, LSU
- Terrific size
- Good receiver out of backfield
- Special teams experience
- Has plenty of tread left on his tires
- Suffered torn ACL in 2012
- Pick Grade: C
Round 6, Pick 211
Jay Prosch, FB, 6.1, 256, 4.72, Auburn
- Prototype size and speed
- Drives defenders out of the hole
- Catches the ball easily
- Special teams contributor
- Outstanding personal and football character
- Highly respected team leader
- Pick Grade: A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCW9uVBQfHY
Round 7, Pick 216
Andre Hal, CB, 5.10, 188, 4.5, Vanderbilt
- Prototype size and speed
- 15 pass breakups and 3 INTs in 2013
- Man cover skills
- Has kickoff return experience
- Solid intangibles
- Pick Grade: B
Round 7, Pick 256
Lonnie Ballentine, FS, 6.3, 219, 4.4, Memphis
- Exceptional size and length
- 58 tackles and 5 pass breakups in 2013
- Not a strong wrap tackler
- Pick Grade: B
Overall Draft Grade: B
I felt the selections of Clowney and Fiedorowicz were excellent. These two fit areas of need and I felt they were the best available at that position when the Texans drafted.
Su'a-Filo definitely filled an area of need, but I felt there were two players better than him available. Nix seems to be a great guy with a good work ethic, but he is too big and slow and I felt there were many other players available that were better than him.
I also really liked the pick of Jay Prosch and feel he will be a good fullback who is used to play in the type of system O'Brien wants to run.