2008 Houston Texans NFL Draft Needs

The Texans progress has been slowed by lackluster drafts in 2003 and 2004. 11 of the 19 selections the Texans made over those two years are already out of the NFL. Head coach Gary Kubiak and general manager Rick Smith have done a much better job on draft day the past couple seasons and we look for that to continue. Just last season they nabbed the best defensive player on the board, Amobi Okoye, and found a gem in cornerback Fred Bennet. Jimmy Boyd weighs in on the 2008 Houston Texans NFL Draft needs in this preview.

#1 Cornerback

Houston's secondary looked very solid last season until Dunta Robinson went down with a serious knee injury. With Robinson expected to miss half of 2008, this spot moves to the front of the list for the Texans. If the Texans look to use their 18th overall pick to grab a corner, they could have a shot at Troy's Leodis McKelvin or Boston College's DeJuan Tribble.

#2 Defensive End

This might come as a surprise to you as the Texans have taken a d-end in the first round of each of the last three drafts, but the Texans still need to improve their pass rush by getting an end who can start opposite of Mario Williams. Houston's blitz packages and four-man rushes hinge on its ability to land a speedy pass rusher. Miami's Calais Campbell is a stud and could be a steal if he slips to 18th. USC's Lawrence Jackson is another good prospect if his knee injury is evaluated as not serious.

#3 Left Tackle

I look for the Texans to address this need in the middle rounds. They'll be looking for a guy to take over for Ephraim Salaam when ready. Inside info points to the Texans wanting a smaller quicker tackle, fitting the mold of Rutgers' Pedro Sosa, UTEP's Oneil Cousins, or Virginia Tech's Duane Brown.

#4 Safety

The Texans have never had a playmaker at safety and when you look around at the good team's in the NFL, it's something that almost all of them have. If Miami's Kenny Phillips is available in the first round when Houston goes on the clock, they might not be able to pass him up. If they wait to fill this need, they should look toward Tennessee's Jonathan Hefney because of his ability to play safety or corner.

#5 Outside Linebacker

The Texans must improve their pass rush with this draft. Adding speed on the outside will help. Danny Clark has a solid 2007 campaign, but he is a free agent, as is 2004 pick Charlie Anderson. Houston tried to solve this problem last season by drafting Zac Diles, but it has become apparent that he doesn't have the stature to play the outside. Auburn's Quentin Groves, Penn State's Dan Connor, and Oregon State's Derrick Doggett are all great options.

Make sure you check out all of Jimmy Boyd's 2008 NFL Draft previews to see what direction your favorite NFL team might be headed in. Also check out our 2008 NFL Mock Draft to see how Jimmy sees the first round shaping up.

April 1st, 2008