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Houston Texans 2009 NFL Draft Needs

Written by Jimmy Boyd on April 7, 2009

Texans draft 4709 The Houston Texans were hopeful that they could post their first winning season in franchise history in 2008, but they had to settle for a second straight year at .500. If only the Texans could play all of their games at home where they finished 6-2. The team has to feel good about the way they finished though, winning 5 of their last 6 games, and they will try to ride that momentum into 2009. A solid draft would build even more momentum as the team looks to get over the hump this season.

Biggest Draft Needs - While many NFL draft experts initially criticized the Texans for taking defensive end Mario Williams over Reggie Bush, it hasn’t taken long to realize that Williams in an absolute stud. The Texans could use another strong pass rusher on the other side to draw some attention away from him. The Texans would benefit from upgrades in the secondary as well. Finding an upgrade for subpar center Chris Myers should be high on the list also. Steve Slaton was a pleasant surprise in his rookie season, but it would be a good move to find a between-the-tackles bruiser to pair him with. A quality third receiver, who could push Kevin Walter would make sense too.

Likely Day 1 Targets – If the Texans can get another stud defensive end, they may have to pounce as few teams have bookend studs on the defensive front. If Texas’ Brian Orakpo and Penn State’s Aaron Maybin are gone when the Texans pick, I think Florida State’s Everette Brown would still be worth a first round selection. The 6′4”, 248-pound Brown exploded with a 13.5-sack season for the Seminoles in 2008. He has the speed and athleticism to play in a 3-4 or 4-3 scheme. Brown has an array of rush moves that few defensive ends have when they enter the NFL.

We have seen the impact getting an elite safety can make on a team. The evidence is guys like Pittsburgh’s Troy Polamalu and Indianapolis’ Bob Sanders. The Texans could stand to benefit from adding a safety who plays the pass well like Alabama’s Rashad Johnson. Johnson had 11 interceptions his last two seasons at Bama. He has great instincts and could step in and play centerfield safety for a lot of teams in the NFL.

Recent Draft Track Record - General Manager Rick Smith has come up with two strong drafts in his first two attempts. 2007 first round defensive tackle Amobi Okoye suffered a bit of a sophomore slump, but still has tons of potential. The Texans found a steal with 7th round linebacker Zac Diles in 2007. He was a force on the strong side before getting hurt. Two of last year’s picks stepped in and provided major contributions right away. Offensive tackle Duane Brown provided protection for Matt Schaub’s blind side and running back Steve Slaton gave the Texans a game breaker. Many experts doubted his toughness, but Slaton proved them wrong with a 1,282 yard season.

Bet on the NFL with Jimmy Boyd’s NFL expert picks for another strong season against the NFL lines.

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