There is no team more disappointed with regular season results than the Houston Texans. Prior to the start of the season, the Texans were viewed as Superbowl contenders. However, it did not take long before they began contending for the first overall pick. Head Coach Gary Kubiak has already been canned and beyond J.J. Watt, there is not much job security within the organization.
Two short seasons ago it appeared that the Texans could win no matter who was running the offense. Matt Schaub was considered to be one receiver shy of taking his game to the next level and T.J. Yates looked to be one of the more promising backup quarterback options. Unfortunately for the Texans, all was not as it appeared.
Schaub struggled to begin this season, which is putting it politely. Undrafted rookie and Houston native, Case Keenum, then took over and showed promise. The organization stood behind Keenum as he helped Wide Receiver, Andre Johnson put up big numbers. Things turned ugly in a hurry as the team switched back and forth between Schaub and Keenum to close out the season floundering on the bottom.
The quarterback of the future is not currently on the roster.
This year’s class of draft eligible quarterbacks looks to be pretty deep, yet the quality of the top quarterbacks is uncertain. Louisville’s Teddy Bridgewater is on top of the QB rankings at the moment, but he should see some stiff competition from others during the draft process. Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel will have a lot of questions surrounding him, and Fresno State’s Derek Carr will draw unfavorable comparisons to his brother, David, who was drafted first overall by the Texans in 2002 and considered a draft bust. Central Florida’s Blake Bortles could see his stock rise considerably and steal that top quarterback slot, but without a standout option, the Texans could opt to look to fill a hole elsewhere.
History has shown how difficult it can be to pass on the top signal caller with the first overall pick, but Houston has proven they are not afraid to go against the grain and draft the best player available. The last time they had the top pick was in 2006, when they selected Defensive End, Mario Williams. He may have left in free agency, but they made the right choice by passing on the over-hyped Reggie Bush. The Texans could be facing a similar scenario this year.
University of South Carolina Defensive End Jadeveon Clowney hurt his draft stock in many draft circles, but the thought of Clowney lining up opposite J.J. Watt might be too enticing to pass on. In 2012, Watt recorded 20.5 sacks on his way to claiming Defensive Player of the Year honors. His 10.5 sack in this year pales in comparison, yet he is as dominant as ever. The addition of Clowney would not only help Watt’s numbers, but also make Houston’s defensive line one of the most feared league-wide.
Another option the Texans could consider on draft day is Texas A&M Offensive Tackle Jake Matthews. The Kansas City Chiefs opted to select an offensive tackle in last year’s draft despite already having a blind side protector in place. The pick was not flashy, but it helped turn the Chiefs into contenders almost overnight. Selecting Jake Matthews may not transform the Texans back into contenders, but having another all-pro caliber tackle should help keep the rest of the offense healthier and more effective.
Plus, what Houston fan would not want to welcome the son of possibly the greatest football player the city has ever had and one of the best offensive linemen the league has ever seen? Bruce Matthews is a legend in the Houston area because of his many years playing for the Oilers, and his son Jake looks like he has what it takes to become a legend for the Texans.
Before a decision will be made about who to select with the first pick, the Texans will decide on a coach. At the moment all signs point to Penn State’s Head Coach Bill O’Brien. He is also a former quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots. If he does get the job, quarterback makes a lot of sense. However, this is a year without a clear cut franchise quarterback and all options should be reviewed thoroughly. There is more than one way to acquire a solid starting option at quarterback, but finding all-pro pass rushers and pass protectors is more difficult.
Best Player Available is a strategy every decision maker should live by on draft day.
Update: Bill O’Brien hired as Houston Texans Head Coach
