How exactly do the Rockets get there? Trade assets and draft picks away till you land your 3rd superstar? The plan didn't change. Wade, Watt, Joseph, Manning, Mercilus. They got a D coordinator with play call experience, drafted, and got free agents. When the 2-14 happened, they did it again. Romeo, Clowney, Johnson, McKinney, Wilfork, etc. Then they switched to the offense.
[ The Rockets accumulated assets, signed favorable contracts, maintained flexibility and aggressively went after stars. Then they surrounded stars with players that the analytics showed we're strong. Then there were moves like getting PJ tucker because he can play "stretch 5" which is important the way the league is going. They keep up with the latest league trends and take targeted risks. How are the Texans managing the cap and accumulating talent? How are they staying ahead of the rest of the league?
we are not. we are always playing catching up because of inept decisions made by this front office. year after year, we make stupid decisions in free agency, losing over the likes of AJ Bouye, Brandon Brooks, Glover Quinn, while picking up Ed Reed and Jeff Allen. we have never had much draft capitals to begin with, and yet we carelessly traded aways picks to move up for garbage like Strong and Nix. SF traded a 2nd to pick up potentially their franchise QB in Garrapollo; we traded a similar 2nd to get rid of Os when we had no QB depth to begin with. no wonder the Texans are a team depleted of talent. Watson can cover alot of holes because of his insane ability, but he can't do it all on his own.
Can't compare the two leagues but at the end, the Texans just need to scout better. Too many wasted draft picks and bad decisions regarding free agency. You simply cannot go years on end striking out on mid-round picks like Braxton, Ervin, Dillon, Strong, Mumphery, Nix, Montgomery, Brennan and Trevardo Williams, Harris, Carmicheal, etc...It's one thing if they don't become starters but can at least provide depth or even special teams, it's another when some of these guys never even suit up or cut within 2-3 years.
Some Guard prospects in the 3rd round: Will Hernandez, G, UTEP Height: 6-3. Weight: 330. Projected 40 Time: 5.25. Projected Round (2018): 2-3. 1/22/18: Hernandez has created some buzz, as SI's Bruce Feldman wrote that he's heard that Hernandez is the top guard prospect. In reaching out to some team sources, they had Hernandez behind Quenton Nelson. Hernandez is shorter and lacks length compared to a lot of starting guards in the NFL, but he makes up for it with strength. He is strong at the point of attack with a heavy base to help him get movement at the point of attack. Impressing at an all-star game will be important for Hernandez. Isaiah Wynn, G/C/OT, Georgia Height: 6-2. Weight: 302. Projected 40 Time: 5.10. Projected Round (2018): 2-3. 1/22/18: Wynn impressed scouts in 2017 as an excellent run blocker for the Bulldogs. He blocks with aggression and has a temperament that is hard to find in college blockers. In pass protection, Wynn was very dependable as well. Because he is shorter and doesn't have ideal length, some sources think that Wynn could move to guard or center in the NFL. Wynn started at left guard in 2016, but scouts think he is athletic enough to also play center. Wynn's size and skill set has drawn comparisons to Kelvin Beachum, who is undersized but has managed to carve out a career at left tackle in the NFL. Wynn is just a natural football player who finds a way to get the job done, thus he might end up sticking at left tackle. Braden Smith, G, Auburn Height: 6-6. Weight: 303. Projected 40 Time: 5.31. Projected Round (2018): 2-3. 1/22/18: Smith is a solid player who is well-balanced as a run blocker and pass protector. In Week 2, he was beaten for a sack by Clemson's Christian Wilkins, a future first-round pick, but Smith also had a lot of nice plays against Wilkins and Clemson nose tackle Dexter Lawrence. After that Smith was rock solid for the Tigers. He has a pro skill set with size, strength and athleticism. Sources say that Smith is receiving second-day grades for the 2018 NFL Draft. 7/17/17: The Auburn offensive line came together during the 2016 season and formed a solid blocking front for the Tigers. Smith could have been their best blocker and was an All-SEC second-team selection by the conference's coaches. Smith has been a mainstay in the lineup at guard, having 27 consecutive starts. He has some athleticism, and continuing to add strength to push NFL defensive linemen is necessary for him to rise. http://walterfootball.com/draft2018OG.php
There isn't much difference between teams when he comes to "hitting on picks" or scouting It's all about asset and salary cap management
I like Wynn from this list, but he’s alittle too much like XSF to me(great with the run, suspect with the pass) but he’s prob an upgrade if he makes it to the 3rd. Smith is also solid but I feel like he’ll be there in the 4th. Also there are more options for guard in FA than tackle, but either way Texans should keep all options open
Correct but both of those ultimately fall back on drafting and scouting well. Hitting on your draft picks also means cheap labor for 3-4 years minimum and thus more cap flexibility for free agents or your own guys. The Seahawks in their Super Bowl runs are a great example. They drafted extremely well leading up where guys like Thomas, Okung, Wilson, Sherman, Wright, Maxwell, Wagner, Irvin, etc...were still on their rookie deals. Not only are you getting on-field production, but it gave them space to pay and retain guys like Chancellor, Lynch, Unger, Bennett, etc...The Falcons did the same up to their run last season as well. Not saying there's only one way to get there but hard to accumulate talent and maintain cap space when you're constantly having to spend resources at the same positions. Instead of having guys like XSF and Kevin Johnson pegged as starters next year, these are big holes that we will need to spend cash and/or picks on.
Also, people need to remember that, at the time of the /Osweiler/Watson deals, the vast majority of us had "another 8-8, 9-7 season" as *worst* case.... no one, not a single person, thought we'd have a top 5 pick. What sucks is the team has the talent to win 7, 8, 9 games as is... adding two of the top 36 players would've been a huge reward for an injury-plagued season. I'll never knock them for the Watson deal and I understood the Osweiler deal.
During the bowl game against Auburn, Shaquem Griffen just made plays all over the field. If he had both hands he'd be a low 1st, early 2nd round pick, but he is a playmaker, I see him being an all pro special teamer and a super rotational player.
It's always a risk that a team ends up picking higher than expected due to injuries or whatever. That's why those picks are so valuable.
