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Well the 2008 NFL Draft is rapidly approaching and nobody outside the Texans organization has a clue about the potential pick(s) they are targeting in the first round.  Let’s go over the needs of the Texans and see if we can’t put things into perspective. 

By PFC Texans Writer Shane Brooks

The left tackle position is of concern because nobody really knows the situation regarding “Big Nasty” Charles Spencer and his rehabilitation progress.  Has he lost a step?  If so, it is likely that he will be moved to another position along the offensive line and only training camp will give us a more complete picture on where his progress truly is.  With the offensive line coaching of Alex Gibbs, it should be safe to take a LT in rounds 3 or 4, should we need one. 

Losing the corner back Dunta Robinson to a horrific two pronged season ending injury, this position has become a desperate position of need for the Texans.  However, with the free agent acquisition of Jacques Reeves, the solid play last season by Fred Bennett, the coaching by Ray Rhodes, it’s no longer a glaring need that requires a first round draft pick in my opinion. 

Now let’s turn our attention to the position that has continued to haunt the Texans offense known as the running back.  Everyone knows that both Kubiak and Gibbs have turned mediocre RB’s into studs by the way they run their offensive schemes and on top of that, neither is known for taking RB’s in the first round.  However, this position seems to be the one holding the Texans offense back, and keeping it from being truly explosive.  

Now it can be argued that LT, CB, and RB are all pretty deep this year in the draft…some more than others, and everyone has their opinion on what is most needed.  If the Texans are able to get a superstar running back in this draft, one that can stay healthy, it could really pose a tremendous problem for opposing defenses that have to account for the deep receiving threat that the Texans now hold with Andre Johnson, Kevin Walter, Andre Davis, Jacoby Jones, and the TE Owen Daniels…not to mention the improved QB play by Schaub and Rosenfels.  There is a possibility, albeit a slight possibility that Rashard Mendenhall or Jonathan Stewart could fall to the Texans at the 18th spot.  Even though the Texans acquired Chris Brown from the Titans, his durability remains a concern as that of Ahman Green, and Chris Taylor.  The only truly healthy RB that the Texans have is a largely unproven Darius Walker, and that is unacceptable. 

Lastly, there is one more position that the Texans could use and that is another DE to compliment and play opposite of “Super” Mario Williams.  There are two guys I like here as well, one is Phillip Merling and the other is Quentin Groves, personally I think Groves would compliment Mario the best, the question though, is do they justify being the 18th pick?  I think it’s safe to say that none of the LT’s, CB’s, or DE’s that will be available, will justify the pick at that spot.  In my opinion which differs greatly from the Houston Chronicle’s writer John McClain and many others, the Texans will pick the BPA at #18 and I think it will be RB Jonathan Stewart should he be there, or DE Quentin Groves.  I would like to close in saying that nobody really knows what is going to happen come draft day, one thing we can expect for sure is several players unexpectedly rising and falling. 

The Texans are a sleeper team on the rise flying below the radar and following a successful draft in 2008, have the potential to upset the AFC South this season.  Whatever decison Kubiak and Smith decide to make, it will be the right decisions for the Texans organization.