2017 NFL Draft: Houston Texans final grade
By John Buhler
The Houston Texans had a successful 2017 NFL Draft, highlighted by trading up to take Deshaun Watson at No. 12. Here is Houston’s 2017 NFL Draft grade.
The Houston Texans ended up drafting seven players in the 2017 NFL Draft in Philadelphia this April. Moving up from No. 25 to grab Clemson Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson was a brilliant move made by much-maligned Texans general manager Rick Smith.
That move definitely makes this draft a success for Houston. The Texans should return the best team in the AFC South heading into 2017. They were clearly looking for players from strong Power 5 programs this draft. Many of the guys Houston took are notable names from the college football world.
Here is a look at the 2017 NFL Draft grade for the Texans, based on all their selections, of course.
First Round
Deshaun Watson
Quarterback, Clemson Tigers
Houston has one of the deeper rosters in the AFC already. The Texans are stout defensively and have great coaches scattered all across the sidelines. Really the only thing that the Texans didn’t have heading into the 2017 NFL Draft of tremendous need was a franchise quarterback.
Frankly, Houston has never had one. Then again, David Carr was supposed to be that before he became one with the Houston turf in the early 2000s. Houston had the No. 25 pick, but opted to trade up to No. 12 with the Cleveland Browns to take the most polished quarterback from college football in the Clemson Tigers’ Deshaun Watson.
The move up only cost Houston this year’s No. 25 and their 2018 first-round pick. Given that Houston will probably be in the AFC playoff mix, that 2018 pick will be at best in the mid-teens. Going up to get Watson was bold, but 100 percent the right move for the Texans to make.
Though we aren’t sure of Watson’s NFL prototype (he’s somewhat of a cross between Marcus Mariota and Tony Romo, maybe), he inherits a gifted offensive-minded head coach in Bill O’Brien. He is the only NFL head coach that can win his division with rancid starting quarterback play.
Watson is a huge upgrade over Brock Osweiler. He may back up Tom Savage in 2017, but it wouldn’t be shocking to see him win the starting job out of the gate. This is the type of pick that could make Houston a perennial Super Bowl contender for the next decade. It’s simply outstanding.