NFL Draft Rumors: Houston Texans would have ‘no doubt’ drafted Marcus Mariota No. 1 overall

With all of the drama atop the NFL Draft order this year, it appears that the one man who could have provided the key to simplicity is still in school and waiting for the draft next year. Texans reporter Lance Zierlein speculated that had Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota not elected to return to school in 2014 and entered the NFL Draft, there is no doubt that he’d have been the first pick this year.

This means, that the Texans going back and forth on Clowney, Khalil Mack and Johnny Manziel would have not existed as Mariota would have been their man. It makes sense too, as there were a lot of eyes on Mariota with MMQB’s Peter King pegging him as a dark horse No. 1 overall pick back i the middle of the NFL season when draft projections were meaningless.

It’s unlikely hat Houston gets a chance to draft him next year, but even if this is pure speculation on Zierlein’s part — which is doesn’t entirely seem to be — it still reminds us that the quarterback class of next year is already much better than the one we have this year and that’s telling of both Mariota’s skills and the lack thereof with the names in this class.