Houston Texans: 5 best NFL Draft picks of all-time

J.J. Watt (2011: first round, 11th overall)

While Andre Johnson’s career accomplishments exude and abundance of greatness, they are not enough to land him atop the list of the Houston Texans’ best draft picks of all-time. That spot belongs to J.J. Watt, a player that has accomplished more in five years than some Hall of Famers do in an entire career.

The Texans selected Watt, a 6-foot-6, 290-pound defensive end out of Wisconsin, with the 11th overall pick in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft. And while Johnson has enjoyed a career that his him on the verge of the Hall of Fame, Watt has done something that the beloved wide receiver was never able to achieve: solidify himself as the undoubted best player at his position.

Watt has started all 80 games since being drafted in 2011, recording an astonishing 74.5 sacks, 15 forced fumbles and recovering 12. He has won three Defensive Player of the Year awards and has been named first team All-Pro in each of the past four seasons. Watt became a fan favorite in Houston almost instantly, with a 29-yard interception returned for a touchdown in the 2011 Wild Card Round helping to spur the first playoff victory in franchise history.

The question is no longer whether or not he is the best defensive end in the NFL. At age 27, Watt may be the most dominant player in all of football.

There was discussion at the time of the pick surrounding whether the organization would select Watt or Auburn’s Nick Fairley at this slot. Five years later, it is clear that the Texans made the right decision.

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