Every NFL team’s best draft pick of all-time
By Brad Rowland
Houston Texans – J.J. Watt (No. 11 pick, 2011)
This is basically a two-man race between Watt and Andre Johnson, who the Texans selected with the third overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft. Until recently, I would have simply gone with Johnson given the length of his tenure in Houston, and an argument still exists that he is the top player in the history of the Texans franchise. However, the tiebreaker in this space is the proposition of a pick’s value, and the eight-spot difference on the draft board between Johnson and Watt is hugely important.
To be honest, it is comical that Watt fell to number 11 given what he did in college and his measurables, but Houston caught a significant break. For their faith in Watt, they have been rewarded with one of the more dominant five-year defensive stretches in the history of the NFL, as the now 27-year-old defensive lineman has compiled 74.5 sacks, four first team All-Pro selections (and Pro Bowls) and three AP Defensive Player of the Year awards.
I fully understand that Andre Johnson was a dominant wide receiver that played for the Houston Texans for 12 seasons. Still, it is difficult to overstate just how good J.J. Watt has been since arriving in 2011 and he gets the nod by a slight margin.
Next: Indianapolis Colts