The Perfect Draft: Houston Texans

With the draft approaching, we ignore projections and identify the dream scenario for each team in a series we call The Perfect Draft.

The Texans have been an 8-8 team for the last two years -- a record I find astonishingly good considering how terrible their defense has been.

Allegedly, this is the year that the defense gets fixed.

The Texans fired the defensive coordinator, the defensive line coach and the defensive backs coach, mostly because they can't fire all the players who aren't particularly good. (Though they did get rid of a number of them.) In short, this is a defense that needs more playmakers.

The Ideal Pick

Trade down. The Texans have many needs, and paying a rookie salary at the 15th pick for this particular draft is not one of them. The Texans need defensive players the most, and the players likely available at 15 have fit problems with the Texans: too many questions in their background to be chosen at 15 (injury history, experience, possible character concerns), play for one of the few positions where the Texans are set, and/or are better suited for a 3-4 base defense. Even with the offensive players available, the Texans wouldn't want to take on that salary on offense.

But I am guessing if you talked to the team, they would tell you that trading back is more easily talked about than done. The No. 15 pick might be an area, however, where other teams might feel comfortable trading into that salary for the right players.

The two players talked about the most at 15 for the Texans are USC linebackers Brian Cushing and Clay Matthews. Outside linebacker is a big need. Given how the Texans never seem to take the player than everyone is touting for them, they will likely take somebody else. Gary Kubiak says he is looking for an impact player in the first round.

Other Needs

Defense, Defense, Defense. The Texans could take best player available all the way through the draft at just about any defensive position and improve their depth. I could name names, but instead I will suggest you go to Lance Zierlein's excellent Houston Chronicle blog and check out a post called, "My Texans defensive draft board -- the middle rounds offer quality prospects." I'd take his educated guesses over just about anyone's.

Complementary Running Back. The Texans were fortunate that they got through last season with running back Steve Slaton avoiding serious injury. By the end of the season, the running backs available were Slaton and two guys who hadn't been in camp. In some games during the season, they had to protect Slaton with the play calls because he was nursing injuries and they had no other options.

Kubiak says ideally the Texans would find a back bigger than Slaton. Maybe Rashad Jennings (6-1, 231 lbs), Andre Brown (6'0", 224 lbs), Shonn Greene (5'11", 227 lbs)?

What's your perfect draft? I can't say I can think of too many players who are realistic choices at the 15th spot that Texan fans should be doing backflips if they are chosen.