The Houston Texans will be on the 2021 NFL Draft clock two weeks from today (Friday April 16th, 2021). It'll be tough to see the Texans have to wait until pick No. 67 but then it's on like Donkey Kong. Eight picks over the next 166 picks and that rookie group will go down in history as new General Manager Nick Caserio's inaugural draft class.
People have asked me or tried to put me on the spot about the lack of a first or second round pick. My response has always been "The best quarterback to ever play this game was drafted at No. 199 in the sixth round." Whereas future Hall of Famer Tom Brady is the exception to the rule, rounds three through seven, and beyond, can provide ample value for any football team, including this organization. Third round picks and beyond have made significant contributions to the Texans roster over the years such that you can fill out an entire offense/defense/special teams roster of those "round three and beyond" picks. (h/t to my guys Seth Payne and Sean Pendergast for stoking this idea.)
QB - T.J. Yates (2011, 5th round)
RB - Arian Foster (2009, undrafted)
RB - Dominick Williams (2003, 4th round)
WR - Keke Coutee (2018, 4th round)
TE - Owen Daniels (2006, 4th round
TE - Jordan Akins (2018, 3rd round)
OT - Derek Newton (2011, 7th round)
OG - Brandon Brooks (2012, 3rd round)
C - Ben Jones (2010, 4th round)
OG - Fred Weary (2002, 3rd round)
OT - Eric Winston (2006, 3rd round)
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DL - Jared Crick (2012, 4th round)
DL - D.J. Reader (2015, 5th round)
DL - Earl Mitchell (2010, 3rd round)
DL - Christian Covington (2015, 6th round)
LB - Zach Diles (2007, 7th round)
LB - Dylan Cole (2017, undrafted)
Nickel - Brice McCain (2009, 6th round)
CB - A.J. Bouye (2013, undrafted)
S - Justin Reid (2018, 3rd round)
S - Glover Quin (2010, 4th round)
CB/S - Andre Hal (2014, 7th round)
Now, yes, I'm well aware of the fact that exercise was from 19 years of drafting, but it does show that there are starting level-type, at a minimum, players in any draft. It's just a matter of finding them and then getting them to develop year after year.
