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I’ll start out agreeing with Jim McCurdy. This mock draft is a boat load of fun. And I’m glad to be part of the mock representing the Houston Texans Nation.
If you looked at the photo, you’ll know who I selected for the Houston Texans in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft. But before we talk about that selection, let’s briefly touch on some other players who I also considered.
Already off the board in this mock was Mike Iupati, the mauling guard from Idaho. Sure, Idaho isn’t exactly a bustling football factory, but a massive and mean guard to shore up the interior of the offensive line and the running game is just what the doctor ordered.
Iupati would have been a great selection, but he was drafted by the Steelers in this mock. Sigh.
I don’t really think there is another interior lineman worth taking at pick No. 20. I briefly considered Maurkice Pouncey out of Florida, but I think 20 is a bit high for him.
Sure, he’s a winner and a good football player, but rare is the guard worth taking at No. 20. That should tell you how highly I think of Iupati.
In addition to the offensive line, the Texans could use a talent infusion in the backfield. Specifically, the Texans need a bigger back to split carries with Steve Slaton.
We won’t know what Slaton can do till next season, but assuming he returns to form somewhere between his remarkable rookie season and his slumping second season, the Texans should have a player who excels on the boundaries and in space. Which also means the team needs a bell cow to plow between the tackles.
With backs like Stanford’s Toby Gerhart (too slow, too upright a runner for the NFL) and CJ Spiller (already taken), the Texans could go in those directions in the first round. But I don’t see that happening, do you?
Another position of need is the defensive backfield. Too bad top-notch safety prospects like Earl Thomas and Eric Berry are long gone.
And I don’t see Taylor Mays as a star in the NFL. Sure, he can run and hit, but he can’t play centerfield. He can’t cover in the passing game.
The Texans have a guy who can run and hit in Bernard Pollard and need a running mate for the big hitting strong safety. Mays is quite an athlete, but I’m not sold on him as a football player.
Finally, let’s not ignore the obvious. Sam Bradford has slid all the way down this first round mock draft.
In this mock and in this mock only (as I can’t imagine a Brady Quinn-esque slide for Bradford) why wouldn’t the Texans auction this pick off for a major ransom? It would be bad business to ignore trading this pick if Bradford is still there.
All of which brings us back to Kyle Wilson. Wilson might not be the biggest player in the draft, but at 5′10″ and 190 lbs., he’s still a good sized prospect.
Plus, Wilson is fast, quick, and can flat out cover. He has high awareness and intelligence and should be rising up draft boards quickly.
Adding a corner back with Wilson’s skill would help the Texans in a division that plays home to Peyton Manning and the pass happy Colts.
To win the division and make the playoffs, the Texans must be able to beat Indianapolis. And making the playoffs must be the Texans’ goal in 2010.
Read more Houston Texans news on BleacherReport.com
