Texans Pick LT Duane Brown; Would Have Missed Him With Another Trade Down

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A number of talking heads believe that the Texans picked Virginia Tech left tackle Duane Brown too early. They believe the Texans could have traded down again and still got their target. Those people would be wrong.

The San Diego Union-Tribune is reporting that the Chargers wanted Brown with the 27th pick:

"Funny that the Chargers finally got a tackle with their final pick. They had been stymied from starting off the draft with one when an unprecedented eight tackles were selected before they picked at No. 27.

'We came up one pick short,' said [Norv] Turner, who along with the rest of the Chargers brass watched Houston trade into the 26th spot and take tackle Duane Brown of Virginia Tech."

At the Texans draft party, someone told me shortly after the trade down from 18 that Brown was going to be the pick. I didn't believe it until I heard the pick later. If Brown was the target, then trying to trade down again was going to get too cute.

If the Texans only have offensive line guru Alex Gibbs for a short period of time, you should probably get him the tackle he wants pronto.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

5-01-2008 @ 8:21PM

Mark in Cypress said...

It was a risky move if that's indeed who they wanted. Only time will tell.

I am reluctant to endorse a "system" player drafted in the 1st round. When a coaching change occurs, and it usually happens before the 1st round players contract expires, then there is the risk of a large salary cap hit for someone who does not fit the prototype NFL player.

But...I hope he works out.

5-01-2008 @ 8:24PM

Stephanie Stradley said...

Mark-

I don't think that Brown is just a system guy. I think that his measurables make him someone who could excel in a lot of systems other than a roadgrader type.

I think the knock on Brown is more on his experience. The last converted tight end we have on the Texans line has worked out pretty good--Eric Winston.

I am waiting for either one of them to catch a pass. :)

Nice seeing ya!
Steph

5-02-2008 @ 10:14AM

Tom said...

Any where in the neighborhood of 300 lbs is big enough for an offensive lineman. The next point of discussion is body fat ratio. The fact that the Texans traded back and still got the best pick available that still fits what they want to do and got extra picks is comendable. There aren't too many linemen if any on either side of the ball that weigh more than 350 lbs, and if you weigh 300 lbs and you can't bench press or squat 50 lbs for 8 hours with 30 seconds of rest between reps, then you need to hand in your athlete license.

The Texans had such a good draft that there's just not much for the fans to chitter about with each other. I think that's what's bother us the most. The complaints will have to wait till one of these guys is actually a real bust. So what do we do? Wax our surf boards wait for a hurricane and training camp? Sounds ok to me.