



LAST SEASON Rush Offense - 132.7 ypg (8th)

Pass Offense - 239.4 ypg (11th)

Total Offense - 372.1 ypg (7th)

Scoring Offense - 26.0 ppg (8th)

Rush Defense - 97.5 ypg (7th)

Pass Defense - 225.8 ypg (16th)

Total Defense - 323.2 ypg (7th)

Scoring Defense - 20.7 ppg (10th) MOST PRESSING NEEDS Offense: Right Tackle, Consistent No. 2 WR, Guard

Defense: Inside linebacker, NT and a playmaker in the secondary

























Quarterback The Draft Board







5th round Landry Jones, Oklahoma (6-4, 220) 6th round Brad Sorensen, Southern Utah (6-4, 235) 7th round Alex Carder, Western Michigan (6-2, 220)

Jeff Tuel, Washington State (6-3, 221)











Not everyone in the Houston fan base is enamored with Matt Schaub being The Man, but the future is pretty clear for the Texans as the starting QB signed a five-year, $66.2 million contract in September 2012. Backup T.J Yates has a playoff win to his record and Gary Kubiak likes what he has in former University of Houston great Case Keenum.

That said, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Texans take a look in later rounds, especially on a guy with size and potential. I've seen Landry Jones too often to think that he's worthy of going before the fourth round. But, if he's available in the fifth round, it would make sense for the Texans to consider him.







Running Back The Draft Board







3rd round Johnathan Franklin, UCLA (5-10, 198) 4th round Stepfan Taylor, Stanford (5-11, 215)

LeVeon Bell, Michigan State (6-2, 244)

Mike Gillislee, Florida (5-11, 210)

Marcus Lattimore, South Carolina (6-0, 220) 5th round Rex Burkhead, Nebraska (5-11, 210)











The coaching staff hasn't been enamored with Ben Tate, but its philosophy indicates the Texans likely won't take a flyer on an RB in the early rounds to back up Arian Foster. If they find a one-cut, downhill RB with value on Day 3, it'd make sense to send a message to Tate with the pick.

Bell would be an intriguing prospect, especially if Tate is somehow moved in the offseason. He ran in a power-based offense at Michigan State, but I'd love to see him in a zone-blocking scheme with his one-cut running ability. Johnathan Franklin is a poor man's Cadillac Williams/Shady McCoy hybrid but he's got some juice inside the tackles and outside as well. Lattimore might be an option in the fourth round if the Texans want to consider waiting out his rehab.







Wide Receiver The Draft Board







1st round Keenan Allen, Cal (6-3, 210)

DeAndre 'Nuk' Hopkins, Clemson (6-1, 200) 2nd round Quinton Patton, La. Tech (6-2, 195)

Justin Hunter, Tennessee (6-4, 200)

Robert Woods, USC (6-1, 190) 3rd round Cobi Hamilton, Arkansas (6-2, 209) 4th round Ryan Swope, Texas A&M (6-0, 206)

Chris Harper, Kansas State (6-1, 228) 6th round Brandon Kaufman, Eastern Washington (6-4, 214)













Now, we're cooking with gas. Andre Johnson was as good as he's ever been in his 10th year but he needs some help.



Although there are a number of inside/slot receiver threats in this class, the Texans typically draft another breed of WR. Think big, physical and field stretching.





I'd love to see them add a lightning bolt like Tavon Austin or Denard Robinson, but that's not in The Plan. Each receiver on the board, for the most part, has size, can win at the line of scrimmage and catch the football consistently. Keenan Allen is hyped as the best receiver in this class, but that may not be the case. Either way, he likely won't fall to the Texans.



Ryan Swope could be a gem to target. He gets stereotypical comparison to Wes Welker, but let me tell you, he isn't Welker AT ALL. He has great run after catch abilities (he was a RB in high school) but he doesn't have to live in the slot; he can play out on the perimeter as well.











Tight End The Draft Board







5th round Gavin Escobar, San Diego State (6-5, 255) 7th round Michael Wiliams, Alabama (6-5, 272)

Vance McDonald, Rice (6-4, 260)

Philip Lutzenkirchen (6-4, 250)









The Texans have a ton of current and/or former tight ends on the roster and GM Rick Smith and Gary Kubiak have often targeted this position to complement the offense. With James Casey a free agent, the Texans may look for a mobile TE who can complement Owen Daniels and Garrett Graham.

If Gavin Escobar is there in the fifth round, the Texans would be wise to snatch him up. He's a big, athletic target who could rise up the boards in the days leading to the draft given his athleticism.

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