Houston Texans: NFL Offseason Report Card

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Houston Texans
2009 Draft Grade: B+

Free Agent/Non Draft: C-

Total Grade: C+

Overall Needs:
•Safety
•Defensive Tackle
•Defensive End
•Running Back
•Outside Linebacker
•Guard

Draft Picks:
Rd / Sel# / Name / Pos. / School
1) 15 Brian Cushing LB USC
2) 46 Connor Barwin DE/LB Cincinnati
3) 77 Antoine Caldwell C Alabama
4) 112 Glover Quin CB New Mexico
4) 122 Anthony Hill TE NC State
5) 152 James Carey TE Rice
6) 188 Brine McCain CB Utah
7) 223 Troy Nolan S Arizona State

Arrivals: Old Team
LB Shaun Cody (FA) Detroit
LB Buster Davis (FA) Indianapolis
LB Cato June (FA) Tampa Bay
QB Dan Orlovsky (FA) Detroit
DE Antonio Smith (FA) Arizona

Departures: New Team
S C.C. Brown (FA) NY Giants
S Will Demps (FA)
S Glenn Earl (FA) Chicago
RB Ahman Green (FA)
LB Morlon Greenwood (FA)
QB Sage Rosenfels (trade) Minnesota
OT Ephraim Salaam (FA) Detroit
RB Darius Walker (FA) Denver
DE Anthony Weaver (FA)

Offseason Analysis:

The Houston Texans keep getting close but can’t get over the hump. Unfortunately, they are in a great division with Tennessee and Indy, but they keep getting closer.

They added LB Brian Cushing in the first round from USC and DE Connor Barwin from Cincinnati in the second round to improve their athleticism and pass rush in the front seven. Cushing will compete for the starting job on the strong side. Barwin is a tremendous athlete who possesses at 40 1/2 inch vertical and a 4.59 40 time.

In the third, they selected C Antoine Caldwell from Alabama to add depth. He’s also a very good snapper and can play on special teams or even play guard.

In the fourth round, they took Glover Quin, a strong and athletic corner who could also play safety. They took two tight ends, one in the fourth and one in the fifth. In the fourth, Anthony Hill from NC State is a solid block-first tight end.

James Casey from Rice in the fifth is a strong receiving threat, who can also play fullback. He could make an impact very quick. In the sixth, they grabbed Brice McCain from Utah, a corner with good speed who can play special teams.

In the seventh, they took a safety in Troy Nolan who has good speed and skill. Fortunately, the Texans have a need there so he has a solid chance of making the team.

They didn’t do a lot in free agency, especially on the offensive end. They traded away QB Sage Rosenfels, so they signed Dan Orlovsky as insurance in case Matt Schaub gets injured.

On defense, they needed help on the D-line so they picked up Antonio Smith from Arizona. They also added Cato June, an excellent pass coverage linebacker to compete for time on the outside.

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