Value of Things: Its about competition
Value of Things: Its about competition
Last week at around this time I spent a great deal of time talking about opportunity costs. The NFL draft is a perfect example of the economics concept. It isnt even so much the idea that there are 300 or 400 football players available to you in advance of the draft. I think everyone gets that. Its more about the fact that there are numerous strategies you can employ on draft can trade up, stick and pick, or trade back. You can draft for need first or go best player available. There are obviously any number of permutations of those options. You can pick for character, production, or traits. What I think is universal is that much like doing any drug, there is a temporary sense of euphoria followed by a longer aftermath of regret. Anyone that has ever been hungover knows what I am talking , before I grade day two in any meaningful way, I should acknowledge that even the best of drafts come with disappointment. We talked day one already and only Nick Caserio and DeMeco Ryans truly know what was possible and what was just not in the cards. Those of you that know me know two things: I love numbers and I am not the college football guru that some other folks on this site are. So, Ill lean heavily on the grades for these guys but try to put as much personal commentary into this Higgins Wide receiver Prospect Grade: 6. 33 Vitals: 64, 214 lbs, 4. 47 402024: 87 catches, 1183 yards, 9 TDNFL Comp: Nico CollinsI actually liked this pick at the time. The Texans desperately need another outside receiver Tank Dell Jersey. No prospect is perfect. Id certainly love for someone to come along that has all of his physical traits AND runs a 4. 3 forty. Those guys go in the top five of the draft. Collins came out at 64 and 215. He ran a 4. 43 forty at the combine. He also rated slightly lower in his prospect s be honest. No one expected Collins to be a number one receiver and I dont think anyone expects Higgins to either Kearis Jackson Jersey. Maybe he becomes a Tee Higgins to Collins JeMar Chase. I doubt that happens this year, but having a guy that can catch 40-50 balls is something this team needs right now. Maybe he grows into that guy eventually. Whats also possible is that he could become Nico Collins in three years when Collins contract comes up again. Grade: B+Aireontae Ersery Offensive TackleProspect Grade: 6. 25 Vitals: 66, 331 lbs2024: Third team All American, Big Ten OL of the Year, first team all Big 10Comp: Marcus CannonIs this guy going to be good at the next level? Is he even going to stick at tackle? The NFL Network was penciling him in as the starting right tackle. Im assuming Tytus Howard and Blake Fisher would like to have a word. That ladies and gentlemen is the whole theme of this draft. Gone are the days when you simply hand over a position to say Kenyon Green without a modicum of current setup of the offensive line has very few players that will stick at a specific spot. Im assuming that he will be yet another guy that will be tried at multiple positions and they will put the best five man configuration on the field. The Texans had to leave day two with a lineman and they traded up to get this guy. Realistically, we should probably look at the production Blake Fisher gave in year one as a guide for what we might expect. Grade: BJaylin Noel Wide ReceiverProspect Grade: 6. 26 Vitals: 510, 194 lbs, 4. 39 402024: 80 catches, 1194 yards, 8 TDComp: Bruce EllingtonThis is probably where the draft started going sideways for some folks. I think most people were expecting another lineman. I certainly was. All reports are that the Texans are going to run a more diversified offense in 2025 Jakob Johnson Jersey. In the past two seasons, all of the wide receivers were expected to do all the things. Now, it looks like we will have a more specialized offense with outside receivers, down the field threats, and slot fits the slot category and the down the field category. I should also note that he was the Big 12 Co Special Teams player of the year. If he can add the return game then that makes this pick more valuable. I think what these two picks indicate is that they were not happy with what John Metchie and Xavier Hutchinson brought to the table the last two seasons. It could be a very uncomfortable camp for those guys. Grade: B+Jaylin Smith Defensive BackProspect Grade: 5. 84 Vitals: 510 1/2, 187 lbs, 4. 45 402024: 59 tackles, 4 TFL, 2 PBU, 2 INTComp: Eric MurrayThis one utterly confused me. I am going to ignore the bad prospect grade. Anyone with any sort of sophistication can admit that different teams put different grades on these guys. The Texans see a versatile defender that has played safety, nickel, and outside corner. They also see a guy that is a try hard guy that has survived by overachieving. That screams Texans need someone to fill that backup corner role and the fact that he can also play the slot will be helpful for depth purposes. However, why trade up from the last pick in the third round to get this guy? He likely would have been there at 102 and youd still have a fifth rounder to play with. Plus, was a backup secondary guy really the value pick you want here? This team desperately needs another interior offensive lineman and a defensive tackle would have been a better pick had they wanted to go the flip side, it took us awhile, but we grew to appreciate Eric Murray. He wasnt good enough to start at safety or at corner, but he was good enough to fill in for injured guys and not kill you. If this guy is good enough to do those things then it could be a useful pick, I just wish they hadnt traded up and wasted draft assets in the process.