The Houston Texans came into the 2012 NFL Draft with some definite needs. By the end of the draft, they met some of their needs but their choices left a little to be desired.
Whitney Mercilus
The biggest needs for the Houston Texans heading into the 2012 NFL season was wide receiver and defensive tackle. So, with their first pick, they chose Illinois defensive end Whitney Mercilus. I'll admit that drafting him might be the Texans' attempt at replacing Mario Williams in the lineup.
Mercilus will do a lot for the Texans but the problem is that Houston already has two solid defensive ends in Antonio Smith and J.J. Watt, which tells me they picked a luxury item over a necessity. What I can't figure out is why they took someone like Mercilus, who only started one season in college, when they had many more pressing needs in the 2012 NFL Draft.
DeVier Posey and Keshawn Martin
Until the Houston Texans find someone solid to line up across from Andre Johnson, they will always have trouble in close games. With Johnson injury prone, it makes it even more important to have players better than Kevin Walker and Jacoby Jones in the lineup.
With no third round pick, Houston chose DeVier Posey from Ohio State in hopes he can fit that role. He is big and should make a nice complimentary receiver to Johnson, able to run the middle routes and willing to take a hit to make the catch. The third round might have been a little early for him but Houston needed someone. He was one of the Buckeyes' receivers suspended for multiple games in 2011 for selling memorabilia, so character might be an issue.
Keshawn Martin, taken in the fourth round, might be the better option, another Big Ten prospect, this one from Michigan State. Martin is shorter than Posey but is really fast and might work well as a slot receiver for Houston. He is probably someone that will earn his job on special teams but has the skills to help Houston where they need it the most.
Jared Crick
Another of the Texans' fourth round picks was Jared Crick. This defensive end from Nebraska will come to Houston as a defensive tackle, and Wade Phillips will hope he can slide in as a nose tackle for his defensive line. He is tall and strong, using his hands to bust through the line to make tackles. He has a lot of experience at defensive end but Houston is full at that position and they will look at getting him settled in as a tackle, although he might be a work in progress.
Brandon Brooks
The final place that Houston needed help was on the offensive line, specifically at guard with Mike Brisiel leaving via free agency. While they have starters in place, they are looking for depth and chose Miami (OH) guard Brandon Brooks as their third fourth round pick. Brooks is a monster and has surprising speed. He won't need to start right away but will be an important part of the line over time.Author Shawn S. Lealos has a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma (2000) and has been a fan of Houston football since Earl Campbell, Kenny "The Snake" Stabler and Billy "White Shoes" Johnson played for the Houston Oilers. When the Oilers left for Tennessee, Shawn lost interest but quickly became a Houston Texans fan when the NFL brought football back to South Texas.
Source: houstontexans.com
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