Nick Scurfield over at HoustonTexans.com passes along word that ESPN draftniks Mel Kiper and Todd McShay podcasted about possible fits for the Texans with the eleventh overall pick. McShay believes North Carolina DE/OLB Robert Quinn will be the pick at 11, while Kiper thinks the Texans will come around on Wisconsin DE J.J. Watt. McShay was effusive in his praise for Quinn, saying he thinks that he will be “one of the seven, eight, nine best players in this year’s draft.” Here’s some more from that interview:
I still think he’s (Quinn) a work in progress. You go back and watch that tape from a year ago. I just watched the Virginia Tech game; it was one of the last games I had to watch on him. He makes some special plays. He’ll fly around. He doesn’t always finish, but he’s disruptive as all get out.
I think McShay sells the Texans pass rush a little short—or at least I would if the Texans were still playing a 4-3—but it’s nice to see a draftnik who recognizes that the Texans need help at both safety positions, because they were horrendous at those spots last season. And every season that they’ve ever played minus 2009.
They also spent a little time at the end talking about how awful Kareem Jackson was last year and how badly the Texans need him to turn it around this year. It’s worth a listen.