Not all revolves around high draftees
Lower-round picks, free-agent signees abound in playoffs
When you hear someone panic because the Texans will not have first- and second-round picks in this year’s draft, tell them to check the rosters of the eight remaining playoff teams.
Once the hiring of new general manager Brian Gaine becomes official, his personnel department — the one that began work on the draft and free agency months ago under Rick Smith — will have to rebuild the offensive line and secondary.
It’s no secret what the Texans need as the new era begins, and only time will tell if Gaine turns out to be the right man for the job, a position occupied by Smith for the last 12 years.
Without picks in the first two rounds, Gaine will enter his first draft as if he has one hand tied behind his back. But he still can correct some problems with the draft choices he’ll have as well as what’s projected to be about $55 million in salary-cap space before any players are released, which could free up more room to sign free agents.
The Texans don’t have their first two picks because of trades
Smith made with Cleveland. He traded up in the first round last year to select quarterback Deshaun Watson and dealt the second-round pick and Brock Osweiler to the Browns to get rid of the quarterback and clear $10 million in cap space.
An indication of what Gaine, coach Bill O’Brien and their staffs will be up against not having their first two picks can be found by analyzing the eight teams playing in the divisionalround games. That analysis shows the offensive line and secondary can be constructed in ways not involving players drafted in the first two rounds.
Texans’ top needs: OT, CB, S
Here are three avenues the Texans could take at three of their need positions — offensive tackle, cornerback and safety.
Pittsburgh Pro Bowl left tackle Alejandro Villanueva did three tours in Afghanistan, signed with Philadelphia and was cut by the Eagles before the Steelers signed him as a street free agent.
New England cornerback Malcolm Butler signed with the Patriots as an undrafted free agent and became a Super Bowl hero.
Tennessee safety Kevin Byard was drafted in the third round, led the NFL with eight interceptions this season and was voted first-team All-Pro.
Expect the Texans to sign an offensive tackle and guard in free agency and use one of their three third-round picks on another tackle. It won’t be surprising if they also use a lower selection on a guard.
Analyzing depth charts of the eight teams left in the playoffs, eight of the 16 starting offensive tackles weren’t first- or secondround picks.
New Orleans left tackle Terron Armstead was a thirdround pick. New England’s Cameron Fleming was selected in the fourth round. Atlanta right tackle Ryan Schraeder was an undrafted free agent.
Minnesota failed to make the playoffs in 2016, so the Vikings invested heavily in two unrestricted free agents at tackle, Riley Reiff and Mike Remmers.
Jacksonville tackle Jermey Parnell was undrafted out of college and bounced around the league like a pinball before settling in as a starter on the right side.
Of the 24 interior offensive linemen who will start this weekend, 21 weren’t acquired in the first two rounds.
Seven were drafted after the first two rounds. Teams signed five as unrestricted free agents. Four were signed as undrafted free agents. Two were involved in trades. Two were signed as street free agents, and one was claimed on waivers.
We all know the Texans need an influx of talent at cornerback and safety.
Among the starting corners this weekend are New Orleans’ Ken Crawley, undrafted out of college, and Philadelphia’s Jalen Mills, a seventh-round pick.
As the Texans know too well, Jacksonville cornerback A.J. Bouye was an unrestricted free agent, as were Pittsburgh’s Joe Haden, New England’s Stephon Gilmore and Tennessee’s Logan Ryan.
Among the starting safeties on the eight surviving teams, Pittsburgh’s Mike Mitchell, Philadelphia’s Malcolm Jenkins and Rodney McLeod, and Jacksonville’s Barry Church and Tashaun Gipson were signed as unrestricted free agents.
How Jags built their defense
The Texans don’t have to look beyond the AFC South to see how to build one side of the ball without relying on first- and second-round picks.
Defense was the primary reason the Jaguars went from worst to first in the AFC South. They finished second in defense and allowed the second-fewest points in the league.
Jacksonville has two defensive starters — cornerback Jalen Ramsey and outside linebacker Myles Jack — drafted in the first two rounds.
They have two picks — end Yannick Nagkoue (third) and outside linebacker Telvin Smith — selected after the second round.
They have one starter — nose tackle Abry Jones — who was an undrafted free agent.
They have six players signed as unrestricted free agents: Bouye, Church, Gipson, tackle Malik Jackson, end Calais Campbell and middle linebacker Paul Posluszny.
There are different ways to restock a roster and rebuild areas like the offensive line and secondary. You don’t have to look beyond teams playing this weekend to see how.
As soon as the Texans make Gaine’s hiring official and sign O’Brien to an extension, they can begin their major undertaking of filling glaring needs.