The Houston Texans were a downright disaster last season, losing their final 14 games and finishing with the worst record in the NFL a year after making it to the playoffs. It really was a nightmare situation for this team. Bill O'Brien now comes in to help rebuild a team that still possesses a tremendous amount of overall talent.
Here is eDraft's official final grade on the Texans 2014 NFL draft haul.
First Round, First Pick: Jadeveon Clowney, Defensive End, South Carolina
Clowney may not have been as great of a scheme fit as Khalil Mack, but he was by far the best overall player in the draft. Teaming him up with J.J. Watt is going to form the best pass-rush tandem in the entire National Football League. This was a no brainer. Grade: A
Second Round, 33rd Pick: Xavier Su'a-Filo, Guard, UCLA
What a steal. Su'a-Filo is a Day 1 starter with All-Pro upside. Better in pass protection than in the run game, he's going to help out whoever is under center out of the gate. This selection gave the Texans both value and need atop the second round. Grade: A+
Third Round, 65th Pick: C.J. Fiedorowicz, Tight End, Iowa
"Country Strong," as I like to call him is going to be a major target for whoever is under center in 2014 and beyond. While the Texans did miss out on the first-tier of pass-catching tight end options, they did acquire the best in the second tier. At 6'5" and 265, Fiedorowicz is going to provide an immediate red-zone threat. Moving forward, he could eventually turn into a dynamic all-around pass-catching option. Grade: A
Third Round, 83rd Pick: Louis Nix, Defensive Tackle, Notre Dame
Without a doubt, one of the best picks in the entire draft. We had a top-25 grade on Nix heading in, but he fell all the way to the third round due to what some considered injury concerns. Nix is a perfect fit in Houston's 3-4 scheme. He will anchor the defensive front, especially against the run. Value and need here. Grade: A+
Fourth Round, 135th Pick: Tom Savage, Quarterback, Pittsburgh
So the Texans go from one of the best picks in the draft to one of the worst. Selecting Savage as a potential long-term option at quarterback was foolish to begin with. Picking him ahead of the likes of Aaron Murray, Zach Mettenberger and David Fales made even less sense. Likely nothing more than a roster filler as a No. 2 or No. 3 quarterback. Grade: F
Sixth Round, 177th Pick: Jeoffrey Pagan, Defensive Tackle, Alabama
More of a rotational player moving forward, Pagen will likely step outside in the Texans' 3-4 scheme as a 5-tech, spelling Watt and/or Clowney. Upside isn't too big here, but he's a solid depth guy. Grade: B
Sixth Round, 181st Pick: Alfred Blue, Running Back, LSU
There seemed to be better running back options here, mainly Storm Johnson and Lache Seastrunk. As it is, Houston picks up a player that can produce both in the running game and in the passing game. More of a rotational running back. Grade: B
Seventh Round, 211th Pick: Jay Prosch, Fullback, Auburn
Prosch can act as a Swiss-Army Knife for the Texans. He's more than capable of touching the ball in both the running game and the passing game. In addition to this, he's a natural lead blocker. We already know how much Arian Foster values his fullbacks, Prosch will be no different. Grade: A
Seventh Round, 216th Pick: Andre Hal, Cornerback, Vanderbilt
Expect Hal to move to safety. At 5'10" and 188, he's a bit undersized to play on the outside, but does possess some solid range in the back end. A potential project at free safety, Hal went about three rounds later than he should have. Solid steal in Round 7. Grade: A
Seventh Round, 256th Pick: Lonnie Ballentine, Safety, Memphis
I never scouted Ballentine, but the word out there is that he's a raw athlete with some tremendous upside. More of a special teams player out of the gate. Grade: INC
Overall Grade: A-
I graded down a tad here because of the Savage pick. You cannot convince me that he was a better option than a vast majority of the quarterbacks that went behind him in the draft. Aaron Murray or David Fales, anyone?
That pick aside, Houston absolutely killed this draft. By my estimation, it picked up four likely starters and three potential Pro Bowl performers. That's a draft haul anyone in the NFL would take. Clowney and Watt are going to be absolute beasts teaming up with one another, while Nix should open up pass-rushing lanes with his ability to take up double teams inside.