The Houston Texans had a plan for offensive tackle and cornerback ahead of the 2019 NFL draft. If you were listening, general manager Brian Gaine laid it out on April 18 in his pre-draft presser at NRG Stadium.
Did Gaine and the Texans stick to their plan for offensive tackle and cornerback, or did they go off schedule a little?
offensive tackle
Gaine was asked how he viewed the tackles in the draft, and he mentioned there were players who could start.
“I think there’s variating portions in this draft at tackle where you could get a starting-caliber player, both in day one or day two,” Gaine said. “I think there’s some contributing-level players there in the mid rounds where they could be versatile swing players for you. There’s some players at various portions in this draft at tackle where you see some flexibility to go play guard.”
That fits in line with what they got in first-round pick Tytus Howard from Alabama State and Northern Illinois product Max Scharping. Not only will Howard and Scharping be evaluated on how they can play left and right tackle, but there was also talk in their respective post-pick conference calls with the Houston media about playing guard. Howard mentioned that he had never played the spot, but he had manned the position in practice. Meanwhile, Scharping said he did play guard in his freshman year at Northern Illinois.
Why would the Texans want tackles who can also play a little guard? For the position flexibility.
“When you’re thinking about managing your game day roster there’s seven players who dress,” Gaine explained. “Some of those mid-round tackles have the ability, we think, maybe, to be possible tackle-guard types. So, you save a spot as it related to special teams.”
Houston found what they were looking for in offensive tackles with Howard and Scharping, and they got them the time frame of day one and day two that Gaine predicted.
cornerback
Gaine mentioned that there wasn’t a “Patrick Peterson” elite cornerback in the draft, and that was evident by the fact Georgia’s Deandre Baker didn’t go until 30th overall to the New York Giants.
“What I would say is there’s starting-caliber players in this draft, both in day one and day two,” said Gaine. “Day two inclusive of the second and third round. You might be able even to extend that to day [three], the early portion of day [three]. So, I think there is a lot of volume.”
There was. Houston picked up Kentucky cornerback Lonnie Johnson with their 54th overall pick in Round 2. Then, the Texans managed to grab Xavier Crawford with the 195th pick overall in Round 6. So, the Texans found cornerbacks on day two and day three as Gaine said.
Said Gaine: “There’s guys that have outside skill sets, there’s guys who have inside skill sets and there’s a few players in this draft, I think, that offer the versatility to be either/or. You’ve heard me say this before — we’re going to try to acquire as much versatility as we can. The best players who are also the most versatile to help save some of those roster spots when you’re only dressing 46.”
The Texans stuck to their plan for offensive line and cornerback. It’s only when the put on their pads and the games are for real that the efficacy of Gaine’s plan will be realized.
