[EmpireWF]

Figure you're the Houston Texans GM. The #1 overall 2006 NFL draft picks yours for this April with four legit top prospects. RB Reggie Bush, QB Matt Leinart, QB Vince Young and OT D'Brickashaw Ferguson. What do you do?

They seriously need a stable OLine to protect Carr. Davis has shown he can run the ball but they would like Bush to split carries. They don't need a QB in the sense of the word, so I'd forget about Leinart and Young.

If you want the OT, you trade down to four with the Jets IMO. That's what I would do, but then there would be a revolt in Houston from the fanbase since they want the sexy superstar, not the tough lineman.

Anyway, who would your 2006 NFL draft picks be?

[Lefty Noob]

I definitely think Houston needs D'Brickashaw Ferguson more than any of the others. Carr will be a good QB, and Davis is a quality RB. Their offensive line needs to be overhauled big time, though.

Ferguson is 6-5 and around 300 pounds, give or take. He was the best OL in the NCAA last year. In fact, I think he might be one of the best tackle prospects in years. If it was me, I'd try to trade down a few spots, pick up a few extra picks in the third or fourth round and take Ferguson at No. 3 or No. 4. Yeah, the fans probably wouldn't like it, but it is the smart pick.

That said, Bush and Young really are out of this world talents. I can't wait to see both of them play on Sundays this fall. And LenDale White may just wind up being the steal of the draft.

[GigEmAgs]

I'd say Vince Young should definitely be in the mix (though the Aggie in me hates to say this ). For one thing, he's a Longhorns player, so he's already very familiar with Texas fans. Even as a junior QB, he's got the strength, the skill, and the star power to bring the attention to the Texans that they need, so they can start to get out from under the shadow of the Cowboys a little. They need to start winning more so that they can attract a better fan base and be accepted as the new Houston team. I mean, no matter what you call them, a lot of Houston fans still identify with the Titans because they used to be the Oilers.

Of course, I could be wrong.

[Lefty Noob]

Good point. The fans would definitely rally behind Young, were he picked. As you said, he's an in-state guy, plus he's a phenomenal athlete. He'd sell tickets and jerseys like crazy. But then, what would they do with Carr? Deal him? And if so, to whom and what should they expect in return? I hardly think he'd command a No. 1 pick at this point in his career.

[wvuauthor]

I agree that the Texans are in a very tough position at this point. But at the same time it is a good position to be in!

Being that they need so much help everywhere I agree with trading down and picking up a couple of later picks. The Texans need more than one guy, and the more picks in this years draft the better.

Drafting Young would definitely put people in the seats, but would it put much needed W's in the score book? I am not so sure that Carr can carry the load, but how will we ever know until he gets a solid O-Line?

[Lefty Noob]

Okay, let's say for the sake of argument they take Bush No. 1, as most prognosticators seem to think. What do you do if you're New Orleans sitting there at No. 2? You need a QB, obviously, but you also need so much more. And if you do go QB, do you want Young, Leinart, or possibly this Cutler kid from Vandy that everyone seems to be so high on these days?

[EmpireWF]

Cutler didn't do much to shoot himself up draftboards during the all-star games. He'll likely go mid-late 1st with the most likely team being Miami.

New Orleans is definitely going to select either Matt Leinart or Vince Young. If I'm them, I MUST take Leinart. The kid is a natural born leader, which is exactly what they need.

That would leave Young for the Titans, where McNair will stay and tutor his best friend. The Jets will go after OT Ferguson or the top two defensive players in Mario Williams and AJ Hawk.

[Lefty Noob]

No way the Jets don't use their No. 1 pick on a QB, not after that mess last year. One has to wonder is Pennington will ever be 100% again. Plus, I don't see Tennessee going for one this year. They've still got Billy Volek, right? He's more than capable of leading that team once McNair retires. Then, if McNair does hang around for 2006, they can get themselves a rook in the 2007 draft. It's not an urgent need for them right now.

[EmpireWF]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

No way the Jets don't use their No. 1 pick on a QB, not after that mess last year. One has to wonder is Pennington will ever be 100% again. Plus, I don't see Tennessee going for one this year. They've still got Billy Volek, right? He's more than capable of leading that team once McNair retires. Then, if McNair does hang around for 2006, they can get themselves a rook in the 2007 draft. It's not an urgent need for them right now.

There's some talk that D'Brickashaw Ferguson might jump into the top 3 and push one of the QBs down to four. In that case, the Jets would have a decision to make.

They should sign a reliable back-up with the mindset that he'll start the season. They have too many holes and not enough cap space to draft Leinart or Young (if for some reason one of them were available).

Look for the Jets to franchise John Abraham and trade him before the draft. I think they could get a 1st rounder for the guy.

[Lefty Noob]

How bad is the cap situation with the Jets, EmpireWF?

Oh, and I think we can officially say that the Texans will not be taking a QB with the No. 1 pick. They just gave Carr a three-year extension. He's clearly their guy. I think they've got to trade down and take Ferguson. Carr's been sacked more than 200 times in just four seasons. If that doesn't change, he won't live to see the end of that three-year extension!

[pigskinfanatic]

The Houston Texans, despite coming off a horrible season, appear to be in excellent shape heading into this offseason. Reggie Bush is a once in a lifetime player who could instantly improve this team. What the Texans must do, however, is rebuild their offensive line, whether it's through free agency or the draft. If David Carr can get some protection, that offense, led by Andre Johnson and reggie Bush could be scary for years to come.

[Joshua Kaufman]

Noob, I agree. The logical thing would be to trade with the Jets. I recently interviewed a linebacker on the Jets who was hoping they could get Vince Young. Clearly, the hanging Chad Pennington era is over. Too bad, he was a promising QB but has a glass shoulder. Young will be an instant sensation wherever he goes, but going to the Jets could make him larger than life (if he isn't already). Imagine, in NY you'll have Manning and Young duking it out for headlines for the next decade or so..

[EmpireWF]

The Jets are over $20 Million over the cap and must find a way to restructure some deals, or guys like Mawae and Martin could possibly be cut.

[Lefty Noob]

Great article today from SI.com's Peter King:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_yl...nnsi&type=lgns

I'm surprised by Casserly's comments that there was "no guarantee" that Houson would take Bush No. 1, that they were "wide open for trades for the pick" and that they might even want to "see what we can get in trade for David Carr."

Furthermore, he had this to say about Bush: "If he's a 17-touch-a-game guy [touching it 17 times rushing, receiving and returning combined, on average], is he worth it?'' Interesting line of thinking. But so much depends upon what he will be able to do with those 17 touches. If he can score on 3 of them, then yes, he's definitely worth it!

[EmpireWF]

Another line of thinking into doubting whether Houston would use the pick on Bush, they already have a lethal return man in Jerome Mathis...a pro bowler in fact.

I've heard that fans want either Bush or Young...the Heisman runner or the momentum-filled Nat'l Champ QB...take your pick.