2012 NFL Draft: What the Houston Texans Can Expect

Over the next few days, I'll be looking at the picks the teams in the AFC South have and comparing them to the players taken at that slot in recent years.

Too often, fans have unrealistic expectations of what draft picks turn out to be.

I expect the list of players selected at each spot to be a sobering wake-up call to the kind of talent each team can actually expect to add.

Up next: the Houston Texans

First Round: Pick No. 26

2011: Jonathan Baldwin

2010: Dan Williams

2009: Clay Matthews

2008: Duane Brown

2007: Anthony Spencer

Second Round: Pick 58

2011: Torrey Smith

2010: Ben Tate

2009: Sebastian Vollmer

2008: Dexter Jackson

2007: Ikaika Alma-Francis

Third Round: Pick 76

2011: William Rackley

2010: Chad Jones

2009: DeAndre Levy

2008: Brad Cottam

2007: Jason Hill

Fourth Round: Pick 99

2011: K.J. Wright

2010: Mardy Gilyard

2009:Juaquin Iglesias

2008: Oniel Cousins

2007: Johnny Lee Higgins

Fourth Round: Pick 121

2011: Chris Prosinksi

2010: Keenan Clayton

2009: Shawn Nelson

2008: Red Bryant

2007: Marcus Thomas

Fifth Round: Pick 161

2011: Julian Vandervelde

2010: Chris DeGeare

2009: John Nalbone

2008: Marcus Howard

2007: Will Herring

Sixth Round: Pick 195

2011: James Thomas

2010: Antonio Brown

2009: James Davis

2008: Donald Thomas

2007: David Irons

Seventh Round: Pick 233

2011: Lawrence Guy

2010: Jim Dray

2009: Sammie Stroughter

2008: Justin Forsett

2007: Chandler Williams

The Texans' fans can be encouraged with a few names on the list. Obviously getting a Clay Matthews in the first round would be amazing. For the most part, though, picking late in the first round, they can expect to get a good, solid starter who might blossom into a star.

The second round talent wasn't too bad and Torrey Smith would be a great result for the Texans. After round two, the talent thins out dramatically, though Antonio Brown blossomed into a Pro Bowler.

Even with some good names deeper on this list, Texans fans would be wise to consider that of the 40 names on it, there are only few real stars.

The odds of landing one of them are against the Texans.