Houston Texans: 2009 NFL Draft Profile

With one hand gripping his battle-stained helmet and the other pointing to the sky, Steve Slaton walked off the field to the roar of over 70,000 jubilant fans in Reliant Stadium. His shadow in that moment, cast before him in the grass, embodied all that was right and wrong with the young franchise. Lightness and darkness captured in a single frame.

You see, the Houston Texans had just defeated the Chicago Bears 31-24 in the final game of the 2008 season to finish with a record of 8-8 for a second consecutive year. Yet, an uninformed onlooker might have thought they'd won the Super Bowl.

Complacency in mediocrity and low expectations are not the building blocks of champions. If the Texans truly want to make the climb to the next tier of professional competitiveness, they have to view their previous season with disappointment.

2008 was supposed to be their coming out party, but 8-8 is not a party. At best, it's a study date at the library. No, to me, a party for this franchise needs to mean one thing and one thing only: a playoff berth.

Now, I'm not trying to dog the Texans.  A playoff appearance is nearly an obtainable goal with the talent they currently have in place, but they cannot allow complacency to get the better of them this offseason. With a few prudent moves in the draft and free agency, they should be in a prime position to start the season.

Thus far, we've seen management part ways with defensive end Anthony Weaver and backup quarterback Sage Rosenfels. The former was a solid move, as Weaver was contributing very little to the team, despite starting every game of the season.

As for Rosenfels, it's always going to hurt a little to lose one of the best backups in the league, but it sounds like he wanted to be a starter, and the Texans did obtain another fourth round pick in the process that should be put to good use.

As far as free agent signings are involved, the Texans have already made some efforts to fill their holes. The signing of defensive end Antonio Smith from Arizona was a good addition, as it gives the team an upgrade opposite Mario Williams. Smith, rumored to be the best lineman on the Cardinals' roster last year, is primarily a run-stopper.

The team still needs to add some speed on the outside to put more pressure on opposing quarterbacks—particularly on third downs. Recently released Jason Taylor might be an intriguing prospect, but he'll probably already have found a new home by the time the Texans decide to contact him.

The team has also added backup quarterback Dan Orlovsky to fill the void vacated by Rosenfels. The former Lion is best known for running around out of bounds in his own endzone last year, but he did show some playmaking ability for his own team, as well.

Personally, I think Jeff Garcia or J.P. Losman would have been a better choice, but it's likely they'd want to start. Houston also smartly re-signed safety Nick Ferguson and franchised Dunta Robinson.

Now, let's take a look at what they need in the draft.

First Round: Brian Cushing (OLB/USC)

While I personally like the potential of second-year Texan Xavier Adibi, the team needs to add a playmaking linebacker. Cushing also played some defensive end in college, so he could be moved around some to confuse offenses. He's a smart, rangy player who makes sound tackles and could really boost the team with his versatility.

Second Round: William Moore (S/MIZ)

If Moore is available in this spot, the Texans should pounce on him. They'd be adding a hard-hitting safety who at one point was considered a top 10 talent in the draft. The only reason he could still be available is because his injury-plagued senior year was somewhat of a disappointment. Still, I think he'll be an excellent pro with his ability to both stop the run and drop back in coverage. The Texans' secondary could really use an intimidation factor, too.

Third Round: Lawrence Sidbury, Jr. (DE/RICH)

This would be a good pick even if the team signed Jason Taylor. Sidbury could be a lethal pass-rush specialist at the pro level. It's not every day you come across a 6'4" 265 lb. defensive end who runs a 4.6 forty. His senior year, he recorded 11.5 sacks at Richmond. I know somewhere Mario Williams would be celebrating. The Texans only recorded 25 sacks total last year (ranked 27th in the league).

Fourth Round: Coye Francies (CB/SJST)

Dunta Robinson is a stud, but the team desperately needs some depth at cornerback. Jacques Reeves is more of a No. 3, so this selection would fit the bill nicely. The Texans gave up an average of 24.6 points per game (27th in the league) and only recorded 12 interceptions all season (23rd in the league) in 2008. Francies is very fast, with long arms and a ton of upside.

Fourth Round (from Minnesota): Rashad Jennings (RB/LIB)

Steve Slaton had a fantastic rookie year, but the Texans need to add someone who will punish defenses while Slaton gets a breather. Jennings is a big, physical back who would be a great complement to Slaton's slashing style. He could also come in for third-and-long downs because he's an excellent blocker.

Fifth Round: Asher Allen (CB/UGA)

Allen would be a great value pick here if he were still available. The main knock on him is his size, but he's a physical, speedy defender who always seems to be around the ball. Every season we see that you can never have too many good corners, and this would be a huge steal.

Sixth Round: Chase Daniel (QB/MIZ)

He may not have the ideal size, but neither does Drew Brees. He'll need some time to develop, but the Texans could afford him that luxury while they test out Orlovsky in a backup role. Coming off an incredible collegiate career, Daniel could be a long-term safety net for Matt Schaub down the road.

Seventh Round: Dallas Reynolds (OG/BYU)

It never hurts to take a chance on a big, nasty lineman in the later rounds of the draft, and Reynolds is all of the above. The Texans need better play from their o-line, especially if they want to keep Schaub intact. I actually believe that they should currently be pursuing left tackle Tra Thomas from Philadelphia in free agency. At the very least, they need to talk to Khalif Barnes out of Jacksonville. Either of those guys would be an upgrade over the current starters.

I realize that Duane Brown is supposed to be the future at left tackle, but he gave up 11.5 sacks last year (tied for the most in the league). Eric Winston, their right tackle, wasn't much better, surrendering eight sacks. Thomas, on the other hand, only gave up two all year.

At the end of the day, the Texans have a realistic shot at finally "surprising" teams in 2009, but they're not a finished product just yet. They need a few upgrades in their linebacking corps, pass rush, secondary, and offensive line.  With free agency upon us and the April draft approaching, these are obtainable goals. They just have to overcome their complacency in mediocrity and turn the tide.

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