Kenny Hilliard to Houston Texans: Full Draft-Pick Breakdown

The odds of drafting two former LSU running backs in back-to-back drafts have to be pretty low, right?

The Houston Texans accomplished that milestone Saturday night, selecting running back Kenny Hilliard with their final pick in the seventh round a year after drafting Alfred Blue. The Texans will now likely carry three running backs into next season, since Hilliard looks to bring some power to the position behind Blue and starter Arian Foster.

By selecting another running back, the Texans have addressed the concern for the future. One can’t help but wonder, though, if the pick may have been better spent on a safety or tight end, but obviously the Texans feel Hilliard has something to bring to the table.

He is a definite power back and probably a good asset to have in short-yardage or goal-line situations. He will contribute in the receiving game from time to time, but since Hilliard was more of an afterthought in Les Miles’ three-man rotation at LSU, he doesn't have a great deal of experience.

At an NFL level, it would be no surprise to see Hilliard bust quickly. He has good hands and a bundle of quickness, but he’s the kind of running back who will always struggle to break tackles. With the ball in hand, he looks like a one-cut kind of guy, and since he’s so used to playing in short-yardage situations, Hilliard might struggle to wait for holes to develop in a regular role.

Physically, it’s a wonder why he finds it so hard to burst through tackles. He’s broad in the shoulders, and at 226 pounds, he’s not exactly underweight for a player of his size.

Again, Hilliard may join a few other players who wind up on special teams next season if he makes the final roster. The Texans will have some serious grooming to do if they see him as the possible backup to Foster or even Blue one day, but since the offense did struggle in the red zone last season, the Texans' having their own version of the Green Bay Packers’ John Kuhn isn’t a totally absurd idea.

If there’s anything Hilliard could do to gain some fans, it would be to prove himself in the air. If he can come in and show the good hands that he has and maybe turn some screen passes into extra yards, he could earn some reps on 3rd-and-short.

Overall, the Texans were always going to draft a running back this year, but no one expected them to take a gamble on a player who was always going to be fighting an uphill battle. If general manager Rick Smith sees something special, it’s anyone’s guess what it is. But with guys like Akeem Hunt falling to free agency, there was definitely better talent available.