Richard Marshall Should Be a Texan

     With the era of Dunta Robinson coming to a close, the Houston Texans are at an important crossroads.  As a team an the verge of the next level( for the most part anyway), they can't afford to start the 2010 season with a question mark at corner.

     Manning and Schaub are the gold standard in the AFC South, and must be accounted for.  While Young and Garrard are not going to scare anybody with passing they do employ very young, athletic wideouts.  Point being, the Texans need a new starting corner by September.

     Enter Richard Marshall.  A little bigger, younger, healthier and more productive than recent Dunta, but this is not a comparison.  This is not a decision between the two, Dunta is a starter and he is gone.  As the apparent #1 CB on the free agent market he will command big bucks.  The Texans will likely receive a 3rd comp. pick in the process.  Win, win from this fans perspective.

     Carolina knows exactly what they are doing by placing a 2nd rd tender on Marshall.  It gets way more teams interested in him and virtually gauruntees that teams will have to give a little more to sweeten the deal.  This is why the Texans still have guys like Fred Bennett, Frank Okam, and Ryan Moats.  One or more of these guys packaged with the draft pick could help.   

     Some not convinced, don't like giving up a 2nd round draft pick?  Richard Marshall is far better than any cornerback the Texans could draft this year.  He has more experience than any of them(obviously), he is a proven commodity who is still very young(25).  

     Let's sweeten the deal some more.  By signing a starting corner tomorrow, then signing a veteran FA running back, the Texans can then with a clear conscious draft the best player available in the 1st round.  Earl Thomas is not a high need, but he would make a big impact early(day one).

     When it is all said and done, the dreadlocks that we watch grow for six years are leaving.  We can cry/cheer about it, but in the end we need someone to start in his spot.  Someone who can keep up with rookie wideout Kenny Britt when he is about to score a crucial touchdown on MNF(I am still crying).  Marshall could be that guy, while at the same time setting the Texans up for a more productive draft.