2011 NFL Draft Results: Grading the Houston Texans Draft

As you will soon find out in my grades, I loved almost everything about the Texans draft.

They drafted players at several positions of need and selected guys that have a chance to play right away. The also struck the right balance of players with high upside and players that are safe picks.

Their draft was heavy on defense, and rightfully so. Add a competent defense to the mix and the Texans could find themselves in the playoffs. If pedigree counts for anything, the Texans may very well end up there with these new additions.

Let's go player by player and see how I graded out the Texans draft picks.

JJ Watt- DE Wisconsin

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PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Quarterback Andy Dalton #14 of the TCU Horned Frogs rushes with the ball as J.J. Watt #99 of the Wisconsin Badgers runs after him in the first quarter of the 97th Rose Bowl game on January 1, 2011 in Pasadena, California. (Pho

Watt fills an obvious need for the Texans as a pass rushing defensive end. While many, myself included, expected the Texans to take a defensive end/outside linebacker hybrid pass rusher in this spot, Watt gives the Texans versatility in his own right.

With the Texans mixing in some 3-4 defensive sets this next season, the Texans need more than just hybrid pass rushers to play both DE and OLB. They also need guys that can play DE in the 3-4 and slide inside to play defensive tackle in the 4-3.

Prior to the draft, this was Amobi Okoye's job to lose. With Watt now a part of the team, Okoye's days might be numbered.

Watt is a high-energy player that will never give less than his best. Not only is Watt likely going to be a very productive player, but a player with his character will become a fan favorite very quickly.

Grade: A-

Brooks Reed- OLB/DE Arizona

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LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 05: Defensive ends Brooks Reed #42 and Ricky Elmore #44 of the Arizona Wildcats celebrate after stopping the USC Trojans on the final play on December 5, 2009 at the Los Angeles Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. Arizona won

In many ways, all of them positive, Reed is everything Watt isn't.

While he was productive at Arizona, the selection of Reed is more about upside. Reed gives the Texans the versatility of being able to play both defensive end and outside linebacker.

His selection also makes the Watt pick look even better. Now between the two of them, the Texans drafted guys that can play four different positions total while giving the team similar results.

Reed, like Watt, will become a fan favorite. Like current Texan Brian Cushing, Reed plays like his hair is on fire. Fittingly, with his long golden locks, it actually looks like Reed's hair is on fire when he goes full speed.

Reed is incredible when in pursuit, particularly when coming from the backside. Once he is gets into the backfield, only a guy by the name of Michael Vick has the elusiveness to get away.

Grade: A-

However, the combination of these two guys in the first two rounds earns the Texans a cumulative grade of A+ for those two picks.

Brandon Harris- CB Miami

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DURHAM, NC - OCTOBER 18: Eron Riley #15 of the Duke Blue Devils grips the ball as he is tackled by Brandon Harris #1 of the Miami Hurricanes at Wallace Wade Stadium on October 18, 2008 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

When the Texans were on the clock in the first round, they had the chance to draft a corner. Prince Amukamara, widely regarded as the second best corner in the draft, was on the board. The Texans passed, though, and took Brandon Harris in the third round.

For me, I think it was the right move. Harris gives you many things that Amukamara does, and waiting until the third round to take a corner allowed the Texans to address other needs.

Harris started 32 games in his career at Miami, giving him tons of experience at a high level. He runs a 4.4 second 40 yard dash and was a two time Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalist.

Perhaps the best part about the selection of Harris in the third round is that Harris isn't in the position to be looked at as the savior of the secondary. As a third round pick, he isn't going to face the intense scrutiny Kareem Jackson did as a first round pick.

Harris will be able to come along at a steady pace and Jackson will also be given another shot to prove he can start at corner for the Texans.

At the very least, Harris gives the Texans much-needed depth in the secondary. At best, Harris starts for the Texans and gives them someone who can defend receivers one on one.

Grade: A-

Rashad Carmichael- CB Virginia Tech

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MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 03: Coby Fleener #82 of the Stanford Cardinal scores a 41-yard tochdown reception in the third quarter against Rashad Carmichael #21 of the Virginia Tech Hokies during the 2011 Discover Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium on January 3, 201

The stockpiling of defensive talent continued as the Texans took Virginia Tech cornerback Rashad Carmichael in the fourth round.

Carmichael is a guy that I had on my radar for the Texans. The Texans took him a round or two earlier than I had figured he would go, but I still think Rashad is a good value in this slot.

Carmichael has all the physical tools you like to see. He runs a 4.4 second 40 yard dash, has a 33.5 inch vertical leap, and at nearly 200 pounds, he won't be pushed around by bigger receivers.

Like Harris, Carmichael is also a guy that has a ton of experience at a high level. After redshirting as a freshman, Carmichael saw solid playing time for the next four years. It was no weak defense he was playing for, either. The defenses that play under Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster put an emphasis on creating turnovers and putting pressure on the offense.

That type of aggressive play is just what the Texans need in their secondary.

Grade: A+

Shiloh Keo- S Idaho

Kevin Terrell/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES - SEPTEMBER 1: Idaho safety Shiloh Keo is fired up before taking the field against USC at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 1, 2007 in Los Angeles, California. The Vandals were defeated by the top-ranked Trojans won 38-10. (Photo

Keo isn't a household name, but outside of his relative obscurity, I don't see a single reason that Keo can't be a big time player in the NFL.

Keo is listed at strong safety and that's probably where he will stay. He stands 5'11" and weighs 219 pounds, giving him plenty of size to really lay the wood to any receiver coming over the middle.

His 4.62 second 40 yard dash will probably also keep him exclusively at strong safety, but there are plenty of much slower strong safeties.

That's not to say that Keo is nothing but a hard hitter. With 358 career tackles at Idaho, he is a sure tackler that is not afraid to come up and play the run. He also had 11 interceptions in his college career, showing that he has some ball skills.

With all these defensive picks, it's clear that new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips had a lot of say in who the Texans selected. Keo is just the type of productive, hard-nosed player that Phillips will be looking for to help turn the Texans defense around.

Grade: A+

TJ Yates- QB North Carolina

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CHAPEL HILL, NC - NOVEMBER 13: T.J. Yates #13 of the North Carolina Tar Heels drops back to throw a pass against the Virginia Tech Hokies during their game at Kenan Stadium on November 13, 2010 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Ge

The Texans waited until the fifth round to take their first offensive player. When they took that first offensive player, they took a quarterback to the surprise of many.

The one they took, TJ Yates of North Carolina, is an intriguing prospect. Yates was much maligned at UNC, but only some of it was warranted. 

In his first three seasons as a starter, Yates had two seasons with more interceptions than touchdowns. In the season where he had more touchdowns than interceptions, his sophomore season, he missed significant time with an injury.

Just when TJ began to turn the corner prior to his senior season, disaster struck for the program. Twelve Tar Heels, including top receiver Greg Little and top running back Shaun Draughn, were being suspending for illegal contact with an agent.

In spite of this chaos, Yates shined as a senior. Yates put up career highs in passing yards, completion percentage and touchdown passes. In total, Yates holds 37 passing records at North Carolina.

The Texans seem to believe that you should always have one quarterback on the roster that you are in the process of developing. With Matt's Leinart's contract up, the Texans are hoping Yates becomes that quarterback.

Grade: B-

I don't have a big problem with the Yates pick, but it gets my lowest grade because there are a ton of questions marks surrounding Yates.

Derek Newton- OT Arkansas State

When you are taking an offensive lineman late in the draft for the sake of depth, you want a guy that gives your team the most flexibility.

The Texans will get that with the selection of Newton, and then some. Newton has prototypical size at 6'5" and 311 pounds. He was First Team All-Sun Belt Conference last season, and he was named Second Team All-Sun Belt Conference as a junior two years ago.

As I alluded to, he gives the Texans a ton of versatility. He was drafted at tackle, but he can also play guard. For the Texans purposes, he will likely see time at both right tackle and right guard.

Newton obviously isn't a big name, but as far as offensive lineman drafted in the seventh round go, he gives the franchise big bang for their buck.

Grade: A-

Cheta Ozougwu- DE/OLB Rice

In this draft, the Texans held the rights to Mr. Irrelevant. That name is given to the last player selected in the draft each year.

The Texans stayed close to home by making Rice's Cheta Ozougwu the 2011 Mr. Irrelevant. Of course, Mr Ozougwu and the Texans are both hoping that he is anything but irrelevant.

Cheta played defensive end at Rice, but will likely play more outside linebacker with the Texans. He doesn't have prototypical size or speed at either position, but he more than makes up for physical shortcomings with heart and effort.

He put up big numbers at Rice with 198 career tackles and 11 sacks, but his status as a "tweener" between defensive end and outside linebacker kept him from moving up any higher on draft boards.

Having played his college football at Rice, you know Ozougwu is highly intelligent. He was also a finalist for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award, given each year to one senior athlete who excels on the field, in the classroom and in the community. As big a gain as Cheta may be on the football field for the Texans, he is just as valuable as an ambassador for the franchise in the community.

Grade: A-

Overall Grade

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 25: Head coach Wade Phillips of the Dallas Cowboys at Cowboys Stadium on October 25, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

As I said in the introduction to this recap, I think the Texans hit it out of the park. It was no secret that the defense needed upgrading, and the Texans addressed those issues early and often.

There are no fewer than four players in this draft that could end up seeing significant playing time next season. I think the Texans will find any way they can to get both Watt and Reed on the field as often as possible.

I also feel like any two out of Harris, Carmichael and Keo will find their way on the field depending on how quickly they acclimate to the speed of the game in the NFL. If the dominoes fall a certain way, all three may find themselves playing a lot.

All of the defensive players being taken shows that Wade Phillips did have a lot of say in who was taken and I think that's a good thing. If the Texans are going to trust Wade to help turn around the defense, they have to allow him to bring in the players necessary to be successful.

Call me a homer, but I don't think the Texans could have done much better in this draft. They didn't over think anything or talk themselves into any big risks. All the while, they continued to stockpile defensive talent.

For their efforts, I give the Texans a solid A grade.