Fourth round pick (135th overall) - Tom Savage: 6'4 and 230 QB Pittsburgh



http://espn.go.com/blog/minnesota-vikings/post/_/id/6557/experts-take-tom-savage

"Longtime NFL scout Gil Brandt, who drafted Troy Aikman with the Dallas Cowboys in 1989, compared Savage to him last fall, and according to NFL draft wonk Tony Pauline, the New England Patriots are referring to Savage as "Tom #2," for the comparisons he evokes to Tom Brady."

I like the pick because he has a lot of upside. We waited so long to draft a quarterback but glad he fell down. Bill O'Brien can coach him up. He doesn't have to start right away and can sit and learn. I think Ryan Fitzpatrick or Case Keenum will start Week 1 of 2014 unless this rookie beats both of them out in training camp.

He's raw as hell. He does have a big arm though.

Gil Brandt's comparison to Troy Aikman was interesting. He was also 6'4 and 230, maybe a few pounds less coming out.
Now all he needs is an Emmitt Smith Michael Irvin, greatest offensive line in NFL history, Jay Novacek and Alvin Harper. LOL
Bill O'Brien mentioned a few weeks ago that he wanted a quarterback with Tom Brady like qualities. Maybe he has them.

Sixth round pick (177th overall) - Jeoffrey Pagan: 6'3 and 310 DE Alabama



If this guy becomes legit we could have found our future defensive right end. Our three-man front: J.J. Watt, Louis Nix and Jeoffrey Pagan with Jadeveon Clowney. Brian Cushing, Brooks Reed and Whitney Mercilus at linebackers. That's when we're playing a base 3-4 defense. I like Jeoffrey Pagan's bigger weight and athleticism compared to the 285-pound Jared Crick.

By the way, Zach Mettenberger was drafted by the Titans? Oh yeah. Not the most mobile guy. Our defense would hit him a ton.

Sixth round pick (181st overall) - Alfred Blue: 6'2 and 223 RB LSU



He'll probably battle Dennis Johnson for the third-string RB spot behind Arian Foster and Andre Brown. Alfred Blue battled many injuries at LSU so it's tough to project his future in the pros. The Texans must have been high on him. He's going to be one of those big backs with wide receiver type of size so it will be interesting to see.

Mike Mayock analysis: A physically gifted runner who would have been the No. 1 back at most schools given his combination of size, speed, power and competitiveness. Is a second-round talent on talent alone, but injuries and a stacked stable of LSU runners limited Blue’s opportunity to shine. Scheme-versatile runner who is a prime candidate to elevate his stock prior to the draft and be a far more productive pro than college player if he proves he can stay healthy.

I'm a little concerned because while the Texans will have talented backs (Foster, Brown and now Blue) all of them are injury prone. I guess you don't expect too much out of a sixth-round pick so he can only be a major plus if he pans out. Dennis Johnson is the one running back we have who can stay healthy and he went undrafted last year out of Arkansas.

The last three draft picks for the Texans...





Sixth round pick (211th overall) - Jay Prosch: 6'1 and 256 FB Auburn



Seventh round pick (216th overall) - Dre Hal: 5'11 and 190 CB Vanderbilt



Seventh round pick (Mr. Irrelevant 256th overall) - Lonnie Ballentine: 6'3 and 230 S Memphis

I like the fullback and safety. Great size on both. Looks like Jay Prosch is a muscle bound gym rat but he can play the fullback position - blocks well, catches out of the backfield and likely can gain a yard in short yardage situations. Dre Hal may have a chance to make the team because our depth at cornerback isn't great. Lonnie Ballentine looks athletic for his size. Major hops on the guy and a former basketball player.

Bill O'Brien might have put together a solid draft during his first year as head coach. Four or five potential starters, in my opinion. A number of these guys may start as rookies. I may even be underselling how many of them could become starters. Six of them starting wouldn't shock me. I guess when you're a 2-14 team you have room for improvement in many areas.

This post was edited by Madmartigan on May 10 2014 06:11pm

This might be our best draft of all time. Love this draft.

http://www.battleredblog.com/2014/4/17/5623640/the-film-room-why-vanderbilts-andre-hal-is-the-best-corner-in-the

Brett Kollman, who works at NFLN, posted this back in April, and we got him. Excited about him.

Jadeveon Clowney. Xavier Su'a-Filo. CJ Fiedorowicz. Louis Nix III. Tom Savage. Jeofrry Pagan. Alfred Blue. Jay Prosch. Andre Hal. Lonnie Ballentine.

That's 6 potential starters this year. Savage will sit. Blue will be the 3rd RB. Hal might be the nickel corner. Ballentine will have to compete with about a million safeties on this team, but he should be able to beat Keo.

He's actually listed at 6-1 on some sites but I think he was 5-11 barefooted at the combine. The football cleats probably make him about 6'1 on the field. Either way he's athletic and good enough to make the team. I think he changed his first name to Dre Hal from Andre Hal. That safety we picked as Mr. Irrelevant is so freakishly athletic. He had NBA aspirations but decided to focus on football. He can get up high and knock passes down or intercept them.

I would love to see LG Xavier Su'a-Filo, TE C.J. Fiedorowicz and FB Jay Prosch starting from day one. All three of those guys are freaks on the field. Big and strong. The type of players Bill O'Brien was looking for. If you look at most of our picks in this draft all of them are big and physical. Even the offensive players.