Draft day is finally here and the Texans control the first overall selection tonight. Not surprisingly, they’re seeking a king’s ransom in trade for the first overall pick: a swap of first-rounders, a second and third this year and a 2015 first-rounder, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter).
In other Texans news, notes and rumors:
- Aside from the uncertainty about if/how Johnny Manziel’s game will translate to the NFL and if his celebrity will get the best of him, there’s another aspect of his draft prospect that adds to the intrigue: public relations. As evidenced by CBS’ Gregg Doyel’s column and the opinion of Wade Phillips in USA Today, the pressure cooker that is Texas football will be unforgiving if Manziel becomes a superstar somewhere besides Houston.
- McClain believes the Texans will attempt to parlay the first pick of the second round into multiple picks (via Twitter).
- If the Texans plan is to trade down and target Blake Bortles, the Central Florida QB doesn’t know about it, writes McClain.
- Given head coach Bill O’Brien’s past with the Patriots, known for their use of technology and analytics, the Texans are expected to incorporate similar strategies, writes Stephanie Stradley in the Houston Chronicle.