Texans Early Draft and Free Agency Edition

So I slacked off at the end of the season keeping up the blog. I had a post mortem written for the season but never published it.

These Shoes Were Made For Walking
The club made their first major move of the off season by not franchising cornerback Dunta Robinson.

Last year's rumor mill insisted that the Texans offered Robinson around $24 million per year range money. It would have made Robinson one of the top three paid CBs in the league, if I remember correctly. I'm not so sure about the rumor being true. The Texans never wage salary battles in public and never gave any indication of the money D-Rob was offered. Robinson and his agent never said anything either. Robinson was upset over getting the franchise tag not the money offered. I think the $24 million price tag has been repeated enough in the local media and blogosphere that it's taken as fact.

Either way, it changed the dynamics of free agency and the draft. Despite what you may think of him, Robinson was the number one corner on the team and now needs to be replaced. Does the team already have the next starter on the roster with second year player Grover Quin? Does that bump Frenchy up to number one? Or do the Texans make a run at a free agent to start or a high draft pick? Does Fred Bennett come up for air once the team digs him up from underneath the bench? Is Brice McCain ready to move to the nickle slot?

The LT Dream and Other Cast Offs
Some fans live in a fantasy world. Some are clamoring for the Texans to sign future Hall of Famer Ladanian Thomlinson. Forget it. It's not happening.

I have a friend that wants to sign every cast off free agent for the Texans. His football knowledge is that of a newly arrived immigrant who has never seen the game before. My friend's choices would collectively add five or more years to the Texans average age.

Owner Bob McNair publicly stated the Texans free agent policy for this year. He has mandated that the Texans not sign any old veterans on the downside of their careers. He wants young players that improve the team now and for years beyond.

So my friend and other fans can clamor all they want. McNair signs the checks. What he says goes.

Future Features
I'm about to enter a project at work that may take up to six weeks. I'm blocking out March 1 to April 15 and possibly beyond.

What I plan to do on my little bit of down time is feature a potential draft pick I think the Texans could take a look at.

Alan Burge, of the Houston Examiner, is running a feature on his blog called Texans Draft Watch. I don't plan on featuring any players he highlights unless I can add to Burge's take.

Until next time...