Why didn't we get the DE in the Draft?

[NBT]

I know we had bigger fish to fry in the first, third, and fourth rounds, and DT Okam will be a good addition to the DL, but I was dissappointed we did not, and have not to my knowledge, done anything about DE in the so-called 8th round, where undrafted players are sought after. Maybe they think Weaver will finally be healthy. What do you think?

[diddykong466]

thats the only dissapointment that i had about this draft. I loved the picks but i thought a pass rushing DE was a huge weakness in this draft so can't blame them..

[zanth91]

I call Anthony Weaver 12 sacks! :p

[diddykong466]

hahah ya and jameel cook will have 1200 yds rushing this season lol

[zanth91]

hahah ya and jameel cook will have 1200 yds rushing this season lol

We resign DD (DW) and he rushes for 1800 yds and 22 TD's.

[Towlie]

Can you think of any that do not have character issues???

[edo783]

My guess is that they didn't see anyone that could/would do better than ND Kalu or Cochran.

[infantrycak]

My guess is that they didn't see anyone that could/would do better than ND Kalu or Cochran.

That pretty much sums it up. Those guys didn't rack stats but were both disruptive. Cochran still has upside to realize. Kalu has tremendous burst as a limited time player.

[DiehardChris]

I wonder what the hold up is in signing Cochran? I guess when a player is an exclusive rights FA, there's no reason to rush? I dunno. I think the previous comments are right on - nobody availble better than Chochran, so why burn the draft pick?

[doodyps]

Didnt we pick up an UDFA DE from Colorado or something a few hours after the draft? also, i agree with everyone else here, there wasnt much talent to choose from in this draft, even the 1st round picks were pretty mediocre. Also, chaun thompson might come in and fill that role, at least on passing downs. isnt he like 270+ lbs?

[Texan Naija]

I don't know much about what it takes for guys to change positions, but could one of our LBs or any other player be converted into a DE?

[Towlie]

I don't know much about what it takes for guys to change positions, but could one of our LBs or any other player be converted into a DE?

Chuan Thompson can drop at end... he is suppose to be a faster Orr, i don't believe that...

[foozball]

there really werent any DE's to be had outside the 2nd round this year

[diddykong466]

how would u guys feel about trading away our 3rd and 6th next yr for jason taylor?? jus outta curiosity.

I have a strong belief in having 2 studs at DE"s because thats what makes a Defense strong, and Strong defenses = superbowl wins..

[CrisR]

I didn't like the sound of it at first but the more I thought about it the more trading for Jayson Taylor would make sense for us. Taylor probably has 3 or 4 good years left in him. Taylor would be a great pass rusher on the opposite of Mario. Plus being 6-6 himself he might have a few tips that could help Mario with leverage not to mention his years of experience.

Taylor would probably cost us a conditional draft pick.....call it a 2nd that could become a 1st if he has double digit sacks. Taylor's deal is expensive right now, 18 million over the next 2, however if we got him to sign a encentive laden 4 year 18 million in gauranteed money.

The better pass rush we have the better our secondary will be.

The first time I heard this thought I was all against it, that said the more I thought about it the more I liked the idea.

[CrisR]

Taylor has mentioned retirement........but heck I would to if I got treated that way by my team after suffering through some of the seasons he has.

Taylor is getting up there..........that said he has 3 or 4 years left in the tank. Being on a up and coming team with a shot at the playoffs might be exactly what he needs.

If Taylor could come in and have 3 productive years for us he would be well worth a 2nd round pick.

[greedimidi]

taylor sounds real good. the problem is, does he want to play for houston? i would imagine that at his age, he would want to play for a superbowl contender. but i will take taylor in houston any day

[CrisR]

I think Taylors 1st choice is the Cowboys. After all Zach Thomas plays there now and Thoms is Taylor's brother in law........I don't see the Cowboys being a good fit though.

Texans could compete for the Super Bowl.........but we might finish 7-9 we don't know until the games are played. Playing opposite Mario might be nice for both guys, playing with an up and coming team would be nice for him and playing in a place where he is wanted would be another big deal.

[3andOUT]

I know we had bigger fish to fry in the first, third, and fourth rounds, and DT Okam will be a good addition to the DL, but I was dissappointed we did not, and have not to my knowledge, done anything about DE in the so-called 8th round, where undrafted players are sought after. Maybe they think Weaver will finally be healthy. What do you think?

I hear nothing but good things about Weaver. Some important people think he's ready for a big season. He played with some pretty tough injuries last year

[NBT]

That must be what the front office is thinking too. A healthy Weaver would be a plus. Cochran is still a question mark. They had a rookie last year, DelJuan robinson who was on the P.S. all year until the last game when they put him on the active squad. All I know about him is he is long and rangy. Hopefully someone in this group will emerge.

Jason Taylor at 34, is just too long in the tooth to even think about giving up a 2nd, much less a 3rd and a 6th. And he doesn't want to play here, so it is a moot point anyway.

[Buckle]

Chuan Thompson can drop at end... he is suppose to be a faster Orr, i don't believe that...


CHAUN THOMPSON
Line Backer West Texas A&M, 2003 NFL Draft 2nd Round pick Cleveland Browns.
ESPN.com:
"Lesser-known athletes prove they belong."
"In one of the premier workouts of the week, Thompson clocked a 4.53 time in the 40, posted a 35 1/2 inch vertical jump and a 10-feet 1 inch broad jump, had excellent times in the various change of direction drills and pumped up 29 repetitions on the standard 225-pound bench press. Almost as important, he weighed in at 240 pounds, and not the scrawny 220 pounds some scouts feared he might."

SportsIllustrated.com:
"The highlight of the session was a small-school prospect: Chaun Thompson of West Texas A&M. Timed faster than any linebacker who ran, Thompson showed scouts tremendous athleticism and was very effective during the drill segment. High on their list of sleepers, scouts already were impressed with Thompson after he totaled 29 repetitions of 225 pounds on the bench press Sunday."

http://www.playfast.net/pfa_clients/media.php

Orr only ran a 4.6 40 yard dash!
http://media.www.michigandaily.com/media/storage/paper851/news/2003/01/16/Sports/Orrs-Decision.To.Leave.Should.Not.Bother.Fans-1415008.shtml

Plus the 4.53 40 by Thompson was when he weighed 240, I am sure if we got him to drop 10-15 pounds then he should get a little quicker than that. Either way they are both fast LB's. I was very interested in Chaun when he came out and hoped that the Texans would draft him, then the Browns took him but by chance we ended up getting him after all!!

[TEXANBRONCO]

no guys....what we need is what Kubiak brings us.......young/mean/and hungry to win it all....woooooohooooooo

[Pardee Time]

CHAUN THOMPSON
Line Backer West Texas A&M, 2003 NFL Draft 2nd Round pick Cleveland Browns.
ESPN.com:
"Lesser-known athletes prove they belong."
"In one of the premier workouts of the week, Thompson clocked a 4.53 time in the 40, posted a 35 1/2 inch vertical jump and a 10-feet 1 inch broad jump, had excellent times in the various change of direction drills and pumped up 29 repetitions on the standard 225-pound bench press. Almost as important, he weighed in at 240 pounds, and not the scrawny 220 pounds some scouts feared he might."

SportsIllustrated.com:
"The highlight of the session was a small-school prospect: Chaun Thompson of West Texas A&M. Timed faster than any linebacker who ran, Thompson showed scouts tremendous athleticism and was very effective during the drill segment. High on their list of sleepers, scouts already were impressed with Thompson after he totaled 29 repetitions of 225 pounds on the bench press Sunday."

http://www.playfast.net/pfa_clients/media.php

Orr only ran a 4.6 40 yard dash!
http://media.www.michigandaily.com/media/storage/paper851/news/2003/01/16/Sports/Orrs-Decision.To.Leave.Should.Not.Bother.Fans-1415008.shtml

Plus the 4.53 40 by Thompson was when he weighed 240, I am sure if we got him to drop 10-15 pounds then he should get a little quicker than that. Either way they are both fast LB's. I was very interested in Chaun when he came out and hoped that the Texans would draft him, then the Browns took him but by chance we ended up getting him after all!!

dam..those are some impressive numbers. if he keeps weight, I think he'd be ideal at DE. Also to keep in mind is there is still a round of cap casualties that could yield a starting DE

[outofhnd]

I think we brought him in to possibly replace clark. Adibi will eventually supplant greenwood either by competition or if at worst when greenwood's contract expires or expires enough that its not a brutal cap hit to cut him.