Why I'm all in on Rick Smith

[dennehy]

Rick Smith's drafting record is top 7 or 8, perhaps better, if you actually look at what other teams' drafts look like. People tend to overestimate how well teams in general draft. You could argue that PIT, TEN, BAL, SF, KC, perhaps a few others have drafted better than Smith, but he is well above average. Here's a team you could field with his draft choices, including 3 UDFAs over his tenure:
QB: Watson, Case Keenum

C: Ben Jones, 10 year starter

G: Brandon Brooks, 10 year starter 3x pro bowl; Nick Martin 5 year starter (whole career)

T: Duane Brown, 4x PB, 1x AP; Julian Davenport or Derek Newton, meh.

TE: Ryan Griffen and Garrett Graham, meh.

WR: Hopkins, Fuller, Jacoby Jones meh after that.

RB: Arian Foster, Alfred Blue, Ben Tate, Steve Slaton

DL: Watt, DJ Reader, Chris Covington, Earl Mitchell, Carlos Watkins, Amobi Okoye

Edge: Clowney, Whitney Mercilus, Connor Barwin, Brooks Reed

LB: Bernie Mckinney, Zach Cunningham, Brian Cushing

S: Kareem Jackson, Glover Quin, DJ Swearinger

CB: AJ Bouye, Kevin Johnson, Brice McCain

There are definite holes there - CB, TE, RT, maybe LB. But you aren't going to find many teams that are too much better than that build just on a draft over 11 years.

 

[Dejo]

Rick Smith seems like he is not ready to come back yet

 

[Bears4Ever_34]

Doesn't sound like he's interested in the job otherwise we would have heard his name as someone the Bears interviewed. Heard a lot of smoke early that there was mutual interest, but absolutely nothing since.

If he wanted to get back in, he would have been my first choice.

 

[dennehy]

Yeah I agree he probably doesn't want to come back.

 

[Bearly]

I'm good with him at GM but his drafting prowess is overstated.

Ranking Rick Smith's Eleven Houston Texans NFL Draft Classes

Yesterday, we tried to quantify the magnitude of the roster-build that the new Houston Texans general manager, whoever he will be, is undertaking. It's not going to be easy. One thing, though, that the new Texans' GM won't have to worry about is living up to an unattainable standard from...

www.houstonpress.com

 

[dennehy]

I'm good with him at GM but his drafting prowess is overstated.

Ranking Rick Smith's Eleven Houston Texans NFL Draft Classes

Yesterday, we tried to quantify the magnitude of the roster-build that the new Houston Texans general manager, whoever he will be, is undertaking. It's not going to be easy. One thing, though, that the new Texans' GM won't have to worry about is living up to an unattainable standard from...

www.houstonpress.com

Compared to who? He's very clearly a top 10 drafter if you actually compare his drafts to other organizations.

 

[Midway Monsters]

His overall record is below .500. We sure love mediocrity.

 

[Bearly]

Compared to who? He's very clearly a top 10 drafter if you actually compare his drafts to other organizations.

From the article:
The seven Texan draft picks given second contracts who weren't first rounders are:

2007, Jacoby Jones (3rd round)
2010, Garrett Graham (4th round)
2011, Derek Newton (7th round)
2013, Ryan Griffin (6th round)
2014, C.J. Fiedorowicz (3rd round)
2014, Jay Prosch (6th round)
2014, Andre Hal (7th round)

That list is not exactly a case study in sound decision making. Among the non-first round draftees that the Texans let walk in free agency, Barwin, Quin, and Brooks have all been named to at least one Pro Bowl. The above listed group of non-first round draftees have been named to.... well, no need to pile on.

He's above average due to hitting on a couple 1st round gems for where selected like Hopkins and Watson but that Watson pick has also become debatable. I'd be OK if he were the new GM but just think his drafting prowess is overstated.

 

[dennehy]

From the article:
The seven Texan draft picks given second contracts who weren't first rounders are:

2007, Jacoby Jones (3rd round)
2010, Garrett Graham (4th round)
2011, Derek Newton (7th round)
2013, Ryan Griffin (6th round)
2014, C.J. Fiedorowicz (3rd round)
2014, Jay Prosch (6th round)
2014, Andre Hal (7th round)

That list is not exactly a case study in sound decision making. Among the non-first round draftees that the Texans let walk in free agency, Barwin, Quin, and Brooks have all been named to at least one Pro Bowl. The above listed group of non-first round draftees have been named to.... well, no need to pile on.

He's above average due to hitting on a couple 1st round gems for where selected like Hopkins and Watson but that Watson pick has also become debatable. I'd be OK if he were the new GM but just think his drafting prowess is overstated.

i read the article last week. If you just go by who he drafted, which is the topic under discussion, he is a top drafter.

 

[Bearly]

i read the article last week. If you just go by who he drafted, which is the topic under discussion, he is a top drafter.

That 3rd party disagrees.

 

[BaBaBlacksheep]

Why is anyone all in when he’s not even interviewing? Or has something changed?

 

[Chicagosports89]

From the article:
The seven Texan draft picks given second contracts who weren't first rounders are:

2007, Jacoby Jones (3rd round)
2010, Garrett Graham (4th round)
2011, Derek Newton (7th round)
2013, Ryan Griffin (6th round)
2014, C.J. Fiedorowicz (3rd round)
2014, Jay Prosch (6th round)
2014, Andre Hal (7th round)

That list is not exactly a case study in sound decision making. Among the non-first round draftees that the Texans let walk in free agency, Barwin, Quin, and Brooks have all been named to at least one Pro Bowl. The above listed group of non-first round draftees have been named to.... well, no need to pile on.

He's above average due to hitting on a couple 1st round gems for where selected like Hopkins and Watson but that Watson pick has also become debatable. I'd be OK if he were the new GM but just think his drafting prowess is overstated.

Deshaun watson pick doesn't become debatable at all in my opinion. That was something that could have never been seen coming. He was always viewed as high character and his on field play is undeniable

 

[Bearly]

Deshaun watson pick doesn't become debatable at all in my opinion. That was something that could have never been seen coming. He was always viewed as high character and his on field play is undeniable

Wasn't a major point. Said he was a gem of a pick. Some have already debated it. Is it any different than getting a fail from an injury a player didn't have in college like White? Article was written before Watson's problems so not part of his evaluation..

 

[dentfan]

Why is anyone all in when he’s not even interviewing? Or has something changed?

Last I heard, he was scheduled to interview this week.

Am I wrong? Did anything change?

 

[ThatGuyRyan]

Last I heard, he was scheduled to interview this week.

Am I wrong? Did anything change?

I don’t think he ever said he was or was not interviewing but I can’t say I’ve seen anything definitive either way

 

[Midwaymonster75]

You don't hear whispers dude. You aren't a reporter.

Hes so full of shit. Whispers? Smiths wife died of cancer and this is all common knowledge. What an idiot poster??

 

[Anytime23]

Rick Smith's drafting record is top 7 or 8, perhaps better, if you actually look at what other teams' drafts look like. People tend to overestimate how well teams in general draft. You could argue that PIT, TEN, BAL, SF, KC, perhaps a few others have drafted better than Smith, but he is well above average. Here's a team you could field with his draft choices, including 3 UDFAs over his tenure:
QB: Watson, Case Keenum

C: Ben Jones, 10 year starter

G: Brandon Brooks, 10 year starter 3x pro bowl; Nick Martin 5 year starter (whole career)

T: Duane Brown, 4x PB, 1x AP; Julian Davenport or Derek Newton, meh.

TE: Ryan Griffen and Garrett Graham, meh.

WR: Hopkins, Fuller, Jacoby Jones meh after that.

RB: Arian Foster, Alfred Blue, Ben Tate, Steve Slaton

DL: Watt, DJ Reader, Chris Covington, Earl Mitchell, Carlos Watkins, Amobi Okoye

Edge: Clowney, Whitney Mercilus, Connor Barwin, Brooks Reed

LB: Bernie Mckinney, Zach Cunningham, Brian Cushing

S: Kareem Jackson, Glover Quin, DJ Swearinger

CB: AJ Bouye, Kevin Johnson, Brice McCain

There are definite holes there - CB, TE, RT, maybe LB. But you aren't going to find many teams that are too much better than that build just on a draft over 11 years.

People love to celebrate Pace drafting Monty. Smith found Foster as a UDFA. But great post. People usually just mention his big 3 draftees. This is definitely a better look into what he has done.

Also, dont forget about Demeco Ryans.

 

[AustinIllini]

If Rick Smith is hired by the Bears, I'm not mad about it.

That's the best I can say about him. He was solid with Houston although he didn't get a QB until late in his tenure, when personal reasons kept him from staying on.

 

[dennehy]

People love to celebrate Pace drafting Monty. Smith found Foster as a UDFA. But great post. People usually just mention his big 3 draftees. This is definitely a better look into what he has done.

Also, dont forget about Demeco Ryans.

I think Demeco was before Smith. He was drafted in 06, same as Mario Wlliams.

 

[Anytime23]

I think Demeco was before Smith. He was drafted in 06, same as Mario Wlliams.

That was his first year.