With just two games remaining, including one against the 11-3 Denver Broncos, the 2-12 Houston Texans are quickly zeroing in on the first pick of the 2014 NFL Draft.
And as badly as they may need a quarterback, at least one Houston pundit is endorsing a Texans pass on Louisville junior Teddy Bridgewater, who could be the first quarterback chosen if he declares for early draft eligibility. Instead, Chris Baldwin of culturemap.com sees another yet-to-declare junior, South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, as the smart move.
Despite all the question marks that have piled up throughout Clowney's underproductive junior year, Baldwin sees things this way:
"Believing Bridgewater instantly transforms the Texans borders on the type of delusional thinking that would get one institutionalized on Homeland. Two NFL draft analysts have already come out and said they don't consider Bridgewater a top-10 talent, even though the Louisville quarterback is sure to go in the Top 5 of the draft. Do you really want to reach with the No. 1 overall pick? Especially considering how many other needs these free-falling Texans have."
Baldwin suggests the Texans would be better off to first draft an impact player at a different position, and pick up a quality quarterback with a later pick. And for teams who believe this quarterback class lacks a franchise-caliber prospect at the position, it's a logical notion. There are plenty of teams in need of a quarterback, but as NFL Media senior analyst Gil Brandt noted last week, "Pretty good depth in the pool; I'm just not sure how many will still be swimming two years from now."
Nevertheless, NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah sees the Texans, be it Bridgewater or someone else, drafting a quarterback at No. 1. The question the Texans must answer is whether there will be one with as much potential when they pick again as high as No. 33.
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread.*
