Some don't need explanation and some might jog some good feelings when you see their names
The 11 best draft picks in Texans history
Apr 24, 2019, 6:56 am
Zach Tarrant/Houstontexans.com
If you missed the 11 worst and feel like a glutton for punishment those can be found here.
Chester Pitts - 50th overall 2002
These days Chester Pitts might be seen on your TV or shaking hands to curry favor for his inevitable mayoral campaign but before all that he was one of the Texans earliest picks. He's also one of the more successful ones too. He still holds the Texans record for consecutive starts checking in at 114 straight.
Andre Johnson - 3rd overall - 2003
This doesn't need much explanation.
DeMeco Ryans - 33rd overall - 2006
The best pick of the 2006 draft for the Texans. Ryans was a steadying force in the middle of the Texans defense for years. He's the Texans all-time leader in solo tackles and second all-time in franchise history in total tackles. Plus, he punked Jeremy Shockey not once, but twice in a Texans uniform so that's a thumbs up in my book.
Owen Daniels - 98th overall - 2006
I almost went with Eric Winston but I figured the tight end spot was more important than the right tackle spot. Daniels is third all-time in team history in receiving yards and touchdowns. He was one of the most important players on some of the best Texans teams and caught some of the biggest touchdowns in team history. All that for a fourth round pick is pretty darn good.
Duane Brown - 26th overall - 2008
Duane Brown is probably the best offensive lineman to ever play for the Texans. He held down the left tackle spot for the team from almost the day he arrived. The ending was messy but the time he was here the Texans consistently had one of the better players at the left tackle spot. He was an anchor for the best seasons in Texans history.
Brian Cushing - 15th overall - 2009
Brian Cushing wasn't who I wanted or thought the Texans should take in 2009. I was hoping for Jeremy Maclin to pair with Andre Johnson. Cushing ended up being the right pick for the Texans. He played well alongside DeMeco Ryans and took over when Ryans departed for Philidelphia. He was the 2009 Rookie of the Year and a two-time All-Pro (2nd team). He is the franchise leader in tackles.
J.J. Watt - 11th overall - 2011
The Texans almost traded up for Patrick Peterson. They wanted Aldon Smith. Thanks in large part to Wade Phillips they drafted one of the most dominant defensive players ever. Enough said.
Whitney Mercilus - 26th overall - 2012
He's the second-best pass rusher in team history. He is also an example of a guy blossoming a few years into his career as he got a second contract and paid it off with huge years 2015 and 2016.
DeAndre Hopkins - 27th overall - 2013
He's the best offensive player in team history.
Deshaun Watson - 12th overall - 2017
Sure, it cost a lot to move up and make it happen but the Texans finally secured what looks to be a dynamic and incredible quarterback. He's got so much room to improve too. It's scary how good he can be.
Justin Reid - 68th overall - 2018
I am prepared to defend this one but also take criticism for this selection as well. There are a lot of arguments for this final slot including Reid's 2018 teammate Andre Hal as well as D.J. Reader and even former Texans lineman Brandon Brooks. Reid put together one of the best seasons for a rookie the team has seen and he did it all with first round expectations despite being a third round selection.
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So where does one turn now in Houston for mediocre, overpriced salsa? I kid, I kid. While wondering if Breggy Baked Beans are on the horizon. Congrats to Alex Bregman and agent Scott Boras for landing an on its face outlandish three-year 120-million dollar contract with the Boston Red Sox. With deferred money part of the deal the contract will be valuated in the neighborhood of “only” three years 90 million. Would Bregman have taken that from the Astros if offered? The Astros’ six-year 156-million dollar proposal was 26 mil per season. Bregman has the right to opt out after each of the first two seasons of his BoSox deal. If his decline (while still a very good player) of the last two seasons continues, or even if he holds steady, there is near zero chance of Bregman opting out unless he hates life in New England. At the end of the three years, will Bregman be able to land a three-year 66 million-dollar deal when he’s about to turn 34 years old? That plus the 90 mil with deferrals accounted for in his new deal would total 156 million. Massachusetts taxes personal income of just over a million dollars and upward at a nine percent rate. Playing half his games in the Bay State, Bregman will pay Massachusetts tax on half his salary.
Reminders...
Bregman obviously had an excellent Astros’ career, among non-pitchers he is top 10 all-time, but the excellence was frontloaded. Over Bregman’s first three big seasons he compiled a .289 batting average and .924 OPS. Elite numbers. Over the five seasons since: .261 and .795. Good, nothing legendary. After his monster MVP runner-up 2019 season (stats aided by the juiced balls of that season) Bregman was on a strong early Hall of Fame track. Now not so much, without some offensive resurgence. Fenway Park should suit Bregman well. He’ll bang singles and doubles off of the Green Monster, though the much higher than Crawford Boxes wall will not goose his home run numbers. In his time with the Astros Bregman mashed at Fenway with a .375 batting average and 1.240 OPS. That’s in a statistically not very significant 98 regular season plate appearances.
It is myth that Bregman in the postseason was some relentless hitting machine. He posted phenomenal numbers over seven Division Series batting .333 with an OPS over 1.000. Over 68 American League Championship Series and World Series games: batting average .196, OPS sub-.700.
For his career, Bregman’s worst month of performance by far has been April (plus any days in March, .737 OPS). In 2024 Bregman was baseball garbage into mid-May. Should a typical slow start happen again, we’ll see what the Fenway faithful patience level is. By far, Bregman’s best batting month has been August (.992 OPS). As it works out, both Astros-Red Sox series are in August this year. First in Boston August 1-3 then in Houston August 11-13.
Who's on third?
Over the last two seasons combined, new Astros’ third baseman Isaac Paredes has been as good offensively as Bregman. That includes Paredes pretty much stinking for two months in Chicago after being dealt from the Rays to the Cubs. Paredes, who turns 26 years old on Tuesday, was an AL All-Star last season. Bregman, who turns 31 March 30, was last an All-Star in 2019. The defensive drop-off from Bregman to Paredes is a fairly steep one.
There is no question that Bregman’s official departure weakens the Astros via a domino effect. Had Bregman wound up staying here, Paredes would have shifted to second base with Jose Altuve primarily in left field. Now, 600-plus plate appearances that Bregman would have taken project to be divided among Mauricio Dubon, Ben Gamel, Zach Dezenzo, and others. That projects as a substantial offensive downgrade. The lineup net result of the Astros’ offseason is negative. Christian Walker and Paredes joining the infield in lieu of Jon Singleton and Bregman is fine. Kyle Tucker out, hodge-podge in in the outfield, oh boy.
Alex Bregman is an unquestioned gamer, leader, and would seem to have the temperament to take well to the more intense baseball environment of Boston relative to that in Houston. Yankee fans should reeeeally love him now!
New beginnings
Considering baseball wasn’t invented until more than a century later, the poet Alexander Pope did not have baseball in mind when in 1732 he wrote “Hope springs eternal (in the human breast).” It works though. Other than the Chicago White Sox and Colorado Rockies, Major League teams have convened in Florida or Arizona thinking if things break right this could be their year! I’d probably put the Miami Marlins in with the ChiSox and Rockies. Many Astros’ fans are strongly disgruntled over the departures of Bregman and Kyle Tucker. This team still has “gruntlement” potential. The batting order appears Morganna-level (Google as necessary) top heavy, but one through five stacks well versus most other lineups. In the American League only the Mariners, Yankees, and maybe Royals have starting pitching rotations that should rate above the Astros’ rotation. Let the countdown to Opening Day begin!
Spring training is up and running. Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and me for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday. Click here to catch!
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