Teams that build properly through the draft, in practically any sport, are the teams that typically sustain long term success. Building the foundation for a roster in any sport typically means indoctrinating your core players from the outset of their professional careers. Hitting on high draft picks matters the most, as certainly the Rockets and Texans will attest with their current rosters.
The Texans' franchise axis tilted back toward success once the team drafted C.J. Stroud with the second overall pick in 2023, and then minutes later, trade up to the third overall pick for Will Anderson, Jr. Those two will be the faces of the team for another decade.
However, it's the picks after the first and second round that provide the cement slab of the foundation beneath the glitzy mansion structure that Stroud and Anderson represent. You have to hit on picks in the third round and beyond, and maybe even sign a few nice undrafted players, too, in order to be construct an elite roster.
To that end, here are the five best value draft decisions that the Houston Texans have made in their 23 season history:
5. DJ READER, DT,, 5th round (166the overall) in 2016Reader was drafted in the fifth round of the 2016 draft, but probably had a talent level much higher than his draft slot. In college, at Clemson, he missed some time after the passing of his father. Once he was drafted to the Texans, he had a season to learn under Vince WIlfork in 2016, and then became a fixture along the defensive line the next three seasons, peaking in 2019 with the 7th best Pro Football Focus grade (86.7) out of over 200 defensive tackles. Reader left in free agency after the season, signing a four-year, $68 million deal with the Cincinnati Bengals.
4. GLOVER QUIN, CB/S, 4th round (112th overall) in 2009Quin came into the league as a cornerback in 2009, out of New Mexico, and struggled most of his first two seasons. He put his name on the map with a three-interception game against the Titans in 2010. The next season, Wade Phillips arrived as the Texans' defensive coordinator, and he moved Quin to safety, where he flourished for the next two seasons, alongside veteran safety Danieal Manning, who signed in free agency on 2011. After 2012, the Texans let Quin leave for the Lions in free agency, where he became a Pro Bowler. Meanwhile, the Texans signed broken down Ed Reed, who essentially stole $5 million in guaranteed money from the McNair family.
3. NICO COLLINS, WR, 3rd round (89the overall) in 2021In his first draft as the Texans' GM, Nick Caserio moved up 20 spots to select Collins, who was over a year removed from playing in a competitive football game, having skipped the 2020 season at Michigan due to the pandemic. It took a couple years for Collins to get untracked, understandable given the lack of talent surrounding him, calling plays, and delivering the football. Once C.J. Stroud arrived, Collins quickly ascended to where he is one of the top ten wide receivers in football. A great value as a third round pick, Collins' $24 million per year contract extension makes him a great value for the NEXT three years.
2. OWEN DANIELS, TE, 4th round (98the overall) in 2006Andre Johnson is a future Hall of Famer. He is the leading receiver in Texans history, in terms of receiving yards. DeAndre Hopkins made multiple Pro Bowls for the Texans. He is second. You know who's third? You guessed it — Owen Daniels! Daniels was a fourth round pick in 2006, out of Wisconsin, and wasted no time making an impact, with five touchdowns as a rookie. Daniels made the Pro Bowl in 2008 and again in 2012, and was a fixture on the Texans' first two division title winning squads. Daniels is easily the best tight end in team history, and it's not even close. He finished his Texans career with 4,617 yards receiving. The next closest tight end is Jordan Akins with 1,755 yards.
1. ARIAN FOSTER, RB, Undrafted Free Agent in 2009The best draft value selection the Texans ever made was a player who wasn't even drafted, but instead signed a contract as an undrafted free agent, after the entire league passed on him in 2009. That would be Arian Foster, whose only real obstacle to all time greatness was his own health. When healthy, there wasn't a better three down back in the league. Foster could run for tough yards between the tackles, break away for long gains, catch the ball, block, and he was a monster near the goal line. Hamstring and back injuries curtailed his playing time, and ultimately an Achilles tear ended his Texans career, but man, was Arian Foster a joy to watch. He is the third best player in franchise history, in my opinion, behind J.J. Watt and Andre Johnson.
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