With coach Bill O’Brien now the general manager of the Houston Texans, there was a perception that he would unilaterally make the decisions for the team in the 2020 NFL Draft.
According to O’Brien, he was part of a team, seeking to build consensus for every selection, every transaction in the draft.
“We just have a great team of people,” O’Brien told reporters after the conclusion of the draft on Saturday. “We make decisions that are formed around a consensus. I think really that’s Bob McNair [late founder], that’s the way he wanted it, that’s the way [chairman and CEO] Cal McNair wants it, and that’s what we try to do.”
O’Brien has a team around him that sees it almost the same way that the seventh-year coach does. Jack Easterby, the executive vice president of football operations, comes from the New England Patriots’ system, the same as O’Brien. Kevin Krajcovic, the director of football administration, has been with the organization as long as O’Brien has. Then, Matt Bazirgan, the director of player personnel, and James Liipfert, director of college scouting, have been with the organization since 2018.
The Texans made all five of their picks, executed their three trades, all by consensus.
“We have a great team here,” O’Brien said. “I’ve said it and I’ll say it over and over. I really mean it.”
When the team is able to commence their offseason program, the fruits of the front office team’s consensus will manifest as they evaluate their 90-man roster.