The Houston Texans have had three No. 1 overall picks to kickoff the NFL Draft, the most by any team since 2002.
Luke Easterling, managing editor of the Draft Wire, took a look at every No. 1 overall pick since 1970 and ranked them. Where exactly do the Texans’ selection rank since the AFL-NFL merger?
The task of ranking the last 50 No. 1 overall picks is challenging, and ours starts with a pair of players who weren’t necessarily the worst players, but whose circumstances paid absolutely no dividends for the teams that drafted them (Bo Jackson, Tom Cousineau). Only seven have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, though a tandem of brothers is sure to grow that list in the coming years.
David Carr, the first ever draft pick in Texans history, ranked No. 40. The former Fresno State Bulldog’s tenure got off to a promising start with a 19-10 win over the Dallas Cowboys at then-Reliant Stadium, but it was a disaster after that. 2004 and 2005 were the only seasons Carr had more touchdowns than interceptions, and he never crested the 20-touchdown mark in a season. Carr left Houston after the 2006 season 22-53 record and 249 sacks taken.
Jadeveon Clowney was the next to represent the Texans at No. 20. The first pick of the Bill O’Brien era, the hybrid defensive end-outside linebacker never played up to the potential that carrying the title of No. 1 overall pick implies. Other members of the draft class, including the Los Angeles Rams’ Aaron Donald and the Chicago Bears’ Khalil Mack, have had much more profound impacts on the game. Clowney did make the Pro Bowl for three straight seasons from 2016-18. The former South Carolina Gamecock wasn’t a bust, but he wouldn’t go No. 1 overall in a redraft.
Mario Williams was the last Texans selection to make the list at No. 16. Williams, who was the first selection of the Gary Kubiak era, was a conservative pick considering running back Reggie Bush went the very next selection and quarterback Vince Young the pick thereafter. Williams would earn two Pro Bowls with Houston before being phased out due to Wade Phillips’ 3-4 scheme implemented in 2011.
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