Colvin has played for the Chicago Bears (1999-2002) and New England Patriots (2003-2007) in his nine NFL seasons, notching 360 tackles and 52.5 sacks.

He is known as a pass-rushing specialist and will be a welcome addition to the defensive push opposite stud end Mario Williams.

In other news, there is one final spot open on the cheerleading squad, and the Texans will leave it up to the fans to decide between three finalists. Kelli has my vote.

In previous years, teams were able to do so with an offensive player (always the quarterback) to enhance communication between the coaches and the offense. Hand signals were no longer needed.

Now the league has leveled the playing field for defenses, enabling coaches to signal to their ‘D’ about how to properly align.

And the chess game begins.

Honestly, I have no idea what this leads to. To be sure, there are a lot of questions that will be answered once the season starts. At the moment, it seems like a good idea, if not to make it fair for all.

It only works until 15 seconds remain on the play clock, just as it does for the offense. That’s interesting, but again, I don’t quite understand the ultimate effect it will have on the game, if any.

It probably puts teams that run the hurry-up offense at a disadvantage, as coaches will be able to call in the new defense to deal with the different formations put out by the opposing offense. Sorry Colts and Pats.

What I do know that is LB Demeco Ryans will be the Houston Texans defender that will be receiving these direct streams. It makes sense, considering he is in the middle of the defense and his Pro Bowl play has warranted him the distinction as the defensive captain.

Without further ado, here’s what the Texans have done with their picks today:

Round 3, Pick 16 (79th overall) - CB Antwuan Molden, Eastern Kentucky. Molden has good size (6′1″, 200) and speed (4.38 40-yard dash). ESPN.com’s scouting report says he would have been a good value pick in the later rounds for a team looking to take a flyer on a small-school player with potential. That said, Molden is probably a work in progress, considering the level of competition he played at in college. CB was a position of need, though, and Houston made sure they got someone to provide depth in the defensive backfield.

Round 3, Pick 26 (89th overall from Baltimore) - RB Steve Slaton, West Virginia. Slaton showed flashes of his big-play ability as a Mountaineer. In his three seasons at West Virginia, Slaton rushed for nearly 4,000 yards and a school-record 50 touchdowns. Slaton s explosive, if nothing else, and with the proper coaching he has the ability to succeed in this league.

Round 4, Pick 19 (118th overall) - LB Xavier Adibi, Virginia Tech. As a senior, Adibi started all 14 games at inside linebacker, notching 115 tackles (12 for losses), three sacks, a forced fumble, two interceptions and five pass breakups. He projects to play the outside alongside Demeco Ryans, providing Houston another playmaker at the linebacker position.

Round 5, Pick 16 (151st overall) - DT Frank Okam, Texas. As a fellow Longhorn, I have had the privilege of watching Okam play the last two years. At times, he has been the most dominant defender on the line, but he sometimes fades out of the picture. As a senior, he started all 13 games, collecting 52 tackles (11 for losses), five sacks, a force fumble and five pass breakups.

Round 6, Pick 7 (173rd overall from Baltimore) - S Dominique Barber, Minnesota. As a senior, he played all 12 games and had a team-high 100 tackles (5.5 for losses), one sack, eight pass breakups, three fumble recoveries, including one returned for a touchdown, and three blocked kicks. Barber is the son of former NFL player Marion Barber II and brother to Dallas Cowboys RB Marion Barber III, so he has good blood lines. I don’t know a whole lot about him, but safety was an obvious position of need for Houston.

Round 7, Pick 16 (223rd overall) QB Alex Brink, Washington State.

*I absolutely nailed the first two picks, Jake Long to Miami and Chris Long to St. Louis. I know Miami’s choice was easy considering he was all ready signed, but Chris Long over Glenn Dorsey was a tough call.

*I correctly predicted the next seven players that were taken, but only one (Gholston to the Jets) went to the team I had selected. Of the seven, Florida DE Derrick Harvey is the one I’m most proud of. Most people had him going mid- to late-first round.

*I can’t say that I am the only one that had Troy McKelvin going to the Bills, but nearly every other mock I saw had Buffalo taking Michigan State WR Devin Thomas.

*I was surprised to see Chicago take Vandy’s Chris Williams over Virginia’s Branden Albert, who I had seen as high as No. 5 on some people’s drafts, and Pitt’s Jeff Otah. Still, they went very close, going 14, 15, and 19, respectively. I had them going 16, 12, and 13, respectively.

*Carolina’s pick was a bit of a shock, as I was sure they would take one of the tackles available. Also, I had Stewart going at 20 with Mendenhall going at 14. In reality, Stewart went 13 and Mendenhall went 23, a pretty big swing.

*I was close on Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, as he went 16th to Arizona. I had him pegged in at No. 15.

*Although I question Dallas’ decision to take Arkansas Felix Jones over Mendenhall, I’m happy I was one of the 123,456,789 who guessed that one. However, I had him going to their pick at 28, not 22.

Overall, I had 24 of the 31 picks somewhere in my first-round. If I included Miami’s first pick of the second round, DE Philip Merling, I went 25 of 32. The seven I failed to place in my top 32 picks were Joe Flacco (18th), Aqib Talib (20th), Sam Baker (21st), Chris Johnson (24th), Duane Brown (26th), Lawrence Jackson (28th), and Dustin Keller (30th).
I feel that Baker and definitely Johnson and Brown were picked way too early, so I’ll give myself the benefit of the doubt on those.
Of the players I had in my top 31 picks that did not make the actual top selections, four (Thomas, Sweed, Jackson, Hardy) were receivers. Brian Brohm and Quentin Groves were the others. The last of the seven, Merling, went to Miami with the first pick in the second round.

With their first round pick, the Houston Texans select Virginia Tech OT Duane Brown. Wait, who? I am a big-time college football fan and have spent a lot of time scouting players for this draft, but until Houston made this pick, I honestly had never even heard of him. That’s a problem.

I heard GM Rick Smith discuss the trade in which they swapped first-picks with Baltimore (who had previously swapped firsts with Jacksonville at 26) in exchange for a third- and sixth-round picks from the Ravens. It sounded to me like the team was more interested in more volume, quantity picks than quality. In my opinion, Smith has to get a second-rounder in that deal, even it meant giving up a third to balance it out.

In fact, Houston was all ready in a great position to select among a slew of talented players with the 18th pick. Among the players they passed up: Illinois RB Rashard Mendenhall, Pittsburgh OT Jeff Otah, CB Mike Jenkins, and S Kenny Phillips. All four of those players are great talents and would have filled a position of need.

In all fairness, I won’t rush to say Brown is a terrible choice. He has yet to play a down in the NFL, so there is no way of knowing what he will do once he gets on the field. There have been more unknown players that have been effective in this league, so it’s not like Brown has no chance to succeed.

In 2006, the prevailing sentiment among a host of draftniks was that Houston should have taken Reggie Bush or Vince Young over Mario Williams with the first overall pick. Since that point, Williams has proven to be a great fit for the Texans, an anchor for the defense to build around for years to come.

So my position is not anti-Brown. I just feel that Houston did not receive enough in return to trade down from their spot, at which point they could have chosen from a group of players that were less of a risk.

*Miami takes Jake Long with the first pick - no surprise there. Long will be penciled in at left tackle from day one.

*St. Louis chooses Chris Long over Glenn Dorsey. Word is that while the scouts believed Dorsey had more talent, the coaches loved Long’s passion for the game.

*Atlanta picks their quartback of the future, B.C.’s Matt Ryan. Owner Arthur Blank needed a new face of the franchise, and Ryan passed all of the Falcons’ pre-draft tests.

*Oakland’s Al Davis gets his man in Darren McFadden. If this were any other team, LSU’s Glenn Dorsey would probably have been the pick, but McFadden’s speed and big-play ability was too tough for Davis too pass up.

*Kansas City smartly selects DT Glenn Dorsey, considered by many to be the best defensive player in this draft. He is a force up the middle and can help ease the loss of DE Jared Allen along the defensive line.

*The Jets take Ohio State’s Vernon Gholston to play outside linebacker in their 3-4 system. He is definitely athletic, but there have been some concerns about his consistency.

And with that, all of the players in the green room are gone. No Brady Quinn experience this year.
I’m loving this new timing system, everything is going a lot quicker than in years past.

*The first trade of the draft has New Orleans trading up to seven in order to choose DT Sedrick Ellis of USC. The Saints moved up three spots and picked up the Patriots’ fifth-rounder (164th overall) in exchange for their third rounder (78th overall). Ellis is close to Dorsey in terms of talent.

*Here’s the whopper to this point - Jacksonville moving all the way up to eight to pick Florida DE Derrick Harvey. Baltimore received four picks from Jacksonville, a first (26th), two thirds (71st and 89th), and a fourth (125th). The Jaguars hope Harvey can excel as a pash rusher.

*Cincinnati gets USC linebacker Keith Rivers. It’s no secret they wanted Rivers teammate, Sedrick Ellis, but Rivers is more than just a consolation prize. He is athletic and a defensive playmaker who can solidy the Bengals defense.

*After trading back from number seven, New England selects Tennessee linebacker Jerod Mayo. Mayo was my sleeper pick, as I felt he would be selected much earlier than most people had him. I was hoping the Texans would have a shot at this tackling-machine, but unfortunately the versatile Mayo will be a Patriot.

*Buffalo takes CB Leodic McKelvin of Troy. I had this pick all the way, knowing that McKelvin would provide a much better value than any of the receivers available.

*Denver chooses Boise State’s OT Ryan Clady. Clady will fit well in the Broncos zone-blocking scheme. I almost believed QB Jay Cutler would push for his former Vandy teammate Chris Williams, but Clady was rated a tad higher.

Whew, that Jacksonville trade really did shock me. Just goes to show how unpredictable the draft is. The Jags better hope Harvey makes an immediate impact and turns into a Pro Bowler - soon.

*Carolina picks Jonathan Stewart, somewhat of a surprise. With all of the offensive lineman available, I think this was a mistake, but Stewart was the consensus number two running back before his toe injury, and Carolina must believe he can improve their porous offense.

*Chicago gets Vandy tackle Chris Williams. They are the exact opposite of the Panthers in that they needed a running back and took an offensive lineman. Cedric Benson has officially reached bust status and the hometown Mendenhall would have been a perfect fit.

*The Chiefs trade up to steal Virginia’s Branden Albert. They move up two spots and receive the Lions third rounder (76th) in exchange for their first from Minnesota (17th), third (66th), and fifth (136th). Albert was expected to be gone earlier, possibly in the top 10, so this is good value for KC. With Dorsey and Albert, the Chiefs are rebuilding their lines.

*Arizona selects the super-talented Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. He has more value here than either of the two first-round tackles (B.C.’s Cherilus, Pitt’s Otah).

*After moving down, Detroit goes with B.C.’s Cherilus, who I have rated slightly behind Pitt’s Otah, but that’s splitting hairs. Detroit helps solidy their line and fills a need here.

*Baltimore makes its second big move here. After trading down to the 26th pick with Jacksonville, they move up to 18th to take their quarterback of the future, Delaware’s Flacco. In exchange, they give Houston their first- (26th from Jacksonville), third- (89th) and sixth-round (173rd) picks. Flacco has a huge arm and can make all the throws.

Couple of surpises among these six picks. Stewart to Carolina was one. I think Detroit messed up trading down, as they could have had Albert at 15.
Baltimore was aggressive to get their man Flacco, but I don’t think they had to go this high to get him.

*Carolina makes a ridiculous trade, giving up a 2009 first-rounder in addition to and 2nd and a 4th in this years draft for the Eagles’ first-rounder, 19th overall. With the pick, they take Pitt OT Jeff Otah to help solidy their line. This move will likely move Travelle Wharton inside to guard. With Jordan Gross, it is unknown if Otah will play on the right or left side.

*Tampa Bay, unable to trade for Philly’s Lito Sheppard to this point, takes Kansas CB Aqib Talib. Talib is a perfect fit for the Tampa Cover 2, physical and a tough against the run.

*Atlanta trades up with Washington in order to take USC tackle Sam Baker. Baker, a four-year starter and 3-time All-Pac 10 performer, is a solid pick, but a bit of a reach at his point. To get him, the Falcons gave up two second-round picks (34th and 48th) and a fourth (103rd).

*Dallas selects Arkansas RB Felix Jones to complement Marion Barber. Illinois’ Mendenhall would have been the better choice, but Jerry Jones is a Razorback and got his man.

*The Steelers make the steal of the draft to this point, getting Mendenhall at pick 23! I am surprised he fell this far, but Pittsburgh reaps the benefits as they now have a one-two punch with Wille Parker in the backfield as well.

*Tennessee makes the biggest blunder thus far by taking East Carolina RB Chris Johnson. Johnson may have the speed, as he showed with his combine-best 4.24 40-yard dash, but they need a receiver. Last year they picked Chris Henry, and Johnson is essentially the same type of player. Vince Young has to be upset they didn’t get a receiver.

Panthers fans should call the police, because the Eagles just robbed them. That trade was ridiculous.
Atlanta makes a reach for Baker, but they had an abundance of picks in this draft and felt they needed a tackle.
Dallas should have picked Mendenhall, but at least they didn’t screw up as bad as the Titans.

*The Cowboys traded up with Seattle for South Florida CB Mike Jenkins. They gave up a first- (28th), fifth- (163) and seventh-round pick (235). Jenkins probably would have been taken by Houston at 26, so Dallas moved in front to get him.

*Houston finally takes an offensive tackle in the first round, Virginia Tech’s Duane Brown. Brown began his career as a tight end, so is definitely a project. As a Texans fan, I seriously question this selection.

*San Diego chooses Arizona CB Antoine Cason. The Chargers take the best player on their board, Cason, who fills the void of Drayton Florence.

*After trading down, Seattle takes DE Lawrence Jackson, the fourth USC player taken in the first round. He is solid against the run and can play opposite of Patrick Kerney.

*San Fransisco picks DT Kentwan Balmer out of North Carolina. Balmer is strong enough to play the nose tackle position in the 49ers 3-4 defense, and has a high upside.

*The Jets make a trade with the Packers, giving up a second and fourth-rounder, to draft Purdue TE Dustin Keller. Keller provides the Jets offense with a threat across the middle and a big target in the red zone.

*The other New York team, the Giants, finish off the first round by selecting Miami S Kenny Phillips. Phillips replaces the departed Gibril Wilson.

The Cowboys and Jets made nice trades to move up here, getting players that will contribute immediately.
Houston screwed this one up. This is a sad day to be a Texans fan.

That said, I would like to give you my mock draft with a twist: I will make the picks based on what I think the teams should do. I provide analysis of each choice and have also included some trades that would make sense for the teams to make.

Let me know what you think and if you, as a fan, would like these teams’ decisions.

1. Miami Dolphins - OT Jake Long, Michigan
Jake Long has the potential to be a franchise left tackle for the Dolphins for the next 10 years a la Jonathan Ogden or Walter Jones. Long is big, physical, quick on his feet, and smart. As a four-year starter in the Big 10, Long also has the experience to contribute immediately. He will help to improve the running game and protect whoever is playing quarterback. Long only allowed two sacks his entire college career. The Dolphins envision Long to Cleveland’s Joe Thomas, who made the Pro Bowl while helping Cleveland improve to 10-6 last season, just narrowly missing the playoffs.

2. St. Louis Rams - DE Chris Long, Virginia
St. Louis would have loved to have the other Long, Jake, but Howie’s son is more than just a consolation prize. His combination of size (6′4″, 280) and quickness (his 4.21 20-yard shuttle was the fastest among defensive linemen) show he is athletically gifted. But what puts Long ahead of the others is his skill set. He has the ability to excel in rushing the passer and stopping the run. He has the discipline and will to excel. Long could play opposite of Leonard Little and alongside tackles La’Roi Glover and last year’s first-round pick Adam Carriker, making for a highly formidable defensive front.

3. Atlanta Falcons - DT Glenn Dorsey, LSU
It would be tempting for Atlanta to look at Boston College QB Matt Ryan considering their current quarterbacks (Chris Redman, Joey Harrington), but they will have the chance to pick between Joe Flacco, Chad Henne, and Brian Brohm either at pick 33 or by trading up into the bottom part of the first round. Dorsey is simply a beast who will command a double team and free up the outside for John Abraham and last year’s first round pick Jamaal Anderson. He also the ability to penetrate and create havoc in the backfield with quarterback pressures and tackles for loss.

4. Oakland Raiders - DT Sedrick Ellis, USC
This is the ultimate division between what a team should do and what a team will do. I think Al Davis’ infatuation with an offensive playmaker would lead him to Arkansas RB Darren McFadden, but Oakland all ready has FOUR capable runnning backs in Justin Fargas, Dominic Rhodes, Michael Bush, and Lamont Jordan. Others will say Vernon Gholston should go here, but he is better suited as an edge-rushing linebacker such as Demarcus Ware. Ellis is the pick because he will man the middle and free up Tommy Kelly and Derrick Burgess on the outside while collapsing the pocket up the middle and stuffing the run. Oakland’s run defense was terrible last year.

5. Kansas City Chiefs - RB Darren McFadden, Arkansas
I believe the Chiefs should give QB Brodie Croyle a full season to prove what he can do, so Matt Ryan is out of the picture. With Jared Allen gone, there is a hole to fill at defensive end, but I don’t believe Gholston fits into their system as he is more of a 3-4 outside linebacker. They will be much better served trading up from pick 17 to select Derrick Harvey to fill that void. It would be a reach to select the highest available offensive lineman, either Ryan Clady or Branden Albert. That leads me to McFadden. I know they have Larry Johnson, but remember the Chiefs selected Johnson in the first round while Priest Holmes was in his prime. The depth behind Johnson is poor and the effectiveness of the two-back system in recent years has pushed more teams to adopt such a philosophy. McFadden is simply a playmaker - he can run, catch, return kicks, and even throw if you need him too. Minnesota’s selection of Adrian Peterson should provide Kansas City with a similar plan.

6. NY Jets - DE/OLB Vernon Gholston, Ohio State
As with Kansas City, I think the Jets should give Kellen Clemens a full season to prove what he can do. They signed Calvin Pace as a free agent and paired with Gholston they would form a lethal pass rush from the outside, which the Giants is proved is crucial to success against the Patriots, their division rival. Gholston has all the physical tools - speed (4.6 40-yard dash), strength (37 bench reps), and a 35.5″ vertical jump that made scouts drool at the combine. He had 8.5 sacks and 15 TFL last season and accumulated one of only two sacks allowed by Michigan OT Jake Long. With Shaun Ellis and newly-acquired Kris Jenkins occupying blockers, Gholston and Pace will be free to cause havoc on opposing offenses.

7. New England Patriots (from San Fransisco) - LB Keith Rivers, USC
The Patriots would love to shop this pick, but with Ellis gone Cincinatti and New Orleans will likely stay where they are at in the order. New England would seemingly have a need at corner with the loss of Asante Samuel to free agency, but they seem to find players to fit into their system without spending a high draft choice. They have a major need at linebacker, and the versatile Keith Rivers fits into their system perfectly. He is smart and athletic enough to play both inside and outside, a must in New England.

8. Baltimore Ravens - QB Matt Ryan, Boston College
Ryan is the undisputed number one quarterback prospect in this draft. He can make all of the throws, has a quick release, is mobile inside of the pocket, and can throw on the run. Ryan’s intangibles are what set him apart from the rest of the pack, his leadership and poise under pressure is unmatched by anyone in this class. With the retirement of Steve McNair and the failed experiment of Kyle Boller, the Ravens envision Ryan to become their franchise quarterback of the future.

9. Cincinatti Bengals - DE Derrick Harvey, Florida
The Bengals signed Antwan Odom this off-season, but they still need a pass rusher on the opposite side. Harvey may be a bit undersized, but he has a quick burst off the edge and can also help against the running game. Levi Jones and Willie Anderson are solid tackles and a guard at this point, such as Brandon Albert of Virginia, would not be a good value. Pash rushers come at a premium in this league, and Harvey is one of the best in this draft.

10. New Orleans Saints - OT Ryan Clady, Boise State
At this point, the top two defensive tackles and top linebacker are gone and the next best at each position would be a reach. Another position of need, tight end, would not signify value here. Clady would upgrade the RT position and team with Jamaal Brown to form a nice tackle tandem. At 6′6″, 320, Clady is strong, technically sound, and has quick feet.

11. Buffalo Bills - CB Leodis McKelvin, Troy
With Trent Edwards, Marshawn Lynch, Lee Evans, and a young offensive line, the Bills are one receiver away from having a potentially dynamic offense. On defense, they need someone to fill in for Nate Clements, who departed in free agency before last season. At this point, McKelvin is a better player than any of the receivers available. He is the closest thing to a shutdown corner in this draft, and will be able to start immediately opposite Terrence McGee. Like McGee, McKelvin is also a great return man, setting an NCAA record with 3,817 return yards and tying the record for most return touchdowns with eight.

12. Denver Broncos - OT/G Branden Albert, Virginia
The Broncos need help at linebacker, offensive line, running back, and wide receiver. It’s too high for the remaining receivers and linebackers, so I believe it comes down to Illinois’ Rashard Mendenhall and Virginia’s Branden Albert. Some might say Shanahan won’t pick a running back this high because of his success with lower-round backs, but he knows the only truly franchise running back he has had during his tenure was Terrell Davis, and Mendenhall has the skills to one day produce at his level. But the pick here is Albert, a versatile lineman with size (6′6″, 310) and quick hands and feet. Albert would immediately step in someone along the line and will eventually play the pivotal left tackle position.

13. Carolina Panthers - OT Jeff Otah, Pittsburgh
With Deshaun Foster gone to free agency, Carolina’s first round pick from two years ago, Deangelo Williams, will get his chance. That means no running back here. The Panthers definitely need a defensive end opposite of Julius Peppers but there are no valuable players at this position here. That leads them to Otah, who would start immediately opposite franchised tackle Jordan Gross and provide insurance at left tackle if they are unable to sign Gross long-term. Otah is a wall at 6′6″, 340, and is a mauler, punishing his opponents at the point of attack. He will help improve both the running and passing game.

14. Chicago Bears - RB Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois
The Bears don’t have to look very far to get their man out of Champagne. They might consider helping out the offensive line, but RB Cedric Benson has proven he can not be a franchise back, and the running game is crucial to Chicago’s success. But with Mendenhall in the mix, they can form a nice one-two punch that has been increasingly effective among teams across the league.

15. Detroit Lions - CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Tennessee State
I think it’s safe to say the Lions won’t be selecting a receiver this year. Then again, I wouldn’t put anything past Matt Millen. I’ve seen a lot of mocks giving Detroit an offensive tackle here, but I feel their line is actually pretty solid. And I think they will give Tatum Bell a full season to show what he can do. They acquired Leigh Bodden from Cleveland in the Shaun Rogers trade, but they still need someone to start opposite of him, which is where Rodgers-Cromartie comes in. He is a super-athlete and is tall for a corner (6′2″), which will allow him to match up against the receivers in this league.

16. Arizona Cardinals - OT Chris Williams, Vanderbilt
The Cardinals are set at all the skill positions, and I don’t believe The Edge is done just yet. They have Levi Brown at right tackle and need someone to man the left side. Williams would protect QB Matt Leinart’s front side against the speed right defensive ends, something he did in the SEC for four years.

17. Kansas City Chiefs (from Minnesota) - WR Devin Thomas, Michigan State
The Chiefs would love to find someone to fill in for Jared Allen, but that position is pretty shallow here. They could go for an offensive tackle, but the big four (Long, Clady, Otah, and Williams) are all gone. I say they go offense again and provide QB Brodie Croyle with some serious weapons. Dwayne Bowe is a possession receiver, so they need a speed guy to complement him. Thomas has the ability to stretch the field and the size to make the tough catches in traffic.

18. Houston Texans - LB Jerod Mayo, Tennessee
Houston obviously wants an offensive lineman, but the run on them would make them have to reach for one, never a good thing to do in the first round. The Jacques Reeves signing made cornerback less of a need, and they are set along the defensive front. With Demeco Ryans as their only viable option at linebacker, the position could use an upgrade. Jerod Mayo has flown up the draft boards because of his impressive workouts, and I feel he is talented enough to warrant this selection. He is a tackling machine and would help improve Houston’s run defense immensely.

19. Philadelphia Eagles - WR Limas Sweed, Texas
Andy Reid usually loves to pick lineman in the first round, but the offense has a glaring hole at receiver and there a couple of players that would make QB Donovan McNabb very happy here. I have it between Indiana’s James Hardy, Texas’ Limas Sweed, and Cal’s Desean Jackson. I don’t see anything special about Jackson except his return skills, but that doesn’t make him a first-round pick. Hardy has good size (6′5″, 220) and produced in college, catching 36 touchdowns in 3 seasons, proving himself to be a big-time red zone threat. But Sweed is the best of the bunch, as he has similar attributes to Hardy but is a much better route runner with better hands.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - RB Jonathan Stewart, Oregon
Stewart would be a nice value here. If he was healthy he would have been a sure-fire top-15 pick. Cadillac Williams is always injured, Warrick Dunn is old, and Michael Pittman is only good for part-time action. Once he recovers from his toe injury, Stewart will prove to teams that they should have picked him.

21. Washington Redskins - CB Mike Jenkins, South Florida
Washington could be looking at defensive end here, but Jenkins is very talented and could play the nickel his rookie year. He would eventually take over for the aging Shawn Springs opposite of the Redskins 2005 first-round pick Carlos Rogers. Jenkins has decent size, is physical at the point of attack, and has good instincts.

22. Dallas Cowboys (from Cleveland) - WR Desean Jackson, Cal
The Cowboys should be looking to get a receiver and running back with their two first-round picks, in some order. So it is in their best interest to select the best player available at either of those positions. At this point, Desean Jackson would be a steal, considering he was considered to be the top receiver in this draft class entering the college season. He is a playmaker that can impact the game at any time with his speed. His help in the return game is also a plus.

23. Pittsburgh Steelers - OT Gosder Cherilus, Boston College
Ben Roethlisberger wants a big receiver, and they might want to look at Indiana’s James Hardy here if they want to satisfy their franchise quarterback. But what would benefit Big Ben even more would be an impact offensive tackle to keep him up. Cherilus is a classic Steeler-type player. He is physical and has a mean streak to him. He would fit nicely initially at right tackle and eventually move to the left side to protect Roethlisberger’s blind side.

24. Tennessee Titans - WR James Hardy, Indiana
It’s going to come down one of three positions for Tennessee: wide receiver, cornerback, and defensive end. Ultimately though, they must provide QB Vince Young a weapon on the outside that he can rely on in go-to situations. At 6′6″ and a nice frame, Hardy would provide Young a huge target at the receiver position. All he did at Indiana was score touchdowns, 36 in three seasons including 16 last year. Hardy’s size makes him a red-zone threat.

25. Seattle Seahawks - DT Kentwan Balmer
The Seahawks need at DT and Balmer makes sense here because he is a good value here. He is considered to be the top defensive tackle behind LSU’s Glenn Dorsey and USC’s Sedrick Ellis. Balmer is strong and can occupy blockers to free Patrick Kerney from constant double teams.

26. Jacksonville Jaguars - DE Philip Merling, Clemson
With the trade of Marcus Stroud, the Jaguars desperately need a defensive lineman. There’s no defensive tackles here that can fill his shoes, but Merling would help ease the transition. Merling has the ability to get to the quarterback and can also hold is own against the run.

27. San Diego Chargers - S Kenny Phillips, Miami
Phillips had somewhat of a down year, but the talent and skills are still there. The Chargers should look hard at Arkansas RB Felix Jones as an insurance policy to Ladanian Tomlinson, but ultimately Phillips could push for the starting safety position as a rookie. It helps that Miami has produced solid NFL safeties such as Ed Reed and Antrel Rolle.

28. Dallas Cowboys - RB Felix Jones, Arkansas
The Cowboys need a second back to complement the bruising style of Marion Barber. It is no secret that Jerry Jones, an Arkansas alum, is fond of Jones’ Razorback teammate Darren McFadden. But Jones is no slouch, providing great speed, good vision, and great moves.

29. San Fransisco 49ers (from Indianapolis) - DE Quentin Groves, Auburn.
Even with the Justin Smith signing, the 49ers need someone to play end on the other side, and Groves is the type of versatile player that fits into San Francisco’s hybrid defense.

30. Green Bay Packers - CB Antoine Cason, Arizona
A three-time All-Pac 10 performer, Cason has proven his ability to compete against some of the top competition. Charles Woodson and Al Harris are both aging, and there is not much behind them. Cason would be able to play the nickel and start if either Woodson or Harris happens to get injured.

31. Atlanta Falcons (from NY Giants) - QB Brian Brohm, Louisville
Although I don’t think this is the only trade that might go down in the draft, it certainly makes sense for both the Falcons and the Giants. New York would receive one of Atlanta’s third-round picks (79th overall, from Houston) in exchange for moving down just three spots. Atlanta makes the move to avoid having Miami, who will likely be looking to select a quarterback, takes their man two picks ahead of them in the second round. Brohm, who likely would have been a top selection last year had he entered the draft, is the victim of staying in school and providing the scouts more things to pick apart. He is still remarkably accurate and displays good leadership schools.

It must be noted that currently, as a result of a couple of transactions, Houston only has five draft selections (Rounds 1, 3, 4, 5, and 7). With such a few amount of picks, they do not have the luxury of simply picking the best player available.

Team Needs (in order of importance):
1. Offensive line - the “big uglies” up front have been a need for the entire existence of the franchise; look for them to protect Schaub, their $49 million investment.
2. Offensive line - did I mention offensive line?
3. Linebacker - aside from Demeco Ryans, they have no playmakers among the group.
4. Safety - another year with C.C. Brown and Glenn Earl is unacceptable.
5. Cornerback - Houston added depth with Reeves, but Bennett is still a work in progress and Robinson is recovering from an injury.
6. Running Back - the Chris Brown signing helped, but he’s injury-prone. Ahman Green was injured last year as well.
7. Defensive line - more specifically, they will be looking for a pass-rusher to place opposite of Mario Williams.

The Draft:
Round 1, Pick 18 - If they want one of the elite tackles in this draft, they are going to have to make it here.
The pick - OT Jeff Otah, Pittsburgh. They will take their choice among Ryan Clady, Brandert Albert, Chris Williams, and Gosder Cherilus, assuming one of them is available at this selection. Clady and Albert will almost certainly be gone by this point, so it will come down to Otah, Williams and Cherilus. I think Otah provides the most upside, and his athleticism fits best into the Texans zone-blocking scheme.
Alternative pick - The second best position to go after would be a cornerback, considering the outstanding quality expected to go in the first round. Think Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Leodis McKelvin, Aqib Talib, Mike Jenkins, and Antoine Cason.

After the first two rounds, it’s pretty difficult to guess who a team might select, but I will try and highlight some positions and/or players they might be looking at from those positions.

Round 3, Pick 16 (79th overall) - Assuming they select an offensive lineman in round 1, they will be looking for the best value on defense at a position of need.
Potential picks - OLB Phillip Wheeler, Georgia Tech; CB Terrell Thomas, USC.

Round 4, Pick 19 (118th overall) - This is still early in the draft, so they will be looking to add someone that will be able to contribute, not a long-term project. Defense is still a priority, but an offensive playmaker is possible.

Round 5, Pick 16 (151st overall) - At this point, no player is a given to make the team’s roster, but Houston will still be looking for players that can play immediately, at least on special teams.

Round 7, Pick 16 (223rd overall) - Seventh round, time to take a flyer on someone with potential, such as an athletic player without much experience.

*All scouting reports provided by NFLDraftCountdown.com

Here are my thoughts:
1. Their opponents were a combined 140-116 (.547) last year, tied with the Bengals and Browns for the sixth-highest mark.
2. Those numbers might turn out to mean nothing, considering the parity of the NFL.
3. They will win at least six home games. Home tilts against Baltimore, Miami, Detroit, Cincinnatti, Tennessee, and Chicago look very favorable.
4. They have two difficult stretches that will determine whether or not they will make the playoffs: Weeks 3-5 (@Tennessee, @Jaguars, Colts) and Weeks 11-14 (@Colts, @Browns, Jaguars, @Packers).
5. Monday Night Football! A December home game on Monday night game with potential playoff implications? Sign me up.