 |
| |
|
 |
 |
Grades as big as Texas Posted: Tuesday February 19, 2002 5:40 PM
On Monday the Houston Texans visited the big NFL expansion flea market, did some careful selecting and a bit of astute bargaining, and walked away with a nice nucleus for their first team. None of the 19 players they chose is 30 yet, unusual for an initial stockpiling, which generally contains its share of old vets close to retirement age. Here, then, are my ratings of the Texans' expansion picks: 1) Tony Boselli, T, Jaguars There were two negatives attached to this five-time Pro Bowler: a cap figure close to $9 million and a two-year injury record (knee surgery, shoulder surgery, etc.). Well, they've got to spend their money somewhere and what better way than on the NFL's premium left tackle who's still two months shy of his 30th birthday? If, that is, he's OK physically. The Texans' medical staff gave him a long work-up and pronounced him fit. If he is, then they've filled the toughest position on the board, next to QB, for the next five years or more. If not, they'd better hire some new doctors. Grade: A if healthy, ??? if not 2) Ryan Young, T, Jets A steal. Twenty-five years old with a $563,000 cap number. A rising star. Power blocker and prototypical RT. Rumor was the Jets would make him available if the Texans would take $14 million worth of cornerbacks off their hands. Seems to me that he's worth it, but then again, it's not my money. Grade: A 3) Aaron Glenn, CB, Jets Tailed a bit last season, then came on at the end. Cap number of $8 million is heavy, but you give and you get. Usually covered the speed receiver when the Jets went into their man-matchup, with Marcus Coleman playing the bigger guy. Charley Casserly and his crew studied two years' worth of tapes on Glenn and felt that he's still a premier cover-corner. Grade: B 4) Gary Walker, DT, Jaguars I had him ranked as the league's No. 1 at the position. An action guy who took an occasional play off, but was very destructive when he was on his game. Grade: A- 5) Jamie Sharper, OLB, Ravens A key man in their defense for two years. Good in coverage, active against the run. A cap casualty for the Ravens. Will play the open side for Houston. Grade: A 6) Jermaine Lewis, WR-KR-PR, Ravens Big price ($4.2 million) for one of the league's best all-purpose return men, but the Texans feel he can also be valuable as a slot receiver. Grade: B+ 7) Marcus Coleman, CB, Jets Fine year two seasons ago, but his performance fell off last year. Big, physical corner, good in press coverage. They overpaid for him ($5.5 million) but if they can bring him back to what he was, then they'll have filled their corner spots well. Grade: B/B- 8) Seth Payne, DT, Jaguars Too expensive ($3 million) for the Jags to keep, but he's coming off a good season as the plugger-tackle, complementing Walker, the penetrator. Grade: B 9) Matt Campbell, G, Redskins Has bounced around with three teams. A starter when Texans coach Dom Capers was with him in Carolina. Journeyman who will be a fill-in. Grade: C 10) Matt Stevens, S, Patriots Occasionally spelled free safety Tebucky Jones, also came in on dime and seven DB packages. Big guy who'll get his first look at strong safety, but lack of speed will hurt if he has to start at FS. Grade: C/C- 11) Jeremy McKinney, G, Browns Benched during the season. Tough, over-achiever. Low cap number ($405,700) makes him a bargain. Will start on Day 1 in camp. Might not start on Day 2. Grade: C-/C 12) Ryan Schau, T, Eagles A prospect at 26. Good athlete, good feet. Needs to get stronger. Will get a look as Boselli's backup. Grade: B-/C+ 13) Charlie Rogers, KR/RB, Seahawks Successful punt and kick returner for the Hawks. Untested as a running back. Could be valuable as trade bait if someone loses a return man in camp. Grade: B- 14) Sean McDermott, LS, Buccaneers Long snapper. Everybody needs one. Grade: B- 15) Jabari Issa, DE, Cardinals A bargain at $497,000. Showed flashes. Can put on a rush. Grade: B/B- 16) Avion Black, WR, Bills Fifth wideout. Strictly for speed. Could be a fill-in returner. Grade: C- 17) Danny Wuerffel, QB, Bears Hasn't done much of anything in four NFL seasons. Right now he's No. 2 behind Jonathan Quinn. But when another QB arrives, through the draft, he'll be No. 3. Grade: C-/D+ 18) Brian Allen, LB, Rams 2001 third-rounder who didn't show anything last year as a rookie. Texans are hoping to light a fire, but could end up blowing smoke. Grade: D+ 19) Johnny Huggins, TE, Cowboys Used in packages as a blocker or H-back. Who knows? Grade: C Sports Illustrated senior writer Paul Zimmerman covers the NFL for the magazine and CNNSI.com. His "Inside Football" column and Mailbag appear weekly on CNNSI.com. To send a question to Dr. Z, click here. The opinions expressed here are solely those of the writer. |
