- – (SportsNetwork.com) -
1 (1) - Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina; 2 (33) - Xavier Su'a-Filo, OG, UCLA; 3 (65) - C.J. Fiedorowicz, TE, Iowa; 3 (83) - Louis Nix, NT, Notre Dame; 4 (135) - Tom Savage, QB, Pittsburgh; 6 (177) - Jeoffrey Pagan, DE, Alabama; 6 (181) - Alfred Blue, RB, LSU; 6 (211) - Jay Prosch, FB, Auburn; 7 (216) - Andre Hall, CB, Vanderbilt; 7 (256) - Lonnie Ballentine, FS, Memphis
Top Picks Analysis: Houston, was expected to address its muddled quarterback situation early in this draft but days one and two came and went as the Texans scored with value picks through the third round.
Superstar defensive end Jadeveon Clowney was a no-brainer for the Texans at No. 1 overall once the organization couldn't extract a king's ransom for his services. After that, the Texans found plug-and-play starters at both Nos. 33 and 83, UCLA offensive guard Xavier Su'a-Filo and Notre Dame nose tackle Louis Nix.
And in between those two picks, Houston GM Rick Smith was able to garner one of the better two-way tight ends in the draft, C.J. Fiedorowicz of Iowa.
Best Value Pick: There was no sense of urgency at the game's most important position, leading many to speculate that Smith and new head coach Bill O'Brien were honing in on Tom Brady's backup in New England, Ryan Mallett. In the end the 6-foot-7 Mallett may still end up in south Texas but if he gets there he will have some extra competition because Smith was able to provide O'Brien another Joe Flacco-sized thrower by snaring the 6-foot-4, 228-pound Tom Savage in the fourth round.
Barring Mallet's arrival Savage will be competing against a triumvirate which includes veteran free agent signee Ryan Fitzpatrick as well as youngsters Case Keenum and T.J. Yates, who have both been given limited opportunities by the Texans in the past but have hardly set the world on fire.
"I'm just going to have to come in there and work and compete and that's all you can really ask for," Savage said. "I think I obviously have a lot to learn and I went 1,024 days without playing football and played one year at Pitt. I think I have a lot to improve. I'm excited to just get in there and start working."
Questionable Calls: If a deep quarterback draft, at least when it comes to prospects, it might have been more prudent for the Texans to address the position sooner with a more NFL-ready prospect.
Summary: When you possess the No. 1 overall pick, you should do well and Houston did. Three likely starters and potential at the quarterback position point toward success.
FINAL GRADE: A
Undrafted rookie free agent signings: WR Nathan Slaughter, West Texas A&M; LB Max Bullough, Michigan State; K Chris Boswell, Rice; DE Cory Henry, Florida Atlantic; WR Josh Stewart, Oklahoma; TE Anthony Denham, Utah; WR Travis Labhart, Texas A&M; OT Chris Martin, Central Florida; OT Matt Feiler, Bloomsburg; OG Kevin Forsch, Houston; OT Bryan Witzmann, South Dakota State; WR Anthony McClung, Cincinnati; TE Chris Coyle, Arizona State; LB Chris McAlister, Baylor; LB Terrance Lloyd, Baylor; LB Chris Young, Arizona State; LB Jason Ankrah, Nebraska; DT Tyrone Ezell, Pittsburgh; DT Austin Brown, Miami-Ohio; CB Marcus Williams, North Dakota State; DT Julius Warmsley, Tulane; S Theo Alexander, Southeast Louisiana; DB Nick Addison, Bethune- Cookman
Fox News First
Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox.
By entering your email and clicking the Subscribe button, you agree to the Fox News Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and agree to receive content and promotional communications from Fox News. You understand that you can opt-out at any time.