4/8/13 by James Fedewa

If you earned the first pick in the NFL Draft, your team is the worst team in the league. This year the Houston Texans are that team. Oddly enough, at the beginning of the season, the Texans were considered a Super Bowl favorite. The Texans won week one (vs. the Chargers), and won again week two (vs. the Titans). A 2-0 start, followed by 14 straight losses. A Super Bowl contender, built like house of cards.

Was it the shotty quarterback play, was it lack of team confidence or leadership, was it injuries, was in poor coaching? Interpret and define as you will, it does not matter now. Moving forward, which new franchise rookie draft pick can help turn this Texans franchise around?

I nearly every NFL Draft, there is a consensus #1 overall pick (sometimes two). This year, pass rusher Jadavian Clowney the projected #1 overall pick. A once in two decades type of pass rusher with amazing abilities, scores, grades and college statistics, Clowney has the evidence and resume’ for Houston to draft him. Houston should have an easy selection, right?

Examining Houston’s current defensive pass rushers, they already look well equipped, led by defensive end J.J. Watt, OLB Brooks Reed and former 1^st round selection OLB Whitney Mercilus. Selecting Clowney can add immense value and talent to an already very good young defensive front.

There are two other #1B and #1C overall potential prospects in this draft, at different positions, with quarterbacks Blake Bortles and Johnny Manziel. Bortles does not have the big resume’ but he looks the part. Built big and mobile, like a prototypical NFL quarterback, Bortles play and value has been sky rocketing for the last six months.

The other, Johnny Manziel. The 21 year old has been a superstar for the last two years. He won the Heisman Trophy as a 19 year old true freshman. His college statistics are impeccable and his charisma is electric. Manziel’s not the biggest quarterback and he does not have all of the elite physical tools and traits to make him prime top graded prospect, but finding a perfect 10 for anything, is nearly impossible…

In 2001, quarterback Michael Vick was easily that consensus #1 overall pick in the NFL Draft. Vick was incredible in college and the San Diego Chargers had that #1 overall pick (who traded the pick to Atlanta, who selected Vick).

Looking Vick’s and Manziel’s college statisics comparatively, what makes who the #1 overall draft pick?

Michael Vick PASSING:

Johnny Manziel PASSING:

Michael Vick RUSHING:

Johnny Manziel RUSHING:

Manziel clearly has the better stats than Vick in their two college seasons, almost mind-numbing from college quarterbacks. Manziel won a Heisman Trophy and was the most electrifying quarterback in college football in 2012 and 2013. Maturity issues might be the missing element of Manziel stock, but the difference between a college freshmen superstar (that we all met two years ago), versus the seasoned 21 year old, Manziel now seems to be 100% different.

If Vick was a consensus #1 overall draft pick, why isn’t Manziel?