The transformed 32 NFL rosters. will examine the aftershocks in our Draft Fallout series. Next up: The Houston Texans.
The Big Question: Are the Texans asking too much of DeAndre Hopkins?
Texans coach Gary Kubiak recently predicted we'd see an immediate impact from rookie receiver . Kubiak said of his first-round draft pick, emphasizing that Hopkins would touch the ball early and often.
Sounds nice on paper, but asking a first-year wideout to save your passing game is a stretch. For every Julio Jones and A.J. Green, there are buckets of rookie pass-catchers needing at least a season of on-field experience before they bloom. Working out the kinks with a new quarterback is just part of it. Learning route running at the pro level takes time. For others, coming out of fluid college attacks, it might be the first time they've been handed a playbook.
Houston, of course, is crossing its fingers this works. The hope is that Hopkins finally gives the Texans a field-stretcher to take some heat off Andre Johnson. If Hopkins struggles, Kubiak will be forced to rely on four veteran wideouts with a combined two career starts and 16 catches in the NFL.
On the plus side, Hopkins arrives with plenty of route-running experience from his days at Clemson, and his 10-inch hands are a plus. Still, Kubiak's already . How about we let him be first?
Three Takeaways
- A couple of LSU coaches at the that while a player like 聽would transition smoothly to outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense, defensive end -- the Texans' third-rounder -- was "definitely not a fit." Translation: He's not great in space, and suggestions out of Houston that he'll take snaps at strongside OLB are ominous.
- Most interesting battle heading into camp? For me, how about rookie passer -- -- hoping against hope to beat out T.J. Yates, Case Keenum or Stephen McGee as the Texans' backup quarterback. Most teams don't believe Klein's a viable NFL passer, seeing him more as a tight end, but I'll never forget listening to him answer that question over and over at the . Klein made it clear he only wanted to throw the ball.
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