Rick Smith, Houston Texans Pre-Draft Quotes and Opinions

Feb 21, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Houston Texans general manager Rick Smith speaks to the media in a press conference during the 2014 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Smith on if he likes having the No.1 overall pick:

"“It’s an opportunity for us to get better. I’ve said this as the process has played itself out, we not only have the first pick — everybody is really centered and focused on the first pick of the draft and understandably so, but what we understand is that it’s not just that first pick. It’s the opportunity to take the first player in each round. It’s also the opportunity to reset your board for three days because of the format of the draft, and so you have a chance to pick the best player on the board three different times.”"

My Thoughts:

I don’t like the analogy of having the opportunity to take the best player available on the board on three different days. They can do that on Thursday, Friday and Saturday of this draft, and if they want to improve as a team, they better do that, because there isn’t much room for mistakes when the franchise you are in charge of won just twice one year ago.