As for Rick Smith as a GM. Is he the greatest..? No. However......Rick Smith's weakness in the draft has really been the 3rd round of the draft. However, his first rounds are maybe the best in the league. Also, he has a knack for finding Undrafted FAs that contribute (Arian Foster, anyone?).
9 of the 10 first rounders drafted by Rick Smith.......ARE STILL ON THE TEXANS and are key players.
2013 is probably his worst draft. 2014 may turnout to be his Best.
Note: Head Coaches and D-Coordinators have big say in players picks (Wade Phillips lobbied for JJ Watt). Head Coaches probably have final say.....although this is unclear.
Texans' draft since Rick Smith has been GM:
First Rounders:
2007 10th overall <sup>(from Atlanta)</sup>
Amobi Okoye DT Louisville 2008 26th overall <sup>(from Baltimore)</sup>
Duane Brown OT Virginia Tech 2009 15th overall
Brian Cushing LB Southern California 2010 20th overall
Kareem Jackson CB Alabama 2011 11th overall
J.J. Watt DE Wisconsin 2012 26th overall
Whitney Mercilus OLB Illinois 2013 27th overall
DeAndre Hopkins WR Clemson 2014 1st overall
Jadeveon Clowney DE South Carolina 2015 16th overall
Kevin Johnson CB Wake Forest 2016 21st overall <sup>(from Washington)</sup>
Will Fuller WR Notre Dame
Full Drafts:
Round/Pick Player Position College 1/10 <sup>(from Atlanta)</sup>
Amobi Okoye DT Louisville 3/73
Jacoby Jones*
WR Lane 4/123 <sup>(from New Orleans)</sup>
Fred Bennett CB South Carolina 5/144
Brandon Harrison S Stanford 5/163 <sup>(from New Orleans)</sup>
Brandon Frye OT Virginia Tech 6/183
Kasey Studdard OG Texas 7/218
Zac Diles LB Kansas State
2008<span style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[
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Further information:
2008 NFL Draft
Round/Pick Player Position College 1/26 <sup>(from Baltimore)</sup>
Duane Brown OT Virginia Tech 3/79
Antwaun Molden CB Eastern Kentucky 3/89 <sup>(from Baltimore)</sup>
Steve Slaton RB West Virginia 4/118
Xavier Adibi LB Virginia Tech 5/151
Frank Okam DT Texas 6/173 <sup>(from Baltimore)</sup>
Dominique Barber S Minnesota 7/223
Alex Brink QB Washington State
2009<span style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[
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Further information:
2009 NFL Draft
Round/Pick Player Position College 1/15
Brian Cushing LB Southern California 2/46
Connor Barwin*
DE Cincinnati 3/77
Antoine Caldwell C Alabama 4/112
Glover Quin*
CB New Mexico 4/122 <sup>(from Minnesota)</sup>
Anthony Hill TE North Carolina State 5/152
James Casey TE Rice 6/188
Brice McCain CB Utah 7/223
Troy Nolan S
Arizona State
2010<span style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[
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Further information:
2010 NFL Draft
Round/Pick Player Position College 1/20
Kareem Jackson CB Alabama 2/58 <sup>(from New England)</sup>
Ben Tate RB Auburn 3/81
Earl Mitchell DT Arizona 4/102 <sup>(from Kansas City)</sup>
Darryl Sharpton LB Miami (FL) 4/118
Garrett Graham TE Wisconsin 5/144 <sup>(from Kansas City)</sup>
Sherrick McManis CB Northwestern 6/187
Shelley Smith OG Colorado State 6/197 <sup>(from San Diego)</sup>
Trindon Holliday WR LSU 7/227
Dorin Dickerson TE Pittsburgh
2011<span style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[
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Further information:
2011 NFL Draft
Round/Pick Player Position College 1/11
J. J. Watt DE Wisconsin 2/42
Brooks Reed LB Arizona 2/60 <sup>(from New England)</sup>
Brandon Harris CB Miami (FL) 4/127 <sup>(from Washington)</sup>
Rashad Carmichael CB Virginia Tech 5/144 <sup>(from Washington)</sup>
Shiloh Keo S Idaho 5/152 <sup>(from Washington)</sup>
T. J. Yates QB North Carolina 7/214
Derek Newton OT Arkansas State 7/254
Cheta Ozougwu DE Rice
2012<span style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[
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Further information:
2012 NFL Draft
Round/Pick Player Position College 1/26
Whitney Mercilus LB Illinois 3/68 <sup>(from Tampa Bay)</sup>
DeVier Posey WR Ohio State 3/76 <sup>(from Philadelphia)</sup>
Brandon Brooks OG Miami (OH) 4/99 <sup>(from Tampa Bay via Philadelphia)</sup>
Ben Jones C Georgia 4/121
Keshawn Martin WR Michigan State 4/126 <sup>(from New England via Denver and Tampa Bay)</sup>
Jared Crick DE Nebraska 5/161
Randy Bullock PK Texas A&M 6/195
Nick Mondek OT Purdue
2013<span style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[
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Further information:
2013 NFL Draft
Round/Pick Player Position College 1/27
DeAndre Hopkins WR Clemson 2/57
D.J. Swearinger S South Carolina 3/89
Brennan Williams OT North Carolina 3/95
Sam Montgomery DE LSU 4/124
Trevardo Williams DE Connecticut 6/176 <sup>(from Tennessee via Minnesota, Arizona, and Oakland)</sup>
David Quessenberry OT San Jose State 6/195
Alan Bonner WR Jacksonville State 6/198 <sup>(from Atlanta via St. Louis)</sup>
Chris Jones DT Bowling Green 6/201
Ryan Griffin TE Connecticut 2014<span style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[
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Further information:
2014 NFL Draft
Round/Pick Player Position College 1/1
Jadeveon Clowney DE South Carolina 2/33
Xavier Su'a-Filo OG UCLA 3/65
C. J. Fiedorowicz TE Iowa 3/83 <sup>(from Pittsburgh via Cleveland and Philadelphia)</sup>
Louis Nix III DT Notre Dame 4/135
Tom Savage QB Pittsburgh 6/177
Jeoffrey Pagan DE Alabama 6/181 <sup>(from Oakland)</sup>
Alfred Blue RB LSU 6/211
Jay Prosch FB Auburn 7/216
Andre Hal CB Vanderbilt 7/256
Lonnie Ballentine S Memphis
2015<span style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[
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Round/Pick Player Position College 1/16
Kevin Johnson CB Wake Forest 2/43
Benardrick McKinney ILB Mississippi State 3/70
Jaelen Strong WR Arizona State 5/175 (Compensatory Selection)
Keith Mumphery WR Michigan State 6/211 (Compensatory Selection)
Reshard Cliett OLB South Florida 6/216 (Compensatory Selection)
Christian Covington NT Rice 7/235
Kenny Hilliard RB LSU
2016<span style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[
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Will Fuller V WR Notre Dame 2/50
Nick Martin C Notre Dame 3/85 (From Atlanta)
Braxton Miller WR Ohio State 4/119
Tyler Ervin RB San Jose State 5/159
K. J. Dillon SS West Virginia 5/166 (From New England)
D. J. Reader DT Clemson
Bet u don't want to compare the Jags' draft history over the same period....lol.