(SportsRadio 610) - Ask NFL talent evaluators about six different players and you will get six different answers about who is the best in this year's draft.
The number might be even higher than that. But it's the one Texans general manager Nick Caserio threw out there, just to illustrate what he considers "a crapshoot" of talent in this group.
For the first time in franchise history, the Texans have five picks within the top 80 selections and seven in the top 110. With the No. 3 and No. 13 overall picks, Houston will select in the first round for the first time since 2019.
"Our job is to understand the depth of the draft top to bottom," Caserio told reporters last week. "Some positions just by supply and demand are going to have more players than others at those positions. It doesn’t mean they are not good players. It just means that certain positions have more players but just because there are more players doesn’t mean that they are all created equal. That player and that position versus another position, well maybe if we pick this player here but the supply at this position is a little less than you may be more inclined to take this position now or vice versa. You try not to pigeonhole yourself.
"Most important is to have as much depth and understanding at each position as possible even on down-fitted players that you don’t think are going to get drafted. We spend as much time on that group probably as anything, including the top of the draft. You have to be careful about quote-unquote what your needs are or what people perceive your needs to be, and then just picking players based on your needs. Pick good football players that are going to enhance your overall team and give yourself the opportunity to put together a sustained team over the course of however many years."
The Texans' needs are vast: offensive line, pass rush, secondary, running back, wide receiver. This particular draft class is considered to be special at tackle, receiver, edge rusher and cornerback.
Caserio and his staff will look at clusters of players across different positions, then decide if they should move up or down. The GM said he will be flexible, open-minded and adaptable in making these decisions.
"What are you moving away from?" Caserio asked hypothetically. "If you move back 10 spots, there is six to eight you like, there is a good chance if you move back that same player will be there or within that cluster, you are comfortable taking said two to three players within that group. You don’t want to be too cute, but you also want to look at the totality of it and understand the group top to bottom and the depth of the overall draft across positions, I think is the most important thing."
Caserio spoke exclusively with Payne & Pendergast on Monday morning to discuss the draft.
Brandon Scott is the senior digital content coordinator for SportsRadio610.com. Follow him on Twitter @brandonkscott .