Taking Carr for a Ride

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April 20, 2002
Taking Carr for a Ride
HoustonProFootball.com

After months of scouting, then fawning, followed by extensive wooing, the Texans have, at long last, landed their man.

Houston officially made Fresno State QB David Carr the first pick of the 2002 NFL Draft. He’s also, of course, the first pick in team history.

Upon being made official, the 6’3", 225-lb. Carr made his way to the stage while being showered by a smattering of boos from lame-ass Jet fans. Once there, NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue handed Carr a #1 Texan jersey as he was joined on the podium by his entire family, plus owner Bob McNair.

After the longest first round EVER mercilessly came to a close, the Texans kicked off round two by selecting Florida WR Jabar Gaffney (6’1", 193).

Gaffney, expected by many to be a first round pick, fills one of Houston’s biggest needs: a playmaker on offense, and should team with Carr to form a dangerous combination for many years once the still very young former Gator adjusts to the NFL game.

Last year, Gaffney caught 67 passes for 1,191 yards (17.8/catch) and 13 touchdowns as a sophomore.

With their second pick in round 2, the Texans continued to focus on offense, adding OT Chester Pitts (6’4", 305) from San Diego State.

Very raw but with a potentially big upside, Pitts had an impressive showing at the Senior Bowl, where he dominated defensive ends while playing right tackle.

Pitts has only played two years of organized football and might be moved inside with the Texans. At #50, he might be considered a reach, but the Texans love his tenacity.

With the first pick of the third round (66th overall), the Texans continued to bolster their offensive line, selecting Tennessee OL Fred Weary (6’4", 308).

At 25, Weary is older than most prospects and excels in both run and pass blocking; he’s also versatile and quite capable of playing center, if need be. Tennessee coaches called him a team leader and he was very well-liked by teammates.

With their second pick in round 3, the Texans finally got defensive, selecting Maryland DT Charles Hill (6’2", 293).

Last year, Hill finished second on the team with 81 tackles and helped solidify a young defensive unit that played in the Orange Bowl.

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