The Houston Texans have yet to win a Super Bowl, a conference championship, or even a division title. Then again, you should also remember that the Houston Texans have a relatively short history, having first been formed in 2002. The creation of this team gave Texas a second reason to be proud, besides the Dallas Cowboys. Or at least, in theory, it would have been if the Houston Texans had won football games. This has been a problem for quite some time, although if you look back in history, you’ll see that the Texans are constantly improving. In fact, 2007 marked the first season the Texans didn’t turn into a losing season. What do the experts predict for the Texans, particularly from the franchise’s participation in the NFL Draft?

The team had seven picks in the 2008 Draft, though they originally had five after trading their second-round pick to the Atlanta Falcons and their sixth-round pick to the Denver Broncos in exchange for top-tier talent. (Namely quarterback Matt Schaub and center Chris Myers) Following this, the Texans traded their first round pick with the Baltimore Ravens for their third and sixth round picks and first round pick. The game was well traded and the Houston Texans managed to land an impressive seven draft picks.

The team ended up with the following players: (Some acquired from the Ravens): Virginia Tech offensive tackle Duane Brown, Western Kentucky cornerback Antwaun Molden, West Virginia running back Steve Slaton, Virginia Tech linebacker Xavier Adibi, defensive tackle Frank Okam of Texas, safety Dominique Barber of Minnesota and quarterback Alex Brink of Washington state.

How did the Houston media and fans react to these draft picks? Sentiments were upbeat throughout the city and especially around Reliant Stadium. Duane Brown was the most popular pick and not coincidentally the first-round pick. The team’s coach went on to say that the team had been looking out for Brown for quite some time, as he seemed to be a good fit with the team’s strategy. The Texans not only got some great talent this year, but they also filled some missing needs in the way of left tackle, cornerback and running back. Antwaun Molden and Steve Slaton were also fan favorites as they boosted the team’s athleticism, Slaton in particular being the target of “big plays”.

Xavier Adibi also turned heads by notching 115 tackles, with three sacks and 12 tackles for loss; he then further impressed the Texans with his professional performance, running the Big 40 in under 5 seconds. Naturally, management was interested in Adibi’s athleticism, quickness and ability to change direction easily. Okam must have been a sentimental victory, since this player was already in Texas playing for the Longhorns. His size, impressive at 6’5 and over 300 pounds, certainly provides a defensive advantage the team previously lacked.

Barber was also listed as a favorite thanks to his natural ability, perhaps genetically gifted, as he is the brother of Dallas Cowboys professional bowler Marion Barber and the son of Marion Barber Jr., a former running back for the New York Jets.

The Texans have every reason to be excited as the year begins as they look forward to making this their best season yet.