The Houston Texans: Greatest Draft Class in the Last 20 Years

The Houston Texans are still a relatively young franchise. Only 20 years into existence, and it has had its moments of success but not much in the way of long-term sustainability.

Their closest moments came during the 2010s with the drafting of players like JJ Watt, Deandre Hopkins, Jadeveon Clowney, and Deshawn Watson.

Great players in their own right, the Texans have never had one singular draft class that set the franchise up just yet, as opposed to a number of classes that featured maybe one or two quality players for an extended period.

The only exception to producing more than one or two long-term starters who found success in Houston goes back to the 2006 Draft Class.

2006 Houston Texans Draft Class

• Round 1: DE Mario Williams
• Round 2: LB DeMeco Ryans
• Round 3 (2): G Charles Spencer, OT Eric Winston
• Round 4: TE Owen Daniels
• Round 6: RB Wali Lundy
• Round 7: WR David Anderson

It should be noted that Spencer never played a down with the Texans, as he was released following two years of sustaining severe, season-ending injuries.

Running back Wali Lundy actually had moderate success in his one single year in Houston while sharing the carries with veteran Ron Dayne, totaling 476 yards and four touchdowns. Ultimately, he was released before his second season. He was never playing another down.

The rest of the draft class had extended careers.

Former Texans WR David Anderson (89) – Chris Graythen/Getty Images

As a seventh-round receiver, David Anderson was primarily a special teams player for the first two seasons of his career, with minimal opportunities on offense.

By year three, Anderson became one of the team’s top four receivers. He was getting the chance to start a handful of games, with his best season coming in 2009 with 38 receptions for 370 yards. Anderson played 6 1/2 of his seven NFL seasons in Houston.

From a larger impact was Eric Winston. The former President of the NFLPA manned the right tackle spot on the Texans’ offensive line for six of his 12 seasons, starting in 87 games during his time in Houston.

While Winston would go on to play and start games for three other franchises, including four with Cincinnati, he is best remembered for his time with Houston, manning the tackle spots with Pro Bowler Duane Brown and often blocking alongside a Texans offensive fan favorite.

Tight End Owen Daniels saw the rise and fall of Andre Johnson, Arian Foster, and the arrival of Deandre Hopkins during his 10-year NFL career. Eight of which were spent in Houston, including winning a Super Bowl in Denver in what would be his final season.

Regarded as one of the best offensive players in team history, the two-time Pro Bowler caught 385 receptions for 4,617 yards and 29 touchdowns in 100 games played in Houston, including the franchise’s first two playoff appearances from 2011-12.

Daniels is currently third in receptions, yards, and receiving touchdowns in franchise history, behind Hopkins and Johnson, respectively, and remains a fan favorite.

Former Texans DE Mario Williams (90) – Getty Images

The only player to have a better career than Daniels was the Texans’ first-round pick in the ’06 draft—edge rusher Mario Williams.

Controversial at the time as the Texans needed a quarterback, and many fans wanted the team to draft local legend and National Champion Vince Young from Texas. Or even possibly go with the most electric player in college football at the time, and maybe even in RB Reggie Bush from USC. Both players were considered the best players in the ’06 draft class, and either one was a slam dunk for the Texans.

Instead, Houston opted to go with the large, athletic pass rusher from NC State. Bush and Young would follow in the draft in respective order. Neither of which would land the same success that Williams would enjoy in his 11 seasons.

His first six seasons were spent in Houston, where he landed two Pro Bowls and a second-team All-Pro to his name, finishing his career as the Texans’ career sack leader (53) before being passed by Whitney Mercilus and then JJ Watt.

For his career, Williams totaled four Pro Bowls, three All-Pro teams, and 97.5 career sacks. While he didn’t finish his career in Houston, he became a catalyst for some of the best defenses in franchise history and what would begin a successful run of drafting and developing defensive talent. Something that had been absent prior to his arrival.

Leaving a still unmentioned mark in the Texans’ history, but led to even more names and more success on the defensive side of the ball.

Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports