Rick Smith Draft History and Grades
6 draft classes, 2012-2017. Every pick graded against its slot.
The answer
Rick Smith has made 47 picks. 16 became starters and 9 were busts. Draft Value Added per pick: -11.6, league average -7.6. That ranks 45 of 55 GMs with 20+ picks.
Best at defensive tackles (+16.8 vs league on 4 picks) and guards (+5.1 vs league on 3 picks). Weakest at defensive ends (-15.0 on 6 picks) and defensive backs (-14.4 on 3 picks).
Open Rick Smith in the draft explorer All GMs ranked
By position
Draft Value Added compares each pick's peak season to what that draft slot usually produces. Click a position to see those picks in the explorer.
| Pos | Picks | Starters | Busts | Hit | DVA/pick | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WR | 8 | 3 | 3 | 25% | -18.9 | -13.0 vs league |
| DE | 6 | 1 | 1 | 17% | -28.9 | -15.0 vs league |
| RB | 4 | 0 | 0 | 50% | -5.5 | -4.1 vs league |
| DT | 4 | 0 | 1 | 50% | +7.2 | +16.8 vs league |
| G | 3 | 3 | 1 | 67% | -1.8 | +5.1 vs league |
| DB | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0% | -26.3 | -14.4 vs league |
| OL | 3 | 0 | 1 | 33% | -20.1 | -9.2 vs league |
| QB | 2 | 2 | 0 | 50% | -20.2 | too few to judge |
| S | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0% | -33.1 | too few to judge |
| C | 2 | 1 | 0 | 100% | +25.4 | too few to judge |
| TE | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100% | +31.8 | too few to judge |
| LB | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0% | -2.0 | too few to judge |
| T | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0% | -46.3 | too few to judge |
| NT | 1 | 1 | 0 | 100% | +29.9 | too few to judge |
| CB | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0% | -25.3 | too few to judge |
| ILB | 1 | 1 | 0 | 100% | +8.7 | too few to judge |
| OLB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0% | -28.6 | too few to judge |
| FB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0% | -13.6 | too few to judge |
| K | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | - | too few to judge |
Best and worst picks
Best value
- Chris Jones (DT, R6 2013) +62 DVA
- Ryan Griffin (TE, R6 2013) +51 DVA
- Ben Jones (C, R4 2012) +40 DVA
Worst value
- Xavier Su'a-Filo (G, R2 2014) -56 DVA
- Louis Nix (DT, R3 2014) -55 DVA
- Brennan Williams (OL, R3 2013) -54 DVA
Tenure
- Texans: 2006-2017
Whoever was in the chair on draft day owns that class. Our pick window starts in 2012, so earlier classes are not counted.
Every pick
| Year | Pick | Player | Pos | School | DVA | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | R1, #12 | Deshaun Watson | QB | Clemson | +8.7 | starter |
| 2017 | R2, #57 | Zach Cunningham | LB | Vanderbilt | -2.0 | starter |
| 2017 | R3, #89 | D'Onta Foreman | RB | Texas | +11.8 | backup |
| 2017 | R4, #130 | Julién Davenport | T | Bucknell | -46.3 | starter |
| 2017 | R4, #142 | Carlos Watkins | DT | Clemson | -12.5 | backup |
| 2017 | R5, #169 | Treston Decoud | S | Oregon St. | -27.1 | active |
| 2017 | R7, #243 | Kyle Fuller | C | Baylor | +11.0 | backup |
| 2016 | R1, #21 | Will Fuller | WR | Notre Dame | +20.5 | starter |
| 2016 | R2, #50 | Nick Martin | G | Notre Dame | +22.0 | starter |
| 2016 | R3, #85 | Braxton Miller | WR | Ohio St. | -27.7 | bust |
| 2016 | R4, #119 | Tyler Ervin | RB | San Jose St. | -32.5 | backup |
| 2016 | R5, #159 | K.J. Dillon | S | West Virginia | -39.1 | active |
| 2016 | R5, #166 | D.J. Reader | NT | Clemson | +29.9 | starter |
| 2015 | R1, #16 | Kevin Johnson | CB | Wake Forest | -25.3 | bust |
| 2015 | R2, #43 | Benardrick McKinney | ILB | Mississippi St. | +8.7 | starter |
| 2015 | R3, #70 | Jaelen Strong | WR | Arizona St. | -26.9 | bust |
| 2015 | R5, #175 | Keith Mumphery | WR | Michigan St. | -25.8 | active |
| 2015 | R6, #211 | Reshard Cliett | OLB | South Florida | -28.6 | released |
| 2015 | R6, #216 | Christian Covington | DT | Rice | +34.5 | backup |
| 2015 | R7, #235 | Kenny Hilliard | RB | LSU | -23.9 | released |
| 2014 | R1, #1 | Jadeveon Clowney | DE | South Carolina | +2.2 | starter |
| 2014 | R2, #33 | Xavier Su'a-Filo | G | UCLA | -56.3 | bust |
| 2014 | R3, #65 | C.J. Fiedorowicz | TE | Iowa | +12.7 | backup |
| 2014 | R3, #83 | Louis Nix | DT | Notre Dame | -55.4 | bust |
| 2014 | R4, #135 | Tom Savage | QB | Pittsburgh | -49.1 | starter |
| 2014 | R6, #177 | Jeoffrey Pagan | DE | Alabama | -25.4 | active |
| 2014 | R6, #181 | Alfred Blue | RB | LSU | +22.4 | backup |
| 2014 | R6, #211 | Jay Prosch | FB | Auburn | -13.6 | backup |
| 2014 | R7, #216 | Andre Hal | DB | Vanderbilt | -12.6 | starter |
| 2014 | R7, #256 | Lonnie Ballentine | DB | Memphis | -19.7 | active |
| 2013 | R1, #27 | DeAndre Hopkins | WR | Clemson | +21.4 | starter |
| 2013 | R2, #57 | D.J. Swearinger | DB | South Carolina | -46.6 | bust |
| 2013 | R3, #89 | Brennan Williams | OL | North Carolina | -54.0 | bust |
| 2013 | R3, #95 | Sam Montgomery | DE | LSU | -52.7 | bust |
| 2013 | R4, #124 | Trevardo Williams | DE | Connecticut | -46.4 | active |
| 2013 | R6, #176 | David Quessenberry | OL | San Jose St. | +25.6 | backup |
| 2013 | R6, #195 | Alan Bonner | WR | Jacksonville St. | -31.8 | released |
| 2013 | R6, #198 | Chris Jones | DT | Bowling Green | +62.2 | backup |
| 2013 | R6, #201 | Ryan Griffin | TE | Connecticut | +50.9 | backup |
| 2012 | R1, #26 | Whitney Mercilus | DE | Illinois | -20.0 | backup |
| 2012 | R3, #68 | DeVier Posey | WR | Ohio St. | -48.9 | bust |
| 2012 | R3, #76 | Brandon Brooks | G | Miami (OH) | +28.8 | starter |
| 2012 | R4, #99 | Ben Jones | C | Georgia | +39.7 | starter |
| 2012 | R4, #121 | Keshawn Martin | WR | Michigan St. | -32.0 | backup |
| 2012 | R4, #126 | Jared Crick | DE | Nebraska | -31.0 | backup |
| 2012 | R5, #161 | Randy Bullock | K | Texas A&M | - | backup |
| 2012 | R6, #195 | Nick Mondek | OL | Purdue | -31.8 | released |
Questions
How good is Rick Smith at drafting?
Rick Smith has 16 starters and 9 busts from 47 picks, with a hit rate of 37% and -11.6 Draft Value Added per pick. A positive number means the picks outperformed their draft slot.
How good is Rick Smith at evaluating wide receivers?
Rick Smith has drafted 8 wide receivers: 3 starters, 3 busts, -18.9 DVA per pick. That is 13.0 points below the league average for wide receivers.
How good is Rick Smith at evaluating defensive ends?
Rick Smith has drafted 6 defensive ends: 1 starters, 1 busts, -28.9 DVA per pick. That is 15.0 points below the league average for defensive ends.
How good is Rick Smith at evaluating running backs?
Rick Smith has drafted 4 running backs: 0 starters, 0 busts, -5.5 DVA per pick. That is 4.1 points below the league average for running backs.