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 linemen (+20.1 vs league on 5 picks) and offensive linemen (-0.3 vs league on 9 picks). Weakest at edge rushers (-16.5 on 7 picks) and cornerbacks (-14.6 on 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OL | 9 | 5 | 2 | 56% | -6.8 | -0.3 vs league |
| WR | 8 | 3 | 3 | 25% | -18.9 | -13.0 vs league |
| EDGE | 7 | 1 | 1 | 14% | -28.8 | -16.5 vs league |
| RB | 5 | 0 | 0 | 40% | -7.1 | -4.8 vs league |
| DL | 5 | 1 | 1 | 60% | +11.8 | +20.1 vs league |
| CB | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0% | -26.1 | -14.6 vs league |
| QB | 2 | 2 | 0 | 50% | -20.2 | too few to judge |
| LB | 2 | 2 | 0 | 50% | +3.4 | too few to judge |
| S | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0% | -33.1 | too few to judge |
| TE | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100% | +31.8 | too few to judge |
| K | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | - | too few to judge |
Best and worst picks
Best value
- Chris Jones (DL, R6 2013) +62 DVA
- Ryan Griffin (TE, R6 2013) +51 DVA
- Ben Jones (OL, R4 2012) +40 DVA
Worst value
- Xavier Su'a-Filo (OL, R2 2014) -56 DVA
- Louis Nix (DL, 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 | OL | Bucknell | -46.3 | starter |
| 2017 | R4, #142 | Carlos Watkins | DL | Clemson | -12.5 | backup |
| 2017 | R5, #169 | Treston Decoud | S | Oregon St. | -27.1 | active |
| 2017 | R7, #243 | Kyle Fuller | OL | Baylor | +11.0 | backup |
| 2016 | R1, #21 | Will Fuller | WR | Notre Dame | +20.5 | starter |
| 2016 | R2, #50 | Nick Martin | OL | 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 | DL | Clemson | +29.9 | starter |
| 2015 | R1, #16 | Kevin Johnson | CB | Wake Forest | -25.3 | bust |
| 2015 | R2, #43 | Benardrick McKinney | LB | 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 | EDGE | South Florida | -28.6 | released |
| 2015 | R6, #216 | Christian Covington | DL | Rice | +34.5 | backup |
| 2015 | R7, #235 | Kenny Hilliard | RB | LSU | -23.9 | released |
| 2014 | R1, #1 | Jadeveon Clowney | EDGE | South Carolina | +2.2 | starter |
| 2014 | R2, #33 | Xavier Su'a-Filo | OL | UCLA | -56.3 | bust |
| 2014 | R3, #65 | C.J. Fiedorowicz | TE | Iowa | +12.7 | backup |
| 2014 | R3, #83 | Louis Nix | DL | Notre Dame | -55.4 | bust |
| 2014 | R4, #135 | Tom Savage | QB | Pittsburgh | -49.1 | starter |
| 2014 | R6, #177 | Jeoffrey Pagan | EDGE | Alabama | -25.4 | active |
| 2014 | R6, #181 | Alfred Blue | RB | LSU | +22.4 | backup |
| 2014 | R6, #211 | Jay Prosch | RB | Auburn | -13.6 | backup |
| 2014 | R7, #216 | Andre Hal | CB | Vanderbilt | -12.6 | starter |
| 2014 | R7, #256 | Lonnie Ballentine | CB | Memphis | -19.7 | active |
| 2013 | R1, #27 | DeAndre Hopkins | WR | Clemson | +21.4 | starter |
| 2013 | R2, #57 | D.J. Swearinger | CB | South Carolina | -46.6 | bust |
| 2013 | R3, #89 | Brennan Williams | OL | North Carolina | -54.0 | bust |
| 2013 | R3, #95 | Sam Montgomery | EDGE | LSU | -52.7 | bust |
| 2013 | R4, #124 | Trevardo Williams | EDGE | 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 | DL | Bowling Green | +62.2 | backup |
| 2013 | R6, #201 | Ryan Griffin | TE | Connecticut | +50.9 | backup |
| 2012 | R1, #26 | Whitney Mercilus | EDGE | Illinois | -20.0 | backup |
| 2012 | R3, #68 | DeVier Posey | WR | Ohio St. | -48.9 | bust |
| 2012 | R3, #76 | Brandon Brooks | OL | Miami (OH) | +28.8 | starter |
| 2012 | R4, #99 | Ben Jones | OL | Georgia | +39.7 | starter |
| 2012 | R4, #121 | Keshawn Martin | WR | Michigan St. | -32.0 | backup |
| 2012 | R4, #126 | Jared Crick | EDGE | 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 offensive linemen?
Rick Smith has drafted 9 offensive linemen: 5 starters, 2 busts, -6.8 DVA per pick. That is 0.3 points below the league average for offensive linemen.
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 edge rushers?
Rick Smith has drafted 7 edge rushers: 1 starters, 1 busts, -28.8 DVA per pick. That is 16.5 points below the league average for edge rushers.