If the rumors are correct, expect a trade with Washington that will move Houston to the number 6 pick (from so that they can grab Notre Dame's Brady Quinn.

On the list of the world's 946 billionaires published by Forbes Magazine this week, Houston Texans owner Bob McNair ranked No. 664, with reported assets of $1.5 billion.

That's good, because it seems that for the second time in six years, McNair is going to be opening up the bank vault to sign a top-10 quarterback from the draft.

However, there are two problems with this scenario.

The first is the current incumbent at quarterback, David Carr.

The Texans appear focused on Brady Quinn. According to ESPN's Len Pasquarelli, the Texans would like to move up in the draft to get the Notre Dame quarterback. Sage Rosenfels might still be the starter at the beginning of next season, but Quinn could be groomed to play quickly.

Left unsaid in all of this is how the Texans get rid of David Carr. His trade value appears to be very low. His cap number is too high to stay on the roster unless he agrees to rework his contract. It's unlikely he'd do that to be a backup. Even though the Texans have filled needs at running back and the offensive line, quarterback remains their most pressing issue.

Indeed, are the Texans prepared to throw away the amount of money necessary to get rid of David Car without any compensation at all? I somehow doubt it, which means they are going to have to unload him somewhere -- but where, and for how little?

Which leads us to the other intriguing question -- after so many protestations that the team will trade away no extra draft picks, how do the Texans move into a position where Quinn is available? Well, there is this scenario.

If ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli's (membership required) league sources are right, they are doing just that. Please note the first word of the previous sentence. (See: Rudyard Kipling.)

According to Pasquarelli, "some in the league" believe the Texans have agreed in principle to a trade with the Washington Redskins to swap draft positions if Quinn is available when the Redskins go on the clock with the sixth pick.

According to the draft pick value chart followed by most teams, a move from the Texans spot at No. 8 to No. 6 would require a mid-third round pick. The Texans don't have any player they are willing to trade who has third-round value except for David Carr. (Value, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.) Would the Redskins take Carr? Would the Texans give up their third-round pick for Quinn?

This type rumor talk makes one wonder where it came from. You know the Texans have nothing to gain from putting word out that they are interested in moving up to get Quinn. That only makes other teams interested in Quinn know they have to beat the Texans out for his services. In this case, the less competition the better - if Quinn is indeed your guy.

Washington, on the other hand, stands to gain plenty by putting out such word. First, it lets the world know that the No. 6 pick is up for grabs. Secondly, it alerts those interested in Quinn that the Texans are after him, which also drives up the price for the No. 6 pick.

Frankly, unless Kubiak & Co. are willing to give up a draft pick (or the Redskins will take David Carr as a part of the deal), I don't see this trade happening. And neither do some other local sports commentators.

Personally, this Texans season ticketholder is expecting our starter in the fall to be Sage Rosenfels -- and I hope that David Carr (who I wish well) is nowhere on our roster. But I also urge the Texans to consider a choice that would be popular locally in the second or third round -- or even trading DOWN to the end of the first round to do this -- by making University of Houston's Kevin Kolb the quarterback of the future for the Houston Texans. It may take a season to groom Kolb for the starting role, but Rosenfels showed enough skill last season to be accepted by the fans as the acknowledged caretaker QB.

Posted by: Greg at 02:19 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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