Early returns, by Texans fans, for Rd. 1 Draft pick Kareem Jackson are not good. Why didn't they trade back and take him later? Where's the running back we were promised? What about Kyle Wilson?
These are legitimate questions, but not ones that serve to diminish one important fact: The Texans needed immediate help at the corner position, and Jackson can provide that.
Could they have traded back? Who knows? I was hoping, pre-draft, that they might (tweet here) I also was on record as favoring Kyle Wilson to fill the cornerback role. My thought behind that pick had everything to do with ceilings. Wilson's ceiling is higher than Jackson's.
On the other hand, Jackson's floor is much higher than Wilson's. Knowing the current Texans regime I should have made adjustments for their overly risk-averse attitude. When you consider that, and their pre-occupation with character, Jackson was the way they were going to go if Matthews was off the board. (FWIW: The only people who really seemed to think Matthews would still be there at 20 were ChronBlog's paid sportswriters. Odd that.)
On the one hand I do believe that Jackson will provide the starting cornerback that the defense desperately needs. I fully expect him to start, and play fairly well, this year. He's well coached and steady, if unspectacular. Kyle Wilson might not have been as good this year, but I still believe he will develop into a better cornerback over time.*
There's also this: As it stands now, the best cornerback who's rights are owned by the Texans currently is....Kareem Jackson. And that's by a large amount. He's never going to be the shut-down corner fans want, but few are. Welcome to Houston Mr. Jackson.
*Wilson really has a chance to be great now considering he will start off as the nickel corner playing along side Reavis and Cromartie. If you have the Jets on your schedule and are a passing team.....look out.