While it’s usually premature to rank a year’s dra

ft haul prior to season’s end Justin Reid Color Rush Jersey , you’d be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t think new Houston Texans new general manager Brian Gaine didn’t provide an immediate upgrade over drafts of recent memory. While Gaine was incredibly handicapped by decisions former GM Rick Smith made, having no first or second round pick didn’t stop the Texans from landing some premiere talent and immediately adding starters. Let’s take a look at what’s come to pass so far in H-Town:Round Three: Justin Reid, SafetyTaking the field in place of the temporarily absent Andre Hal, Reid has immediately put his name in the Defensive Rookie of the Year hat. He’s started eight games so far, delivered 60 total tackles (48 solo), forced and recovered one fumble, corralled three interceptions (including one he ran back for a 101-yard touchdown), and made clutch play after clutch play. Reid, along with Tyrann Mathieu, Kareem Jackson and the triumphantly returning Andre Hal, is part of the best safety corps the Texans have ever had, bar none. Round Three: Martinas Rankin, Offensive LinemanThe jury is still out on Rankin, who suffered a broken foot in preseason practice, and then took over for Julien Davenport for a few games at left tackle, with fairly disastrous results. It’s never easy to evaluate a mid-round offensive lineman early on, so Rankin might still produce, but so far he’s provided more questions than answers. It’s premature to use the label “bust Tyler Ervin Color Rush Jersey ,” but if there is one in the draft class, Rankin is it right now.Round Three: Jordan Akins, Tight EndIt’s been so long since the Texans have had a solid tight end, it almost seems like a myth that they ever did. Now, not only do they have one, but two, affectionately known as the “Jordan Twins.”Akins, along with sixth rounder Jordan Thomas, have provided a glimpse of what Houston’s offense can do with quality tight end play. Let’s just call Akins TE1 for the next decade.Round Four: Keke Coutee, Wide ReceiverCoutee has been nursing a hamstring injury all season, but when he’s been moderately healthy, he’s shown flashes of record-setting brilliance a la Will Fuller V. Once next season rolls around and Coutee, DeAndre Hopkins, Fuller, and Demaryius Thomas all take the field with a clean bill of health, Houston’s passing attack is going to be lethal.Round Six: Duke Ejiofor, Defensive EndIt’s almost a clich茅 at this point that Houston will land a studly defensive lineman and/or linebacker in each draft. Ejiofor has a motor like J.J. Watt, a slipperiness similar to Whitney Mercilus of years past Kendall Lamm Color Rush Jersey , and an uncanny nose for the ball like Jadeveon Clowney. All that from a third day draft pick.Round Six: Jordan Thomas, Tight EndAs mentioned earlier, Thomas has managed to contribute far more than one would expect from a sixth-round tight end. With 14 catches and four touchdowns (including two against the Dolphins), Thomas has already proven he deserves to be TE2 over incumbent Ryan Griffin.Round Six: Peter Kalambayi, LinebackerHere’s where Gaine finally seemed to slide into roster depth territory. Kalambayi hasn’t seen much action but seems to be a solid bench guy Houston can pull onto the field to spell starters when necessary and late in games where they have a comfortable lead.Round Seven: Jermaine Kelly, CornerbackIt’s hard to grade Kelly at all, as he hit the Injured Reserve list on September 3rd. But, if he’s the only guy Gaine drafted who doesn’t contribute in any meaningful way in 2018, you really can’t knock Gaine at all. It’s hard to state this is the best draft in recent memory, but it is tempting to say that. As with all drafts, looking back requires time and distance to really see them in full context.Armed with a much better suite of draft picks in 2019, Gaine should be able to properly stock the offensive line and add more depth in other areas. As of this moment, the Texans have at least one pick in every round (with two in the second).Based on their current season trajectory, they will pick in the bottom portion of each round. However, considering what Gaine pulled out in the third round and beyond last year, Houston should be sitting pretty next summer.What do you think? Are you ready to anoint Brian Gaine as the best general manager in Texans history? Lamenting the loss of Rick Smith? Don’t care either way as long as the Texans destroy the Colts this week? ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Vance Joseph says the Broncos and former Denver wide receiver Demaryius Thomas both need to just move on from their recent breakup.Thomas said in a radio interview Monday, a day after his successful homecoming in a 19-17 Texans win in Denver Andre Hal Color Rush Jersey , that he was misled by the Broncos about the possibility of a trade, was asked to surrender snaps to the team’s rookie receivers and was heartbroken over not being named a captain this year.Joseph said Wednesday he had “great respect for D.T.,” was “disappointed with how he recalls the conversations going,” and “we’ve got to move on.”“He’s got to move on. We’ve got to move on,” Joseph said. “He’s no longer a Bronco and I can’t spend any time worrying about that. But as far as reading that stuff, I’m disappointed it was presented that way, I really am.”Thomas aired his frustrations during an interview with former Broncos Rod Smith and Ray Crockett on Orange & Blue 760-AM in Denver, a Broncos broadcast partner.Thomas said the day before he was traded, Joseph told him the trade talk wasn’t true.“I said, ‘How is that not true? My agent called me today and said (general manager John) Elway wanted a fifth-round pick for me.’ So, are we telling stories to each other now? I thought we were going to be men about this,” Thomas said.In his first comments about Thomas’ criticisms, Joseph said, “I’m disappointed with how he recalls the conversations going.”“It was obviously a week and a half where the rumors and gossip were flowing, and we talked about the rumors and gossip — until something happened, we all had to focus on doing our jobs and winning football games,” Joseph said. “From my end, that was discussed.”Thomas also complained in the interview that he wasn’t named a captain this year J.J. Watt Color Rush Jersey , something he’d been three times before, and suggested there were some shenanigans in the vote counting: “I go to a meeting room and it’s like every player came to me and were like, ‘How are you not a captain? We picked you.’ … It was heartbreaking.”Free agent quarterback Case Keenum and longtime center Matt Paradis were named offensive captains this year, and Joseph said Thomas never conveyed his disappointment over his exclusion.“No, no. And our players vote for the captains,” Joseph said. “They vote for the guys they see fit, who they want to lead their football team. So, I’m not sure where that came from or who discussed that with D.T. But again, I have great respect for him. The players vote for the captains. They voted for who they thought were the best guys to lead their football team. And that’s it.”Thomas also said in his interview that new wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni told him he’d have to surrender playing time so the Broncos could give more snaps to rookie receivers Courtland Sutton and DaeSean Hamilton. He also said he was the only veteran receiver who was told this.Thomas added, “I don’t understand that because I’ve never cried about getting the ball. I didn’t get (upset) about nothing … it just hurt me. I’m emotional. I’m empty. I’m empty still.” Thomas caught three passes for 61 yards in the Texans’ win Sunday in Denver, where the Broncos honored their former receiver with a video tribute before the game and by putting a giant “Thank you” on the 10-story-high banner of Thomas outside their stadium.“We have great respect for D.T.,” Joseph said. “He was a great player here and we honored him on Sunday. We didn’t win the game; he won the game. I think it’s a little frustration on his part, but I’m disappointed in how it came out because I don’t recall it being discussed that way. And that’s OK. The last point: we’ve got to move on.”Notes: Paradis underwent surgery Wednesday to repair his right leg, which he broke Sunday. … The players were given a four-day furlough for their bye week after an indoor practice Wednesday.