Andre and I had a debate on Friday's show. I said the Texans need to hit a home run with at least one defensive pick in the draft. He thought that as long as they get a player who could eventually start they should be fine based on what they've done in free agency.

I'm not necessarily saying they need an opening day starter but they need to draft the next Pro Bowl-caliber Texans defender for sure. Whether the player begins his career as a situational pass rushing defensive end, a linebacker getting half the snaps or a DB that forces his way into the line up doesn't matter. For Houston to have a great defense a top notch player must be found.

This is no short term thinking. With the issues surrounding Ryans and Robinson we are reminded of how good teams often have trouble hanging on to big name players (think Pittsburgh and New England). I'm not saying the Texans are an elite defense but they have a nucleus of players that are entering second contract territory and things don't always work out the way fans want.

That's why this draft is crucial. Of course you could have said that about '06. '07 and '08 and you would have been right. After 2-14 in 2005 there was little if any room for error in April. Thank goodness, the current regime has been correct more often than not in their decision making in the Spring Super Bowl. They need another big weekend to get this defense in the top half and help keep it that way in the coming years.