The 2022 NFL draft may be the first one for Lovie Smith as the Houston Texans’ coach, but it isn’t his first rodeo by any means.
The 63-year-old from Big Sandy, Texas, has been working with general manager Nick Caserio on the club’s strategy heading into the draft, one that figures to be an optimistic start for a moribund franchise cursed with four-win seasons in each of the past two seasons.
“It’s important for the future but it’s about now,” Smith said. “We talked about picks three, thirteen and others that we have and that just says that everything is on the table. Moving back is on the table. Everything is on the table as we go.”
The Texans have already begun wheeling and dealing draft picks as Houston worked with the New England Patriots to acquire a fifth-round pick, a selection Houston lacked going into the final week of the draft.
“When you are getting ready for a draft, you look at all possibilities,” said Smith. “That’s what you do and that’s what we’ve done. There is a lot of time when you analyze everything. This isn’t my first rodeo, but I can’t remember when we’ve had two first-round picks. I know I like that position now.”
The last time the Texans used two first-round picks was in 2004 — not a bad way for Smith to start his third coaching gig.
“Didn’t like it an awful lot last year when we were losing some games, but we like it right now and again, we are expecting to get impact players,” Smith said.
