I like them both about the same and would be happy with Hill or Rodriguez. I do favor Rodriguez a bit more though
Maybe it’s because I’ve seen Hill play more and my Texas bias but I have him over Rodriguez with CJ Allen and Golday trailing.
My oldest son (RIP) was a Red Raider, so I admit I may also have some bias wanting him on the Texans.
I just see a more athletic Demeco in Rodriguez. Uncanny nose for the ball and playmaker. On top of being a great athlete. Comparable size and athleticism to Hill. The playmaking takes him over the top for me. I would go Rodriguez, Hill, Golday. Not a huge fan of Allen
I think we gave up too much to move up 3 spots to pick Keylan Rutledge. The only way it's worth it is if Keylan starts this year and has a good season, as in better than half the starters in the league. I hope that's the case.
Texans honestly probably saved the 49ers. Plenty of good guards and centers left in the 2nd if they're looking for one. Wouldn't mind a good blocking TE to add to this line.
Based on all the pre-draft stuff I consumed over the last 6 weeks, Rutledge should be really good for us. Likely start at Center for 2026 and maybe 2027, before transitioning back to guard. Injuries at OG could force him to move back to guard sooner. The thing that frustrates me is that we were forced into a bidding war for him and gave up the most value of any trade all night. I always like to be as efficient as possible with the allocation of resources. Never fall in love with something and always be willing to walk away if it exceeds your preset value. And always be ready to act when the good deals come along. Nick clearly wanted Rutledge at all costs, and blew the budget to get him. Rutledge must have been the final IOL in their "elite" tier, and didn't want to settle for someone in the next tier down. Given that he cost #26 + 4th-5th round value, they obviously view him as a starter in 2026. I'd like to see Nick get the better end of the next 3 or 4 trades though, he's paid retail prices on way too many draft day trades in the past couple of years.
Caserio - OL Insert Talladega baby Jesus We need the position and SF trading out gives hope he could be good. We need it. Sucks he didn't fall in our lap a little easier.
The frustration from getting into a bidding war and being forced to overpay for #26 is similar to the frustration of the Rox getting high lottery picks in "down" draft years, while the Spurs get high lottery picks in generational talent draft years. It's like come on, can we catch a break already?
Eli Stowers, but I don't think he lasts until #59. Texans would likely need to grab him at #38, but McDonald or Hill Jr /Rodriguez might be even more enticing. Stowers at 6'4", 240 lbs had the highest vertical and broad jump of any player at the combine, 4.5-40 yd, great interview, smart. What a weapon he could be at TE.
There are a few other centers in the draft who may or may not be better than Rutledge. Caserio obviously believes that Rutledge is far-and-away the best of them. We certainly hope he's right. Caserio's recor He's obviously a great athlete. Maybe he can be a great TE too.
The obsession with the ‘value’ of the picks versus the results of the players they pick is so odd to me. I suppose it is an effect of the month-long runup to the draft that treats it like some sort of complicated war gaming / day-trading scenario instead of a referendum on a team’s ability to identify good players. Almost every broadcast was mentioning that the Texans have one of the most complete rosters in the NFL (yeah, we get the questions on CJ, which might overshadow everything else). How do you reconcile that roster with Nick ‘losing’ every trade? He shouldn’t have the assets to acquire all the talent he has if he was constantly overpaying or undervaluing picks. The goal is to win the talent war, not win the trade value scorecard. So far, his drafts have been pretty impressive in terms of the actual people they brought in.
Did the Texans just draft their own version of Bruce Matthews, a perennially elite center for over a decade! I know the cost seems high for moving up 2 spots, but if the 49’ers were definitely going to nab him at 27 and the Texans believe he is their elite guy, a core component of getting their OL right? Why risk it! I say the pick is a definite “A” grade, the move up in front of the 49er’s is an “A”. However the amount they traded away takes the air out of the ball a bit. Nevertheless, if he becomes an anchor at Center or at Guard, everyone will forget the Texans traded negative value in hypothetical points.
Very good point. Can’t simultaneously “lose” every trade yet always have the assets to keep making them. A shortage of assets is not the issue, it’s finding the right fits, especially on the line.
