Virginia Tech OLT Duane Brown will push Ephraim Salaam for a starting job, and he will have every chance to become the long-term solution at the position. The selection of Brown has the markings of one heavily influenced by assistant head coach Alex Gibbs, who is charged with helping improve the play of the struggling O-line. A converted tight end, Brown is athletic and long-armed. He moves very well for a left tackle. But he is not physical, and his technique needs significant work. Also, he has struggled with edge rushers, and he did not play well against top collegiate competition. He could be a major project. The Texans bolstered their CB depth by selecting Eastern Kentucky’s Antwaun Molden, who turned heads with his Combine workout. Molden has very good straight-line speed and strength and is fluid in his movements. But he is far from a finished product — he bites on double-moves, doesn’t close with the type of burst scouts would like to see and needs to get better in zone coverage. West Virginia RB Steve Slaton will compete to be a third-down and change-of-pace back in his first NFL season. Slaton is best in space; his acceleration is his calling card. But he’s going to have to become a better pass blocker if he wants to log a lot of snaps. Virginia Tech WLB Xavier Adibi was expected to be drafted earlier than Round Four. Don’t be surprised if he pushes for playing time right off the bat: The Texans are looking for more speed at linebacker. If kept clean of blockers — he’s only 232 pounds — Adibi can fill up the stat sheet. Texans DT Frank Okam is the massive interior lineman Houston has lacked in the middle, but he must show consistent passion for the game to reach his potential. Minnesota S Dominique Barber is best near the line of scrimmage. Washington State passer Alex Brink is a practice-squad candidate, as the Texans’ QB depth chart is set (Matt Schaub, Sage Rosenfels, Quinn Gray).
