John McClain of the Houston Chronicle conducted a live chat with fans Monday, and at multiple points in the Q&A insisted that the Texans want to trade up in the draft.
Per McClain, their targets are Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller and LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson.
“The Texans could offer their 1, 3, 4, and (Amobi) Okoye,” suggests McClain regarding a potential trade up with the Broncos. Denver holds the No. 2 overall pick, which is where the Texans would almost certainly have to get to draft Miller.
According to McClain, a trade up for Peterson is more likely:
“If they trade up to get Peterson, they might not have to offer so much if he drops to Arizona at 5 or San Francisco at 7. ... They want Miller first, and if they can’t trade up to get him, they’ll try to trade to get Peterson if he falls.”
Throughout the chat, McClain makes other statements such as “They will try to move up to get those players,” “They’ll try,” and “I know they will try (to trade up).”
Unfortunately, a trade up to No. 2 isn’t realistic for the Texans. Per the NFL trade value chart, they’d have to give up their entire 2011 draft plus Okoye -- when trading veteran players may not even be allowed -- to execute a deal with Denver.
In the end, McClain gives the Texans just a 20 percent chance of moving up for Miller or Peterson.
McClain predicts that Missouri defensive end Aldon Smith will end up in Houston.