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Battle Red Onion: Houston Texans Interested In Trading Back Into 2013 NFL Draft For Futurepast Draft Picks

Proudly distributing sensationalized rubbish since 2010. Take Jadeveon Clowney? Trade down and take a quarterback? Trade back into the 2013 NFL Draft? All possibilities are on the table according to Texans general manager Rick Smith.

By David Corzo
Pictured above is Houston Texans general manager and leading theoretical physicist Rick Smith, seen here contemplating the infinite vastness of the universe.
Pictured above is Houston Texans general manager and leading theoretical physicist Rick Smith, seen here contemplating the infinite vastness of the universe.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

HOUSTON, TX-- It looks like we might have to alter the meaning of "trading back" when talking about the NFL Draft. At a press conference Friday, Rick Smith noted that even with a week left to decide, he and his staff are still open to any and all options available for the first overall pick-- including possibly trading back into last year's NFL Draft.

"I'm not going to limit us to this year's crop of players," Smith said. "There was a lot of talent taken last year and we'd be foolish to not consider picking up extra draft picks, even if they've already been used."

If we end up... creating a time paradox, you have to live with those results; you can't be afraid to fail."

The idea of trading current draft picks for past picks is certainly a new one, and could completely change the way they're valued.  "I'm always telling you guys that I'm looking for value," continued Smith."And with where we are in the Draft, and after last season, I'm not going to hang up on anybody. Even if it's Barry Switzer talking about trading his 1996 second-rounder."

Even though the Texans are, reportedly, still in talks with the Atlanta Falcons to possibly move down, sources confirm that Rick Smith has retroactively spoken with Jeff Ireland back when he was still the GM of the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins held  the 12th overall pick in 2013 before trading up to 3rd with Oakland. Smith presumably spoke with Ireland before that trade took place.

Sources also confirm that Cleveland Browns GM Michael Lombardi, who will be fired this past February, is interested in moving forward in time to select former Texans A&M star Johnny Manziel with the 2014 first overall pick. It's unclear what sort of recompense Smith would ask for in return.

When asked if he knew of any ramifications associated with bending the fabric of space-time in order to communicate with the past, Smith was confident. "There are risks with every prospect on this list and every other list in the draft's history. If we end up taking, say, Tavon Austin, and end up creating a time paradox, you have to live with those results; you can't be afraid to fail."

This revelation in Smith's strategy has pundits scrambling to guess what the Texans will do when the draft opens on Thursday night. Draftniks are re-writing their mocks with players ranging all the way back to 1985.

Even with just four days left, Rick Smith and the Texans have, seemingly, all the time in the world.

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