This was a Bob McNair decision, choosing Mario Williams over Reggie Bush. The Houston Texans owner didn't want a contract stalemate to ruin the PR value of having the first pick in the draft. The last thing McNair wanted to do was to select Bush and then possibly deal with a training-camp holdout.

The Texans weren't getting anywhere with agent Joel Segal on a long-term contract for Bush and once they decided earlier in the week that they would be happy with either Williams, the North Carolina State defensive end, or Bush, they moved in the direction of the player more willing to negotiate a contract.

 The Texans were offering an 8 percent raise over what San Francisco's Alex Smith received last year as the first overall choice. That would be around $26 million in guaranteed money.