Houston ? The Houston Texans know the ultimate success for most NFL teams lies at quarterback.

So when the Texans make the first selection in the NFL draft on April 20, the team will choose Fresno State quarterback David Carr. That announcement, unusual in that it came more than two weeks before the draft, was announced Wednesday by owner Bob McNair, although the decision was made by general manager Charley Casserly and coach Dom Capers.

“To win, you have to have a good quarterback. Charley and his people have looked at this long and hard,” McNair said. “We know enough about Carr that we feel like we know who he is.”

The Texans had been expected to go for Carr all along, although Oregon’s Joey Harrington is regarded as good a quarterback prospect by some NFL teams.

In 37 games at Fresno State, Carr completed 62.8 percent of his passes for 7,849 yards, 70 touchdowns and 23 interceptions. As a starter, he had an 18-8 record.

As a senior, Carr led the nation with 4,308 yards passing and 42 touchdown passes, becoming only the sixth quarterback in NCAA history to throw for more than 4,000 yards and more than 40 touchdown passes in the same season.

He led the Bulldogs to an 11-2 record last season.

Carr finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting and won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award as the nation’s top senior quarterback.

Casserly had previously acknowledged that Carr was likely to be his choice over Oregon Harrington and others, like North Carolina defensive end Julius Peppers.

“We felt he was the best player in the draft,” Casserly said. “You got a real solid individual off the field and a real talented individual on the field.”

While the Texans are impressed by Carr’s accurate passing and strong work ethic, Casserly said the team also likes that his personality is well grounded by his family life.

Colts’ tackle Dalton makes shift to Denver

Denver Defensive tackle Lional Dalton, who played for Baltimore in its Super Bowl victory two seasons ago, has signed with the Denver Broncos.

The seven-year, $22 million deal was reached two weeks ago, according to Dalton’s agent Steve Weinberg. It includes a $3 million signing bonus.

Dalton, 27, spent the last four seasons with Baltimore and will be reunited with former Ravens defensive line coach Jacob Burney in Denver.

Weinke may face surgery

Charlotte, N.C. Carolina Panthers quarterback Chris Weinke is still bothered by a sore throwing shoulder and surgery remains an option.

“I’m just trying to get through this minicamp and re-evaluate it later,” he said Wednesday of the right shoulder. “If something needs to be done to correct it, we’ll look at that in the next couple weeks.”

Tight end inks with Bills

Orchard Park, N.Y. Tight end Brady McDonnell signed with the Buffalo Bills on Wednesday after spending last season on injured reserve with the New York Giants. He is one of a half dozen unrestricted free agents who met with the Bills on Tuesday, the team said.

Chiefs corral Ransom

Kansas City Defensive end Derrick Ransom on Wednesday signed a two-year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs. Terms of the deal were not announced. In 42 games over four seasons with the Chiefs, Ransom has 79 tackles, 39 of them solo, and four sacks.

Bears match offer sheet

Lake Forest, Ill. The Chicago Bears are holding on to wide receiver D’Wayne Bates. The Bears on Wednesday matched a three-year, $2.85 million offer sheet made last week by the Minnesota Vikings. The deal will cost Chicago $1.1 million against the salary cap.