The Houston Texans were on the verge of clinching the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. That is until Week 18 happened. With under a minute remaining in the season, Lovie Smith led his team down the field while facing a touchdown deficit. As we all know, the Texans found the end zone with 50 seconds remaining — but that’s not all!
Sensing the writing already on the wall, Smith and his guys went for the victory. On the two-point conversion, Davis Mills found Jordan Akins to give Houston a 32-31 lead, which would stand until the end of the game. This win was an awesome parting gift for Smith, who many believed was being scapegoated from the moment he was hired.
The Texans slid down the order to No. 2 following this comeback victory, leaving the Bears to claim the top spot in this year’s NFL Draft. Chicago already traded its pick for a massive haul, essentially guaranteeing that a quarterback comes off the board before Houston takes the podium.
What if the Texans are only sold on one quarterback, namely Bryce Young? Will general manager Nick Caserio pivot to a different signal-caller? Or will he abandon the quarterback plan altogether? Should they stay out and take a defender for DeMeco Ryans to build around? Or should they trade back for a haul of their own, giving the front office more chances to reshape the roster?
2023 NFL Draft: Three Options for the Texans at No. 2 Overall
Below we will highlight these three courses of action and what they might look like for the Texans. Thanks to the added draft capital this year from the Deshaun Watson trade (No. 12 overall), Houston boasts an absurd amount of flexibility in the 2023 NFL Draft. Without further ado… what should the Texans do at No. 2?
1. Draft Best Available QB
This first section comes with a bit of a caveat. I firmly believe the Texans should take a franchise signal-caller at No. 2 overall. If one is available there should be zero debate in the draft room. However, with the Panthers taking a quarterback before them, there is a chance that Houston only has one quarterback with a “franchise player” grade.
By all accounts, Bryce Young is that guy. If Carolina takes the Alabama superstar, it could result in a change of course for the Texans. I’d take the chance on CJ Stroud at No. 2, but the fact he shares an agent with the aforementioned Watson could cause some waves between his representation and the franchise.
Anthony Richardson is a considerable risk this early in the NFL Draft, but Houston should consider developing the polarizing prospect. His ceiling is higher than anyone else in the class — regardless of position. Will Levis boasts a lot of the same physical features but is just as raw in his own right. Perhaps these last two names present too much risk for a team still in the early stages of roster building, but if any of them carry a “franchise player” grade, they should be the pick.
2. Trade Down for a Haul
The Bears already laid the blueprint for what a trade-down would look like in the 2023 NFL Draft. Granted, Chicago had the rights to the No. 1 pick, giving any team acquiring it the choice of the board. For the Texans at No. 2, it is a bit trickier than that. A team trading up would need to have two quarterbacks with a “franchise player” grade to feel comfortable moving assets to climb the board.
The Colts, Raiders, and Titans stand out the most to me, as rumors surrounding the franchises say multiple quarterbacks rank high on their respective boards. For the Colts, the Texans would require less in a trade because Houston would only move back to No. 4 and still be guaranteed a stud defender. The Raiders at No. 7 puts them on the fringe of a great defender, and going back to No. 11 with the Titans takes them out of the convo altogether.
It must be mentioned that the Colts and Titans are both in the same division as the Texans. General manager Nick Caserio could tax any trade offers with these two teams, asking for more than he normally would from non-AFC South bidders. If either team is desperate enough to get their quarterback, it could result in a drastic overpay.
If the Texans want to trade down, they must first decide how far down and which teams they’d be willing to trade with. A move with the Colts would net less draft capital but guarantees a top-tier defender anyway. Trading down to the Raiders would require more in a deal and potentially take Houston out of the running for one of the star pass rushers.
The Titans provide the biggest return but would also make the Texans settle for a non-tier one prospect on their big board. That is a difficult sell to Houston fans at this point, but if the Trey Lance trade from two drafts ago is any indication, the return would likely net the team a first-rounder in 2024 and 2025, at minimum.
In this scenario, the Texans would still own No. 11, No. 12, and No. 33 in the 2023 NFL Draft. Houston would also have their own first-rounder in 2024, alongside first-rounders from the Browns and Titans. Going on, the 2025 NFL Draft would see the Texans with another Titan first-round pick on top of their own.
I know I know… at some point, a team has to make good on all these picks, but imagine the flexibility that would be presented to the front office with all of this draft capital at its disposal. It would be shortsighted for the Texans not to consider this move.
3. Draft Will Anderson Jr.
The final option is simply staying put and taking the best player available on the board, which I expect to be Alabama’s, Will Anderson. DeMeco Ryans prides himself on setting the tone with his defense, and although the Texans’ roster features some promising building blocks, nobody in the front seven brings the type of upside Anderson does.
The Crimson Tide superstar has been on NFL Draft radars since he arrived in Tuscaloosa. He excels at getting to the quarterback, showcasing an impressive array of pass-rushing moves and the motor to keep terrorizing the pocket deep into the game. Anderson could stand to add some more bulk to his frame, as there are a few instances of him lacking the punch necessary to move big-bodied offensive tackles.
Nevertheless, Anderson would become the best pass rusher the franchise has had since JJ Watt was still roaming the gridiron in Houston. The new head coach is a defensive specialist, and Anderson is undoubtedly a special talent. The allure could be too much to pass on, as Houston could still target a quarterback at No. 12, either by trading up or waiting for one of these names to fall down the board.
One thing is for certain… Will Anderson will not be available the next time Houston comes to the clock. If the front office wants him… it has to happen at No. 2 (or potentially No. 4 with a small trade-down with Indy).