Nick Caserio said early in the 2022 offseason the Houston Texans were “open for business” with the No. 3 overall pick.
The theme is about the same for Houston in 2023 with a little over a week until the 2023 NFL draft as the Texans’ general manager revealed the club has fielded inquiries regarding their No. 2 overall pick.
“We’ve received some calls actually, on the No. 2 pick,” said Caserio. “I think our job and responsibility is to listen and not rule anything out. I think whatever the end result is come [April 27], you know, we’ll be prepared to go either way.”
Caserio had a new slogan for the Texans’ approach to possibly dealing the No. 2 overall pick: “If you want to quote me, are we open for business, I would say we’re open to listening, so if you want to change the vocabulary a little bit this year.”
Being open for business last year with such a top-5 pick seemed reasonable given the Texans needed a quarterback but were atop a draft class that didn’t have any promising prospects. The first quarterback off the board was Kenny Pickett at No. 20 overall in Round 1. The next wasn’t taken until the third round with Desmond Ridder. This year’s draft figures to have Alabama’s Bryce Young and Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud go in succession within the first five picks.
Houston still as much in need of a signal caller as they were last year. They can’t afford to be as open for business as they were in 2022, but they will still hear the offers in the spirit of performing due diligence.
“We have received a few calls, and again, I think our responsibility is to listen, try to take the information in, and then just make the right decision,” said Caserio.
The Texans also have another selection in Round 1 at No. 12 overall.
