Anyone would believe the Houston Texans had a couple steals in the 2023 NFL draft.
Just look at their first two picks. The Texans were able to address quarterback with C.J. Stroud and then give new coach DeMeco Ryans the dominant edge rusher he needed with Alabama’s Will Anderson.
However, there were seven more selections the Texans made in the draft, and four of them were also considered steals.
According to Matt Miller from ESPN, after Stroud and Anderson, the next steal the Texans had was fourth-round defensive end Dylan Horton. Miller had Horton ranked as the 54th-best steal on his list of 100.
New coach DeMeco Ryans worked magic with versatile pass-rushers in San Francisco and now has one of his own in Horton. The 6-foot-4, 257-pound Horton can crash the edge and wreck backfields — he had four sacks against Michigan last season — but also brings developmental upside. Ryans got exceptional value in a potential starting outside linebacker opposite Will Anderson Jr.
General manager Nick Caserio told reporters after the draft on April 29 that they chose Horton for his versatility playing in multiple fronts thanks to his tenure at TCU.
“He’s kind of played a couple different defensive systems,” Caserio said. “Probably best suited at defensive end. So he’ll probably be a defensive end in our front. Good size, good length, productive season, had a pretty good Senior Bowl week.”
The final three steals for Miller were fifth-round linebacker Henry To’oTo’o, third-round receiver Tank Dell, and sixth-round wideout Xavier Hutchinson.
Houston’s key to turning around the franchise lies with the 2023 class, but not only with the performance of the top-end talent. The Texans need at least half of their draft class to become contributors to the roster in order for Houston to complete the rebuild.
