Houston Texans owner Cal McNair has denied he nor his wife, Hannah, forced the team to change their plans and select Ohio State quarterback CJ Stroud with the second overall pick in the NFL Draft last month.
Despite a glaring need under centre, the buzz going into the draft in Kansas City was the Texans would snub Stroud and the other QBs on the board in favour of addressing their defence with new head coach Demeco Ryans heading into his first year. In the end, the Texans stocked up on both sides of the ball, taking Stroud at two before jumping immediately back on the clock with a blockbuster trade with the Arizona Cardinals at three to select edge rusher Will Anderson Jr.
The franchise has long been in the doldrums, winning just 11 games in the past three seasons amid controversy off the field involving star quarterback Deshaun Watson before he forced his way out in a trade to the Cleveland Browns.
But they dominated the headlines on draft night and there is renewed optimism that better times lie ahead at NRG Stadium. However, since the dust has settled, there has been deeper scrutiny of the price the Texans paid to leap from 12th to third in the draft order to take a defensive player, giving up next year's first-round pick as part of a huge package to the Cardinals.
And there has been speculation that the team's ownership pulled rank over the front office and coaching staff, demanding that they did not leave the draft without taking one of the top quarterbacks on the board.
Speaking at the annual Houston Texans Charity Golf Classic on Monday, McNair dismissed suggestions that he overruled general manager Nick Caserio and Ryans on how the No.2 pick would be spent.
"Hannah and I don't make the picks, we'll make it clear there," McNair told ESPN. "We have a great group of scouts led by Nick and James Lippert, and they did a lot of work on the draft board, and then they followed that on draft day, and they moved up when they saw the value was there and moved back."
Although the Texans will pay the price next year with the Cardinals in possession of their first-round pick the team is well-placed to contend for the AFC South title if Stroud can hit the ground running.
Outstanding offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil and impressive second-year running back Dameon Pierce should lighten the burden on the rookie QB, and Anderson is expected to make an immediate impact leading the Texans' pass rush.
With the Tennessee Titans and the Indianapolis Colts also in rebuilding phases after disappointing seasons, the Texans hope to steal in and compete for top spot in the division with the Jacksonville Jaguars and McNair is optimistic about the year ahead.
"I think you just have to look at the roster, and I think it's a better roster this year, very competitive," he added said. "They want to have competition spots on the roster. So, I see a lot of progress. A lot of good things."
