The Houston Texans found their next franchise quarterback and potential beast on the edge in the 2023 NFL draft.
However, it wasn’t enough to lift them out of the mire of the NFL power rankings.
According to Amelia Probst and Arjun Menon from Pro Football Focus, the Texans still rank No. 31 in their power rankings, which was a position the AFC South club held going into the draft.
Even though quarterback C.J. Stroud and defensive end Will Anderson headline the Texans’ nine-man draft class, which also includes possible gems such as third-round receiver Tank Dell, fifth-round linebacker Henry To’oTo’o, and sixth-round receiver Xavier Hutchinson, the Texans weren’t able to get any traction.
Stroud earned a 92.2 PFF grade in 2021, tying with Bryce Young, and he was the seventh-highest-graded player at the position this past season. Stroud was charted as accurate on 68.2% of passes in 2022, the second-best rate in the country, and he led the nation with 28.2% of passes deemed “accurate-plus,” which factors in leading a receiver away from coverage, among other things. The Texans drafted Nathaniel “Tank” Dell to pair with Stroud’s arm, a shifty slot receiver who Stroud reportedly advocated for after being selected at No. 2.
On the principle that the draft is a high tide that lifts all 32 ships, it makes sense why the Texans may still be stuck at No. 31. Nevertheless the talent infusion on top should make them more competitive throughout the season than they were last year. With a new direction in coaching with DeMeco Ryans, a strong offensive line, healthy running backs with a commitment to run, and an emphasis on the defensive line attacking, the Texans should finish as one of the worst teams in any 2023 power rankings.
