Just because the Chicago Bears dealt the No. 1 overall pick to the Carolina Panthers doesn’t mean there couldn’t be a chance for more trades early in Round 1 of the 2023 NFL draft.
The latest two-round mock draft from the Touchdown Wire, wherein all 32 NFL wire editors represents their respective teams, demonstrates the lengths teams may go to in order to get their guy in the top-10.
Here is a look at the first two rounds and the choices the Houston Texans made along with the strategy behind each pick.
Round 1 (No. 2 overall) — QB Bryce Young, Alabama
When the Panthers took Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson at the top of the board, there was no question the Texans had to take Young. Perhaps if the Panthers took Young to start off, there may have been a debate between Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud and Alabama defensive end Will Anderson. It would be unlike the Texans to pass on a clean shot at Young.
Round 1 (No. 23 overall) — DE Lukas Van Ness, Iowa
General manager Nick Caserio executed a trade-down before taking Texas A&M guard Kenyon Green at No. 15 overall in Round 1 of the 2022 NFL draft. What is to say Caserio wouldn’t do the same?
The strategy was to use the second first-rounder to take a defensive end and then grab a receiver in Round 2. From No. 12, Houston went to 15th overall to help the Green Bay Packers take Ohio State wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba. From 15th overall, the Texans traded with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to help them get Tennessee tackle Darnell Wright. Houston then used the Bucs’ 19th overall pick to move back to No. 23 overall as the Minnesota Vikings moved up to take TCU receiver Quentin Johnston.
Houston gained pick Nos. 82 (Round 3), 116 (Round 4), and 119 (Round 4), which gives them adequate mid-round capital to build packages to take specific players, or move back further into the draft.
Taking Van Ness shored up the pass rush need and at a decent value.
Round 2 (No. 33 overall) — WR Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee
The Texans have a diverse enough receiving corps with Robert Woods, Nico Collins, and John Metchie, but adding Hyatt gives Young a weapon that he can develop chemistry with throughout the course of his rookie contract. Hyatt caught 67 passes for 1,267 yards and 15 touchdowns with Tennessee last year, earning the Fred Biletnikoff Award. Picking up the 6-0, 185-pound wideout at this juncture in the draft helps Houston solve its three remaining roster holes.
The third round
As the second round was winding to a close, there was some consideration about moving up to take the Kansas City Chiefs’ 63rd overall pick, the last selection of the round. There was anxiety the Texans would miss out on drafting Ohio State center Luke Wypler. After the two-round mock was finished, Bears Wire managing editor Alyssa Barbieri indicated Chicago more than likely would have taken Wypler. The sense to trade up was spot on.
