The Houston Texans have the second-overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, and they also have the 12th overall pick from the Cleveland Browns as part of the Deshaun Watson trade. Here, Doug Farrar and Kyle Madson put on their GM hats for Houston general manager Nick Caserio, and determine what the Texans should do with that draft capital.
Doug: The first thing the Texans need to do is to avail themselves of the best quarterback available. I think C.J. Stroud goes first overall to the Panthers, who traded up with the Bears for that top pick, and the Texans get Bryce Young. Young is far from a consolation prize – he has all the attributes you want in a franchise quarterback, and I don’t think his size is as much a problem as some might.
Then, you go get Young the best receiver possible with that 12th pick. Houston also has the 33rd, 65th, and 73rd picks in this draft, so I wouldn’t be opposed to them moving up to get that receiver if there’s one they really love. I like Ohio State’s Jaxson Smith-Njigba best in this draft class, and I have him going 10th overall to the Eagles in my latest mock draft, and I have Houston taking TCU’s Quentin Johnston 12th overall. If there’s one thing Young struggles with at times, it’s throwing deep over the middle, so let’s give him a huge target with massive after-catch potential.
Kyle: Yeah, they’re a QB at No. 2 team for sure and Young is the player I’m going with as well. He’s a culture-changer, I think and his ability to create outside of his first read should make him a quickly impactful player for the Texans. Guys like Will Levis and Anthony Richardson have the crazy tools, but man, Young is definitely gonna be a dude in the NFL.
At 12 I feel less strongly about the need for a receiver. At the rate WRs develop and produce in the NFL now, I think you can afford to just take the best available player here regardless of position. Maybe Georgia DL Jalen Carter or Christian Gonzalez the CB from Oregon slide. Maybe it’s CB Devon Witherspoon from Illinois or Georgia DE Nolan Smith. I’m not super picky here for the Texans. They need help at every level on both sides of the ball. I totally understand the need to get Young some help, but that’s something I think they can accomplish with their glut of picks on Day 2.
