The Texans exited the 2023 NFL Draft with much more talent than they entered with. 

CJ Stroud, Will Anderson Jr., Tank Dell, and Juice Scruggs highlight the list of talented prospects added to the roster. Leading up to the draft, it seemed that every mock had the Texans selecting either one of the quarterbacks or Anderon. Ultimately, general manager Nick Caserio ended up selecting both after executing a trade with the Arizona Cardinals. 

One national media outlet praised the Texans' class, with just one gripe. 

Danny Kelly of The Ringer graded every team's performance in the 2023 NFL Draft. Kelly was bullish on the Texans' class, saying the following:

The Texans came out of the first round with my two top-ranked players in Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud and Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson Jr., and while both could turn into foundational players long term, Houston paid a very, very steep price. Houston gave up no. 33 in this draft, plus their 2024 first-rounder (and other future late-round picks) in order to move up 10 spots from no. 12 to draft a non-quarterback in Anderson. That’s a huge gamble for a team that won just three games last year—and Houston runs the risk of giving up a top-10 pick in next year’s talent-packed draft. The rest of the draft was a mixed bag. After adding Penn State center Juice Scruggs in the second round, Houston looked to give Stroud more help in the form of 165-pound Houston receiver Tank Dell. I wasn’t a big fan of this pick, considering the bevy of receivers I had ranked higher who were still on the board at the time. I did like the team’s addition of Alabama linebacker Henry To’oTo’o in the fifth round; he’ll give the Texans an experienced playmaker at the linebacker position.

Essentially, Kelly's only gripes were with the price paid for Anderson and the selection of Dell. Being wary of the price paid for Anderson is understandable, as a the 2024 first-rounder could end up being a top-10 pick. 

However, it's clear that the team loved Anderson and felt him worth the price. No player is bust-proof, but Anderson is probably the closest thing to it. He profiles as an elite run defender at the very least, and at best, he could be a double-digit sack guy and one of the best all-around edge defenders in the league. 

As per the Dell take, I have to disagree with Kelly. Some worry about Dell's size, but he proved he can be a high-volume receiver with no problem. Dell had 90+ catches and 1300+ yards in both 2021 and 2022 for the Houston Cougars. A player that can produce like that is worth a third-round selection. 

Finally, Kelly praised the To'oTo'o selection. The former Tennessee and Alabama linebacker struggles in pass coverage but is a hard-hitter with a high football IQ who will at least be a special teams contributor. 

What grade would you give the Texans' draft class?