NFL Draft insider reveals what Texans 'will not' do with No. 2 pick
NFL Draft insider Todd McShay of ESPN added fuel to the fire when it comes to the latest rumors surrounding the Houston Texans. What seemed like a foregone conclusion is now strongly in doubt by many insiders around the league. The Texans are believed to be about to take an unconventional path with the second overall […]
NFL Draft insider Todd McShay of ESPN added fuel to the fire when it comes to the latest rumors surrounding the Houston Texans.
What seemed like a foregone conclusion is now strongly in doubt by many insiders around the league. The Texans are believed to be about to take an unconventional path with the second overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft and not take a quarterback.
"If you'd asked me 10 days ago or two weeks ago, I would have said, if it's not Young at one then it's Stroud at one and if it's not Stroud at one it's Stroud at two," said McShay on the Dan Patrick Show on Tuesday.
But now, things have changed as we get closer to the Draft. Pretty much every insider is suggesting that Bryce Young to the Carolina Panthers at No. 1 is a done deal. The Alabama quarterback even canceled the rest of his pre-draft visits as a sign of confidence.
That has made the Texans' decision more difficult.
"The closer we get to the draft, the more information I'm getting that Houston is not going to take CJ Stroud at number two," he added. "If Bryce Young was available, I'm told that they would take Young at two."
So if the Texans are out on Stroud, what are the options? Did McShay single out Stroud because Houston could consider someone with more "upside" like Florida's Anthony Richardson or Kentucky's Will Levis?
Or would they take one of the best defensive talents available in EDGE Will Anderson?
The ESPN insider suggests they could also make the most out of their draft capital and listen to potential trades.
"And if Houston sits there at two and says you know what we love Will Anderson. But what can we get from this? And if you're Houston and you're gonna pass on Stroud, that's one thing. But if you're gonna pass on Stroud, and now you're handing them over to a division foe that you're facing twice a year in Indianapolis at fourth or Tennessee at 11," added McShay.
"I would want to control that," said McShay, suggesting that the Texans could trade their pick to a team out of the division like the Las Vegas Raiders at seventh.
Whatever the Texans end up doing in this year's draft is in serious question. Despite months and months of assuming they're going QB at No. 2, DeMeco Ryans and Nick Caserio could pull off a surprise come Draft Day.
