With each passing day, the reality of Bryce Young leading off the 2023 draft looks more likely. C.J. Stroud does not seem to be gaining momentum and looks set to be available when the Texans go on the clock at No. 2 overall. Although Stroud-to-Charlotte buzz emerged recently, Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post notes the Panthers have been leaning in Young’s direction for weeks. They have not deviated from that plan, and SI.com’s Albert Breer adds Carolina sees special qualities in the 5-foot-10 passer.
Buzz regarding Frank Reich preferring the 6-3 Stroud has died down, with multiple reports last week indicating the Panthers — who hosted Young on Tuesday — are big fans of the 2021 Heisman winner. This will put the Texans to a decision; their previously reported Young meeting is on tap for today, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Here is the latest from this draft’s QB crop:
- Teams continue to look into Hendon Hooker, who dazzled at Tennessee before tearing an ACL in November 2022. The Texans look to have gotten a head-start with the rehabbing passer, with KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson indicating the former Virginia Tech recruit trekked to Houston for a meeting not long after the Combine (Twitter link). Hooker would be an interesting option for the Texans if they take the unexpected route and pass on a QB at 2. While the Texans’ No. 12 overall pick would be a bit early for Hooker, who turned 25 earlier this year, they hold the No. 33 overall pick as well. Of course, the team might be in a bit of trouble at QB1 this season were it to take this highly unexpected path. Case Keenum and Davis Mills are Houston’s current QBs.
- It should not be assumed Hooker will drop out of Round 1, however, given the annual demand at this rather important position. Rival executives are connecting Hooker to the Vikings, La Canfora adds. Minnesota would make for an interesting landing spot, having merely restructured Kirk Cousins‘ contract — after extending him in 2020 and 2022 — this offseason. Cousins going into a contract year will put the onus on new Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to find a successor, but Hooker would make for an unusual developmental candidate due to his age. The previous Vikes regime tried to trade up for Justin Fields two years ago. Hooker’s Lions, Buccaneers and Raiders visits are this week. Detroit’s second first-round pick (No. 18) and Tampa Bay’s only Round 1 choice (No. 19) check in ahead of Minnesota’s (No. 23).
- Mel Kiper Jr.’s most recent mock draft calls for what would be a draft first: a QB-QB-QB-QB start. Part of that equation would require a team to trade into the Cardinals’ No. 3 draft slot. Arizona has received extensive interest in that pick, though some of the teams exploring a move up might be hoping Stroud falls to No. 3. A value gulf may well exist between this draft’s top two arms (Young and Stroud) and the next two options (Anthony Richardson and Will Levis), with Breer expressing doubt a team would trade to No. 3 for the Florida or Kentucky QBs. Kiper has the Titans moving up from No. 11 to No. 3 for Richardson, who displayed elite athleticism at the Combine but has just one season as a full-time starter. Similar to the Vikings’ Cousins situation, the Titans have Ryan Tannehill contracted for one more season. Trade rumors have emerged regarding the fifth-year Titan, and Ran Carthon‘s team has been connected to a trade-up.
Why the random and unrelated reference to Hooker being a former Virginia Tech recruit in tandem with Houston’s draft interest??
I’d be ok with targeting Hooker and trading out of # 2 and # 12 if that was the plan and roll with Mills or Keenum for 1 more season. Roster needs a lot of love and trading out of # 2 in 2023 and possibly top 5 if not # 1 overall in 2024 sets them up long term pretty nicely. Be pretty nice to walk into 2024 with # 1 overall pick and get another kings ransom for Caleb Williams knowing they have Hooker waiting after spending his rookie year recovering and learning (wouldnt hurt to sit him for a year).
Trade out of # 2, acquire a kings ransom, draft a # 1 receiver in mid 1st round, trade out of # 12 to acquire more pics, draft Darnell Washington in mid to late 1st round, Fill out the roster – C, G, DT, Edge, CB, LB
even more so when you realize that Stroud is just gonna be a bust anyway.
Elite athleticism doesn’t mean you are going to be a great quarterback. Sure, Richardson is a great athlete, but if you watched him at Florida last season, you would have a lot of questions. His decision making is not good. He forces a lot of throws into traffic. I get that the Titans new regime might not believe in Willis, but that doesn’t mean they should use multiple assets to move up to draft a flawed quarterback in Richardson at #3. They’d be better off just staying around where they are, keeping their assets & drafting Hooker. If he’s healthy, Hooker is better than Richardson is anyway
NFL scouts aren’t blind. There’s a very good chance Anthony Richardson will still be on the board at #12 and even #20. I’ve said it before, but Anthony Richardson is second coming of Jameis Winston, but without the Heismann and without the accuracy.
They’re not blind, but sometimes they make mistakes & get over excited about a certain aspect of a player. Scouts loved Ryan Leaf’s arm, but he didn’t exactly work out because he didn’t have a good head on his shoulders. Richardson could turn out to be a solid pro, but could also fail. There are too many questions about his game to justify trading up to #3 to draft him, especially when you need to strengthen other areas of your team (o-line & wideout specifically). If he falls into your lap at 11, fine take him, but don’t trade away multiple draft picks for a player with question marks about his long term viability at the position
Texans should tank for Caleb Williams.
Texans do not have to tank for Williams. They are already in the running.