Nick Caserio does not intend to leave Houston after the draft, but the third-year GM is facing a decision comparable to the Texans’ 2006 Reggie Bush-or-Mario Williams call. The Texans stunned the football masses 17 years ago by taking Williams at No. 1; they continue to be linked to making another unexpected move.
The Texans are willing to listen to offers for their No. 2 overall pick, Caserio said Monday, adding calls have come in. Teams with top-five choices generally listen, though franchises with clear quarterback needs could be considered less inclined to entertain offers. But the Texans are believed to have placed a bit of a value gap between expected No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud, who is now expected to be available at No. 2.
Suddenly, this draft’s potential early run on quarterbacks is far from a lock to continue at 2. The Texans look likely to pass on Stroud or any other quarterback at 2, ESPN’s Adam Schefter said during an NFL Live appearance (h/t Brobible’s Dov Kleiman). The prospect of Houston punting on filling its QB need at 2 has been out there for a bit now, but the consensus viewpoint has still been the team taking a passer — presumably Stroud — with the first of its two first-round picks. But the Texans also could nab a potentially safer pass-rushing prospect in this spot.
While the post-Peyton Manning Broncos, late-Doug Marrone-era Jaguars and Mitchell Trubisky-years Bears provide examples of the uphill battles that can form when high-end pass rushers are on teams without reliable quarterbacks, the Texans may well be considering Will Anderson Jr. or Tyree Wilson at 2. A previous report indicated the Texans were high on Anderson, but NBC Sports’ Peter King points to Wilson gaining steam, indicating he would not be surprised if the Texans chose the Texas Tech edge rusher over the two-time Bronko Nagurski award winner.
Both Anderson and Wilson have visited the Texans, and certain NFL staffers view the less productive Big 12 edge as presenting more upside than the SEC dynamo. Anderson finished with 27.5 sacks over the past two seasons; Wilson collected 14 and is coming off a season-ending foot injury. The Texans need help at defensive end, and former No. 2 overall pick Nick Bosa obviously made a considerable impact on DeMeco Ryans‘ career progression. It would still be a risk if the Texans leave Stroud on the board, and it would be interesting to see if the team makes an active effort to trade down if/once the Panthers select Young.
Sitting at No. 4, the Colts view the prospect of all the non-Young QBs being available to them as realistic, Schefter adds. A recent report indicated Indianapolis was leaning against trading up for a passer. The Cardinals have spoken with several teams about trading the No. 3 overall pick, as those teams would seemingly aim to leapfrog the QB-needy Colts, but Schefter indicates Indy has a real shot of staying at 4 and landing this draft’s QB2.
This reality would take the Cardinals standing pat and taking the best player available, which could be the edge rusher the Texans do not draft, but a QB-QB-QB start to this draft suddenly appears unlikely. Mel Kiper Jr.’s most recent mock draft has a QB-QB-QB-QB start, featuring Anthony Richardson and Will Levis going at Nos. 3 and 4, but Schefter doused that in cold water. The Colts are believed to rank Levis over Richardson, but we are in peak misdirection season. Stroud sitting there at 4 could render a Richardson-or-Levis decision moot.
A scenario in which non-QBs go off the board at Nos. 2 and 3 would hinge on the Cardinals not receiving the offer they want, and it would certainly make the Panthers’ eight-spot trade-up before free agency — which cost them D.J. Moore, their 2024 first-round pick and other assets — subject to scrutiny it has not yet received. The Texans also would be sitting at No. 12 in need of a quarterback.
Case Keenum and Davis Mills represent the Texans’ current QB room, and while the 2024 draft could include highly touted QB prospects Caleb Williams (USC) and Drake Maye (North Carolina), the AFC South team — which also hosted potential second-rounder Hendon Hooker on a visit — would certainly take a risk by not addressing its top need this year.
Given the insanity of the QB market, it would make a ton of sense to focus on building a strong team that’s just a QB shy of truly being competitive, and then pull the trigger on a signal caller pick
Trade back
I’d honesty ask NE about Mac Jones who could possibly be had for a 2nd or 3rd round pick given how things are unfolding. Or some pick swaps.
Trade out of #2, I’d trade back as far as the late teens early 20s.
Walking away with 1 of Smith-Ngjiba, Addison at WR and 1 of Mayer, Washington at TE plus 1 of Tippmam or the C from Minnesota would be a nice start to the draft for the Texans.
Aside from that they definitely need some pass rushers, dline depth. Use extra picks acquired from trading out of #2 to build the roster up.
Could this be the weakest draft in the last ten years? Every time I hear an analyst go through the top 5 picks at every position it sounds like there is only one (1) guy even worth taking a chance on. Everybody else is a 5th round pick.
This is not professional, but my observations on the 100 mock drafts out there show the same four guys in the top four slots. After that, there is a little consistency 5-10, and no consistency anywhere else. To me, that indicates a lot of uncertainty in the pre-draft assessments.
I would be trading back, and looking to see who falls.
The two standout options for trading back are the Commanders at 16 and Buccs at 19.
Both teams have terrible QB options and trading up would give them a franchise QB. Both teams also have some talent and could be only a QB away from being competitive.
The Buccs in particular standout, obviously they won a title with Brady a couple years ago. They still have 2 elite WRers, a good enough roster to do something.
What about, 2nd overall pick this year for picks 19, 82 and a first in next years draft.
Bucc’s get a QB, they keep their second round pick and would have a decent side.
Texans end up with picks 12, 19, 33, 65, 82 and a extra first in next years draft.
Plenty of early picks to build out a better side.
If I’m the Texans I’d get
Nolan Smith, Quentin Johnson, John Micheal-Schmitz, Kelee Ringo and Trenton Simpson.
Smith gives you a top tier edge rusher, Johnson a big WR to pair with Woods and Metchie. Schmitz makes the online reach other level, Ringo is good CB depth and would compete for reps, and Simpson again good competition for places on the defence.
Next offseason take a QB, the line will be solid, he will have catchers and ball carriers, and the defence will be more well rounded and ready
Yeah that’s an awful trade. 19 and if they have a good season, another low first plus a late 3 for the 2nd pick? Why would they do that? You make a deal because it overwhelmingly favors you. You don’t make that deal just to make it. At that point; stick at 2 and take who you want.
The two standout options for trading back are the Commanders at 16
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As a Raiders fan, the Commanders are my target too, assuming a QB is still on the board at #7. I was thinking WA’s #16, 47 & 97 for the Raiders #7.
Fair or unfair?
Bucs do make sense as a trade up target but it will cost a lot more than 19, 82, and a future 1st.
Bears landed
#9 this year, #61 this year, 2024 1st, 2025 2nd, and Dj Moore (former 1st on a 3 year deal I believe) from the Panthers going from 9 to 1.
Jumping from 19 to 2 is a significantly bigger leap but you’re getting your 2nd choice at QB, or maybe you’re not.
When the Eagles traded up for Wentz at 2 they gave up
8, 77, 100, 2017 1st, 2018 2nd and got wentz and a 2017 4th back.
Tampa wants to trade up all the way to #2 it’ll cost them, at minimum,
#19 this year, #50 this year, 2024 2nd and 4th round picks, 2025 1st and you get #2 and maybe the Texans 2nd 3rd round pick in this year’s draft.
Has Houston ever drafted well at the top of the draft? Drafting a pass rusher with the first pick twice, has done what? I think they should continue doing that & firing HC’s after 1 year. Seems to be working well.
Mario Williams had a better career for the Texans than Reggie Bush had for the Saints. That was the correct pick. They also drafted Andre Johnson early. Clowney and Carr were bad picks.
So, they’ll do like the Browns did when they passed on QB’s for 2 years, including Mahomes and ended up with Baker Mayfield? Not a great strategy, in my opinion. The only way it would make sense is if they took Hooker later in the first round. I think he’s the third best QB in the draft.
I like that strategy. They can get an immediate impact player early then a QB who has real upside but won’t play this year.
Give Hooker a year of mental reps, add more talent around him next draft, and look towards 24.
When he’ll be, essentially, a 26 year old rookie. Doesn’t seem like a smart long-term solution.
How can the Houston fans respect Caserio in any way? 1 QB your in talks to move up and you do nothing, who have they drafted who’s even decent the last 3 years, Caserio thinks he’s belicheck but he’s really just not fired yet
Based on the article, it sounds like they believe there’s only 1 great QB option in the draft for a pick that high.
Not his fault O’Brien left him without a first rounder for two seasons.
Smart to wait until next year to get a QB.
Honestly, most teams in the top 10 should trade down. However. Most will take a QB that will suffer without a decent support system in place beforehand.
I’ll keep saying it,
when Hendon Hooker is healthy
He’s the best QB in the draft.
If their plan is to trade back from 12,
add capital and take Hooker late in the first,
that’s a smart play.
Taking the oldest QB in the draft who was injured is probably not the best course of action.
It sounds like he’s a candidate for a trade with the Chiefs for the #32 spot, as happened with Teddy Bridgewater and Lamar Jackson. Getting that fifth year option is the key.
The roster. Is garbage. They have no business drafting a QB right now. Draft will anderson or trade down and add talent.
The problem with that is by the time they get the QB, everyone is out of a job. Look what the Bengals did with Burrow. Took him in the first, then a receiver in the second, then the next year, took a receiver with the fifth pick. Houston has a franchise left tackle, so they should get a QB to start learning, then bring in other pieces. Personally, I would take Stroud at 2, then Jackson Smith-Njigba at 12, then best player available the rest of the draft.
Texans should take Anderson at 2 and Devon Witherspoon at 12. Then if he’s still available in the late 20’s because teams just dont take RB’s in the first round anymore trade up from pick 33 to get Bijan Robinson. Build up the D for DeMeco Ryans and establish a running game. They don’t have enough talent at offensive skill positions to help a rookie qb adjust to the NFL.
I wish BB would grow some balls and make the trade
I’d rather him trade some other picks because BB can’t draft now a days
I’d give them “23” 1st ,2nd, 4th and “24” 1st and 3rd
Why? To draft who?
Mac Jones and Patriots 3rd rounder this year, a 3rd rounder in 2024, for Texans pick at 12 and a 5th rounder….. Texans Draft Will Anderson at 2 or even trade back to 3 or 4 to get even more picks and still get him. Then they have their QB, and ability to fill more spots. Patriots draft OT and WR or CB at 12 and 14, sign Matt Ryan as a back up to Zappe and Draft Stetson Bennet in 5th Round.
If they don’t take a QB in the draft at all, do they consider trading for the 49ers Trey Lance? Ryans would know if he’s worth going after.