If DeMeco Ryans is near a microphone, he will be asked about the Houston Texans’ No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft and anything quarterback related.
Tuesday was no exception as the rookie coach took to the podium inside NRG Stadium for the first day of the team’s offseason program, Phase 1.
Houston is expected to take a quarterback who will immediately assume the responsibility of serving as the team’s first franchise quarterback since that fateful trade with the Cleveland Browns. It’s a massive responsibility for likely either Alabama quarterback Bryce Young or Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud.
Despite the relative weight that either player may be asked to carry, Ryans was quick to down play their expected immediate contribution during his press conference. The coach, instead, focused on the team’s responsibility to smooth the transition for that player.
“It’s exciting for us to have the No. 2 pick, but also at the same time, there is no pressure where a young man is picked,” Ryans said. “I think it’s unfair to ask a guy just because you’re picked No. 2 overall, you have to come in and you’re the face of our franchise and you’re the leader. That’s unfair to the guy. I’m not going to put that type of weight on the shoulders of whoever that is that we pick. That’s not what we’re anticipating. That’s not what we’re expecting them to do.”
Whoever is drafted early by Houston is expected by most in the media to start immediately. The Texans’ current cast of quarterbacks include third-year Davis Mills, who tied for the most interceptions last year with 15. It is fair to mention Dak Prescott is the quarterback with whom he tied, but you don’t see Prescott fighting with Case Keenum for the backup job to a rookie that hasn’t even been picked.
Ryans himself is no stranger to integrating rookie quarterbacks into a team. The San Francisco 49ers selected Trey Lance No. 3 overall in 2021 and worked with a slow plan to get him ready to start before his injury. Brock Purdy, the 262nd and final selection of the 2022 draft, started multiple games for San Francisco last season despite his seventh-round draft status.
All Ryans is expecting of the new guy is what presumably Kyle Shanahan expected of Lance and Purdy: do your best, work hard, be a good teammate.
Said Ryans: “We’re expecting them to come in, be a great teammate, work hard, be deliberate in what you’re doing and have a mindset to get better each and every day. That’s the mindset no matter if it’s pick two or the last pick of the draft. Really doesn’t matter when you get picked. Leaders, those guys will grow based on our team. Each team is different. We have leaders in our locker room already, so I’m not asking a guy to come in and be this savior for our team. We’re asking him to come in and put his head down and just work.”
Getting to work sounds like a nice mantra for organized team activities and even the first couple of days of training camp before the pads come on. What about September? If the rookie signal caller is not on pace to lead the offense on Opening Day, Clutch City sports fans are going to be antsy — even if the Houston Astros are comfortably leading the pennant race.
“With the quarterback position, it’s all about the guy, Ryans said. “We talk about a rookie quarterback, a veteran quarterback, it doesn’t matter. What’s the makeup of the guy? Is he worthy to start for your team? That’s all that matters. It doesn’t matter where the guy is in his career. Is he a rookie, third year, fourth year? Who is the best guy, the right guy for our team? We don’t know that right now. We haven’t lined up and went out and practiced football at all. We’ll figure that out when the time comes.”
Ryans is presenting an ideal attitude entering the draft for Houston. Realistically, things may not work that way.
There is ample public pressure for Houston to select a quarterback at the top of the draft. Amongst speculation this week that Young is a clear favorite for the Carolina Panthers, it has thrown a great degree of uncertainty into what direction the Texans may go.
Other prospects like Kentucky’s Will Levis and Florida’s Anthony Richardson are less seasoned and may, ideally, require time on the bench to get the most of their NFL careers. Will Ryans truly have an atmosphere that can afford them that time?
Houston’s coach is working to shoulder as much of the “savior” complex as possible. The former player and hottest coaching candidate on the market was likely well aware of the expectations he’d carry returning to the city that drafted him.
However, despite Ryans’ own gravity and the potentially greatness of his defense, there’s no way he can remove the expectations from this pick and this moment from the franchise.
