The Houston Texans’ 2023 draft was much-debated a year ago after they traded up to draft Will Anderson Jr. one pick after taking C.J. Stroud. Some claimed the move was foolish, while others lauded the Texans for grabbing a player considered to be the best non-quarterback in the class.
That wasn’t the only questionable move Houston made after it snagged a small and shifty pass-catcher in Tank Dell. The speedy wideout’s slight frame frightened some talent evaluators, but Stroud specifically requested him as a Day 2 pick.
After one season, the Texans’ nine picks mostly worked out well – as Stroud and Anderson could win their respective NFL Rookie of the Year awards. Even some of the later-round players panned out as quality backups and spot starts.
Here are TexansWire’s grades for Houston’s 2023 draft class.
First round: QB C.J. Stroud – A
What can be written about C.J. Stroud that hasn’t already been written? Stroud is the favorite to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year after he completed 63.9% of his passes for 4,108 passing yards, 23 touchdowns and only five interceptions. He led the Texans to the AFC South title and in a huge win over the Cleveland Browns in the wild card. This was as good of a rookie season as the Texans could have hoped when Houston picked Stroud No. 2 overall.
First round: DE Will Anderson – A
The decision to trade away a 2024 first-round pick to move up and draft Will Anderson Jr. was questionable at the time, but the risk paid off almost immediately for Houston. Anderson tallied a sack in his first career game for the Texans and finished the year with seven sacks, 22 quarterback hits, 32 pressures and 10 tackles for a loss. He will be a cornerstone of the defense for awhile.
Second round: Juice Scruggs – A
Not much was expected of Juice Scruggs this season, but the second-rounder out of Penn State became a vital part of the Texans offensive line when Tytus Howard suffered a season-ending injury. Scruggs, who missed most of the season with a hamstring injury he sustained during training camp, started the final six regular season games and both the postseason games for the Texans.
Third-round: WR Tank Dell – A
If not for a season-ending leg injury, Tank Dell could have been in contention for Rookie of the Year alongside Stroud. He caught 47 passes for 709 yards and seven touchdowns in 11 games after Dell quickly became one of Stroud’s favorite targets. Dell will remain the Texans’ big-play threat in 2024 alongside wideout Nico Collins.
Fourth-round: DE Dylan Horton – Incomplete
Horton stepped away from football after Week 11 to deal with a personal health matter, so it’s unfair to label him as a bust. He finished his rookie season with 13 combined tackles, one fumble recover and two quarterback hits.
Fifth-round: LB Henry To'oTo'o – B
To’oTo’o played well as a rookie after he tallied 61 combined tackles, 35 solo tackles, two passes defended and one forced fumble. He started six games from Weeks 2-7, but saw his snap share fade considerable in the second half of the season and missed some time with a concussion. To’oTo’o proved he can play as a spot starter but it remains to be seen if he can command that role for longer stretches of games.
Sixth-round: OL Jarrett Patterson – B
Patterson stepped in as the Texans’ starting center for the first seven weeks of the regular season and played well as a sixth-round rookie. However, he suffered a serious leg injury in Week 8 and underwent season-ending surgery for a fractured fibula soon after. It’s unclear what Patterson’s role will be with fellow rookie Scruggs healthy now, too, but he proved to be a valuable offensive linemen at the beginning of the season.
Sixth-round: WR Xavier Hutchinson – D
Hutchinson had opportunities to make a name for himself in a crowded Houston receiving corps but couldn’t make the most of his chances. He caught just eight of 19 targets on the season for 90 yards in 16 games. The Texans had a lot of injuries to their pass-catchers, but Hutchinson never broke out in the way that Dell and Collins did. He could become a viable backup in 2024 if Houston doesn’t retain Noah Brown or Robert Woods.
Seventh-round: S Brandon Hill – D
Hill didn’t really make an impact on the Texans this season after he only played in two games this year – mostly on special teams. Not much was expected from the seventh-rounder, and now he’ll need to prove himself this offseason if he is to remain with the team.
