The Houston Texans are more than likely going with a quarterback at No. 2 overall in the 2023 NFL draft. The Carolina Panthers will merely decide who between Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud and Alabama’s Bryce Young that the Texans would presumably choose.
For the Texans to have a shot at some of the top tier players in the top-10 to be available at No. 12 overall when Houston picks again, they will need a team supposedly not in the market for a quarterback to make a surprising move.
According to Tom Fornelli from CBS Sports, the Seattle Seahawks are this team, and they trade from No. 5 overall to the Arizona Cardinals’ No. 3 overall to take Florida’s Anthony Richardson just after Houston turns in their card for Young.
The Indianapolis Colts, who are also desperate for a quarterback, strike a deal with the Atlanta Falcons to move back to No. 8 overall. The Falcons take Alabama defensive end Will Anderson.
The disruption to the top-10, along with a run on offensive tackles, provides an opportunity for the Texans to give Young a talented wideout from Stroud’s collegiate targets.
There is plenty of debate about who the best WR in this class is, but I don’t have any questions. Smith-Njigba is on a tier all to himself in this class, and everybody else is fighting for second.
Such a scenario would be a terrific way for the Texans to give their passing game a youthful boost, and not have to trade up or give up any capital to make it possible.
The run on edge defenders means the Texans would be in the ballpark to take Georgia Tech defensive end Keion White at No. 33 overall, the second pick in Round 2. Houston should have a clear shot at White given the Pittsburgh Steelers are picking the top of the Round 2 order and don’t have such a need.
