Having twin first-round picks in the 2023 NFL draft presents a myriad of pathways for the Houston Texans.
Most mock drafts have the Texans taking Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, and the scouting department at the 33rd Team is no different. Houston addresses signal caller with the No. 1 overall pick.
Where the 33rd Team takes an interesting turn is at No. 12 overall, the pick obtained via trade with the Cleveland Browns in the offseason. Instead of going with another receiver for Young to throw to, the 33rd Team goes to the opposite side of the ball and takes Georgia cornerback Kelee Ringo.
You can never have enough corners in today’s game, and Houston gets the best one in this year’s draft to pair with Derek Stingley Jr. on the other side.
Houston spent their No. 3 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft on Stingley. Having another SEC cornerback opposite of the former LSU Tiger, along with former Baylor safety Jalen Pitre, would give the Texans an effective no-fly zone. It would be a strategy the Texans would have to consider given Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence may soon be taking over as the alpha quarterback in the AFC South.
Ringo provided Georgia with 41 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, two interceptions, seven pass breakups, and a forced fumble through 14 games in 2022.
The next three picks after Ringo were Northwestern tackle Peter Skoronski to the New York Jets, Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson to Washington, and Penn State cornerback Joey Porter to his father’s former team, the Pittsburgh Steelers.
