Distinguished publications have flirted with the concept, even with how outrageous it could appear.
NFL.com printed a mock draft that featured the Texans passing on a quarterback at No. 2 for a defensive participant: Texas Tech edge rusher Tyree Wilson. On this situation, Houston as a substitute used the twelfth total decide, which the workforce acquired in final spring’s Deshaun Watson deal, to commerce as much as No. 7 to seize Kentucky‘s Will Levis.
Within the mock, the Panthers chosen Alabama‘s Bryce Young with the highest decide.
“If the Texans miss out on Younger, they may not be a lock to take [Ohio State‘s C.J. Stroud],” wrote draft analyst Lance Zierlein in explaining the thought course of at No. 2.
Even ESPN’s Adam Schefter stated Tuesday that he wasn’t but satisfied that the Texans are going to take a quarterback with the second decide, particularly if Younger goes to Carolina.
“My understanding is that each one choices are on the desk,” Schefter stated on ESPN. “They are not bought on taking a quarterback at No. 2.”
That could possibly be smoke.
However that risk for the Texans is a minimum of worthy of consideration on this time of draft hypothesis. We won’t be so certain about what is going on to occur, as a result of there are surprises yearly.
After all, we all know why it has been assumed that Houston will take a signal-caller with the second total decide: The Texans want one, a participant who could possibly be the face of the franchise. They’re in prime place to seize that quarterback. It turned clear final season that Davis Mills, who struggled after an encouraging rookie season, will not be the long-term reply. Younger and Stroud are extensively thought of to be the highest two choices.
However why are so many so certain that the Texans could be equally content material with Younger or Stroud? Or, as a minimum, content material sufficient to take whoever is not taken No. 1 total?
One should take into account doable uncertainty with the Texans’ thought course of, stemming (partly) from what the Panthers determine to do. There’s additionally a component of unpredictability with what Houston common supervisor Nick Caserio would possibly do in his third draft. With the No. 3 total decide final yr, he chosen cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., thought of a shock decide due to well being points his final two seasons at LSU. In that very same draft, Caserio additionally traded again from No. 13 to No. 15 to take Texas A&M guard Kenyon Green.
Houston, in fact, will not be divulging its technique publicly.
“I will not speak particularly about what we’re doing with our plans for the draft,” new coach DeMeco Ryans stated Tuesday when requested about quarterback potentialities. “We’ll need to be prepared to select when our time comes to select.”
Whereas it is unclear if the Texans would really go on Stroud at No. 2 if Carolina takes Younger, Ryans’ reward of the latter on the NFL homeowners conferences final month was noteworthy.
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With talks of Younger’s measurement being a priority — he measured at 5-foot-10 and 204 kilos on the NFL Mix — Ryans stated he would not see it as an issue, citing his efficiency within the SEC.
“The man has carried out it on the highest stage in school soccer and measurement hasn’t appeared to be an issue,” Ryans stated of Younger, the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner. “I do not see it as a difficulty since you watch the tape, and also you see the child play, and also you see how sensible he’s. You see the anticipation. You see the accuracy. You see how this man is calm in crucial moments.”
Might the Texans try a commerce with the Panthers for the highest total decide? That may’t be fully dominated out if Houston is dead-set on Younger (or one other quarterback).
In spite of everything, the workforce reportedly inquired concerning the No. 1 decide earlier than Chicago dealt it to Carolina final month. The Panthers additionally did not commerce as much as No. 1 from No. 9 with one quarterback in thoughts, in response to common supervisor Scott Fitterer. And when the Panthers struck a deal for the highest decide, a number of studies surfaced saying that Carolina wasn’t ruling out a commerce down. Which may nonetheless be the case.
However buying and selling as much as No. 1 would price the Texans the No. 2 decide and certain a minimum of a Day 2 choice (the Texans maintain the thirty third decide this yr), representing dangerous enterprise contemplating they’d’ve had the highest choice if not for beating the Colts within the closing seconds of the regular-season finale.
Whereas taking a quarterback at No. 2 may be the Texans’ most certainly choice — and top within the court docket of public opinion — they might additionally commerce down from that spot or commerce up from No. 12 to seize Anthony Richardson or Levis if the Panthers take their most popular selection.
In concept, the Texans may commerce down from No. 2 to take a defensive participant (like Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson Jr.) and commerce up from 12 to take their hopeful signal-caller of the longer term.
The massive takeaway? Do not low cost the potential of Houston passing on a quarterback with the second total decide.
Not but, a minimum of — at the same time as loopy because it sounds.
Ben Arthur is the AFC South reporter for FOX Sports activities. He beforehand labored for The Tennessean/USA TODAY Community, the place he was the Titans beat author for a yr and a half. He coated the Seattle Seahawks for SeattlePI.com for 3 seasons (2018-20) previous to shifting to Tennessee. You’ll be able to observe Ben on Twitter at @benyarthur.
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