It’s an exciting time to be a Houston Texans fan, as the team made some bold moves during the 2023 NFL draft. They started off by acquiring the third overall pick in a blockbuster trade with the Cardinals (Sports Illustrated). With the first pick, they selected C.J. Stroud, a highly touted quarterback out of Ohio State (Sports Illustrated). This move was widely expected, as the Texans have been searching for their quarterback of the future for some time now.
What was unexpected, however, was their next move. With the second pick, they shocked the league by selecting linebacker Will Anderson Jr. out of Alabama (Battle Red Blog). Many thought they would take another offensive player, or perhaps even trade back. But the Texans had a clear plan in mind, as they selected two of the top three players in the draft (Battle Red Blog).
There were some rumors leading up to the draft that the Texans might take a defensive player with their top pick (Bleacher Report), but it wasn’t clear who that player might be. No one predicted they would take Anderson Jr., who is widely regarded as one of the best defensive players in the draft.
It remains to be seen how these picks will pan out for the Texans, but they certainly made a statement on the first day of the draft. They have signaled to their fans and the league that they are committed to rebuilding and are willing to make bold moves to do so.
Of course, the draft is just one part of the team-building process. The Texans still have many questions to answer, as they seek to improve upon their disappointing 2022 season (Battle Red Blog). But with new leadership in place, and some exciting talent added to their roster, Texans fans have reason to be hopeful for the future.
