The Houston Texans may have to give up on the Davis Mills experiment.
According to Luke Easterling from the Touchdown Wire, who released his latest two-round mock, if the Texans decide to abandon the Mills project, a name that they could take with their presumptive No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft is Alabama quarterback Bryce Young.
Unless Davis Mills takes a massive leap forward in his development over the second half of the season, the Texans need to spend this pick on a franchise quarterback. Regardless of any concerns about his size, Young is the best, most complete prospect at the position in this year’s class.
Young would have decent weapons to work with out of the gate in Nico Collins and former Alabama wideout John Metchie. Dameon Pierce would also shoulder the burden out of the backfield in his second season.
With the 13th overall pick, which Houston obtained in their offseason trade with the Cleveland Browns, the Texans go ahead and give Young another weapon in USC wideout Jordan Addison.
The defense could use some pieces here, but after taking a quarterback at No. 1, the Texans might jump at the chance to get him an explosive playmaker like Addison with their additional first-rounder. What he might lack in size, Addison more than makes up for with smooth routes, reliable hands, and big-play abililty.
With the Texans using their first overall pick on a quarterback and not having another crack at it until 13th overall, it means Houston will miss out on Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson. However, general manager Nick Caserio uses his cache of draft picks to move up into the final slot of Round 1 and take Notre Dame edge defender Isaiah Foskey.
The three first-rounders would be the trio Houston needs to get out of the rebuild and start competing for a playoff spot.