The Houston Texans may have two first-round picks, six selections in the top-103, and tied for the most choices of the three-day event with 12, but their highest-valued commodity is already committed.
The Texans need an upgrade at quarterback, and the 2023 NFL draft offers a quartet of fascinating signal callers in Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, Anthony Richardson, and Will Levis. This means the Texans’ No. 2 overall pick in Round 1 is virtually committed to taking a quarterback.
What if the Texans just didn’t take a quarterback with that selection and were thus unbound from shoring up the position in April? What if Houston addressed quarterback much sooner in the offseason?
According to the scouting department at the 33rd Team, the Texans trade with the Las Vegas Raiders ahead of the draft in their latest mock and have field general squared away with Derek Carr. Houston then uses that selection to give new coach DeMeco Ryans a weapon on the edge.
In a surprising turn of events, the Texans pivot off of drafting a young quarterback, land Derek Carr in a trade with the Raiders prior to the draft and build their defense by landing talented Alabama pass rusher Will Anderson.
The Texans give Carr a young weapon in TCU wideout Quentin Johnston at No. 12 overall (Round 1).
Carr will be 32 years old when the 2023 season starts. Houston would be getting a known product in David Carr’s younger brother, which is is positive and negative. Houston would have an idea of what Carr can do and also what he can’t. The Texans would need to ensure they build a roster that can accommodate for the things Carr can’t do.
Stroud goes atop the draft to the Indianapolis Colts, who make a deal with the Chicago Bears. Young ends up going No. 5 overall to the Seattle Seahawks. The Carolina Panthers trade up with the Detroit Lions to take Levis at No. 6. Richardson goes No. 16 overall to Washington.
[listicle id=80758]