At this point in April, there are always more mock drafts than I-35 has orange construction barrels.
Will Brinson from CBS Sports is no exception. However, Brinson provided a twist in his latest mock draft: what if teams made selections that angered their fans? For instance, the Carolina Panthers leadoff the 2023 NFL draft taking Kentucky quarterback Will Levis — not Alabama’s Bryce Young or Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud.
With the No. 2 overall pick, Brinson has the Houston Texans passing on Young, which would perplex Clutch City sports fans, but it doesn’t go far enough. The Texans go with Stroud.
What would truly anger Texans fans is if they had their choice of Young and Stroud and don’t even take a quarterback at all; instead, they go for Alabama defensive end Will Anderson.
That would draw the ire.
Quarterback is the premier need for, not only the roster, but the franchise going into this draft. Passing up on that need, especially where there are at least two qualified candidates in Young and Stroud, would be a move critically panned by fans and media, national and local alike.
Heck, that might be the type of move that would get general manager Nick Caserio canned after the draft.
Brinson goes on to having the Texans select Ohio State receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba at No. 12 overall.
The old “pair the QB with his college receiver even though you brought in like four pass catchers this offseason” move never fails!
The move wouldn’t be that bad if paired with Stroud. The Texans’ receiving corps could still use star power. However, if the Texans made that type of move with Smith-Njigba having already gummed up the works taking Anderson while passing on the two best quarterbacks in the class, then it would be the type of move to stoke the fires in Houston.
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