Before the draft, the Texans denied that agent David Mulugheta representing C.J. Stroud would play a role in their decision to take or pass up the Ohio State quarterback with the second overall pick. Mulugheta also represents Deshaun Watson.
Owners Hannah and Cal McNair as well as general manager Nick Caserio said Mulugheta would have no impact on such an important decision. And, obviously, he didn't.
True to his word, Caserio drafted Stroud, the second-best quarterback behind Bryce Young, with the second overall pick, then pulled off a trade with the Cardinals to acquire the third selection to take Alabama defensive end Will Anderson Jr. Stroud was asked what Mulugheta, who's based in Austin, has told him about the Texans?
"He told me the McNairs are great owners," Stroud said. "He said Nick Caserio is a great general manager. He had a lot of positive things to say about the Texans."
As he should have. Think about it: Mulugheta negotiated a monster contract for Watson. He asked the Texans to include a no-trade clause, and they did. Then, he asked them to grant Watson's trade demand, and they did. And he asked them to trade his client to the Browns, and they did. From Cleveland, Mulugheta got the best contract in NFL history -- $230 million guaranteed. David Mulugheta should love the Texans, right?
Stroud is the third franchise quarterback the Texans have drafted, including David Carr in 2002 and Watson in 2017. Carr played five seasons and was released. Watson was everything the Texans wanted on the field, but civil lawsuits helped derail his career in Houston.
Caserio and coach DeMeco Ryans had to be celebrating after the Texans made their first two picks. Stroud and Anderson are stepping into great situations. They'll solve the team's biggest needs. Both should be immediate starters even though Caserio insisted Thursday night they'll have to earn their places on the team. Which he knows they will.
Caserio should be commended for having the guts to make such a monumental trade that'll have such a huge impact on Ryans' defense. To get the third overall draft choice and a fourth-round pick in this draft, he surrendered his second-round selection, 33rd overall, as well as first- and third-round picks in 2024. Caserio goes into the second day of the draft with 10 selections. Next year, he has nine picks, including first- and second-round picks.
"Every draft is going to be different," Caserio said. "You can't really project what's going to happen in 2024. I think we created some optionality for ourselves. We felt if there was an opportunity we could take advantage of, then we were in a position to do it.
"It's how we feel the player's going to fit our program, what do they bring to the table? What do we have to give up in return? And we're either comfortable with that or not. I think from an ownership perspective, the McNairs have been supportive of what we're trying to do. They give us the ability to try to make good decisions for the organization. I don't want to speak for DeMeco, but I know he feels the same way."
Then, Caserio tried to low key the picks since Stroud and Anderson aren't even officially on the roster, but he can't dampen anyone's enthusiasm about getting such blue-chip players who should make an immediate impact on the team, beginning with the rookie minicamp May 12-14.
"We haven't played a game yet," he said. "These players haven't been in the building. They haven't done anything to this point. They've been productive players in their respective programs, but the reality is they're starting over.
It's hard to say you've addressed a need when a player hasn't walked in the building. I think we've identified players that have characteristics we want to have. And it's not just about what they do on the field. It's about other qualities they possess.
"They have to earn the respect and the trust of their teammates, and they haven't really earned anything to this point. They're certainly not entitled to anything. We're excited about the opportunity in front of us. We know our opponents, they're going to add good players as well. All we can do is focus on the Texans and what we're trying to do."
When the Stroud and Anderson picks were announced at Miller Outdoor Theater, they were greeted with a thunderous roar from 5,000 fans.
"If the fans are excited, that's great," Caserio said. "I think they'll be more excited when we win games. This is about repetitive action over time and being consistent. We're not going to solve anything in one draft, one player, one night. It's going to take a series of actions over time with the right people, with the right mindset that they believe in the things we're doing, and, hopefully, that'll manifest itself on the field when we actually do play."
This is the third year of the Texans' rebuild. Caserio has done a terrific job of stockpiling draft choices that give him options to select more players or to move up in a round as he did with the Anderson selection.
"We try to create flexibility," he said. "You can accumulate as many draft picks as you like. How to utilize those draft picks, ultimately, you have to take the information, process it, have constructive dialogue about it and then kind of go through the what-if scenarios."
This was the first time fans have been excited about the Texans trading up since 2017 when former general manager Rick Smith initiated a deal with Cleveland. Smith moved from 27 to 12 to select Watson. He exchanged first-round picks with the Browns and gave them another first-rounder in 2018.
That Watson trade pales in comparison to this one. The Texans were coming off an AFC South title and a playoff victory in their only season with Brock Osweiler as their starting quarterback. Tom Savage inherited Osweiler's starting job, and that lasted one game before Watson replaced him.
This is the third time in team history the Texans have had two picks in the first round, including 2022 when they selected cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. and left guard Kenyon Green. In 2004 when Charley Casserly was their general manager and Dom Capers their coach, they drafted cornerback Dunta Robinson and outside linebacker Jason Babin in the first round.
Stroud and Anderson said they're excited to get to NRG Stadium and get to work with their new teammates. The Texans are excited to get them in the building and watch them develop into the kind of players they believe both can be.
"When they get here, DeMeco will spend time with both players," Caserio said.
"DeMeco's going to lay out what he expects, and the job of the player is to respond and to be a good teammate, do the right thing, put the team first. Focus on improvement and taking advantage of your opportunity. They understand they have a (new) home and understand they have (to earn) the trust and confidence of their teammates. They have a lot of work to do. They want to be a part of the team and part of the solution."
The Texans took one giant step toward that possible solution by drafting Stroud and Anderson. Both should be cornerstones of a rebuild that finally could be making substantial progress.
John McClain can be heard Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday on SportsRadio 610 and Thursday on Texans Radio. He writes three times a week and does two Houtopia Podcasts for SportsRadio610.com. He also can be read four times a week on GallerySports.com.
