Kansas City, Mo. (WGR 550) - The Houston Texans were the biggest movers of the 2023 NFL Draft, not only picking second overall with their own selection, but also making a move up the board to go back-to-back in the draft order.
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Up first, Houston addressed their need for a franchise quarterback by taking C.J. Stroud out of Ohio State University.
After red-shirting during his 2020 season sitting behind quarterback Justin Fields, Stroud took the starting reigns in 2021, completing 71.9% of his pass attempts for 4,435 yards and 44 touchdowns to just six interceptions. This past season saw Stroud's numbers dip just a bit, with him completing 66.3% of his passes for 3,688 yards and 41 touchdowns to six interceptions.
With his two standout seasons with the Buckeyes, Stroud managed to finish in the top-five of voting for the Heisman Trophy in each year. He ended up fourth in voting in 2021, followed by a third place finish in 2022.
Stroud will head to Houston and compete for the starting job with former third-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Davis Mills. Also in the quarterbacks room for the Texans includes veteran backup Case Keenum and second-year man E.J. Perry.
Then the Texans made a significant swing for the fences by acquiring the third overall pick from the Arizona Cardinals, giving up significant future assets in the process.
Houston ended up acquiring the third selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, as well as pick 105, in exchange for the 12th pick in the first round, the 33rd selection in Round 2, a 2024 first-round pick and a 2024 third-round pick.
With the third overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Texans took, arguably, the best defensive player in the draft in edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. out of the University of Alabama.
In his three seasons spent playing with the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Anderson Jr. was able to rack up 204 total tackles from the edge, 58.5 tackles for loss, 34.5 sacks, one forced fumble and an interception.
Anderson Jr.'s 2021 season was the best of his collegiate career, as he accumulated 101 total tackles, 31 tackles for loss, 17.5 sacks and three passes defended.
It is expected for Anderson Jr. to be able to step up and be a Day 1 starter for Houston on the edge.
As for the Cardinals, they ended up flipping the 12th pick acquired from the Texans (originally owned by the Cleveland Browns) to the Detroit Lions in order to move up to the sixth overall selection. Arizona used their first round selection on Stroud's teammate at Ohio State, offensive lineman Paris Johnson Jr.
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