Texans make massive splash at NFL Draft — after selecting C.J. Stroud
Anybody who believed that the Houston Texans would make the chalk choose of quarterback C.J. Stroud close to the highest of the NFL draft was confirmed proper.
Then once more, anybody who purchased into the latest conflicting buzz that the Texans would choose the highest defensive participant was simply as appropriate.
No sooner had Stroud completed hugging NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being chosen No. 2 general than the Texans had been again on the clock after buying and selling up with the Arizona Cardinals to No. 3. Similar to that, pass-rusher Will Anderson was following Stroud as much as the stage together with his personal Texans hat on his head.
“I used to be juiced up after which I noticed the [the city of Houston] and I knew it was rocking,” Stroud advised reporters. “I needed them to go get Will. The commerce was shocking, however it was dope. I’m very excited for Will to be my teammate.”
Beneath stress to lastly change Deshaun Watson with a franchise quarterback after two seasons of toiling with Davis Mills, Tyrod Taylor, Kyle Allen and Jeff Driskel as starters, normal supervisor Nick Caserio made the boldest transfer of the primary spherical by buying and selling a second-round choose in addition to first- and third-round picks in 2024 to maneuver up from No. 12 to make back-to-back choices.
The No. 12 choose would’ve belonged to the Browns however was despatched to the Texans within the Watson commerce.
“The commerce was about doing what’s finest for the group,” Caserio stated. “It’s about what the factors inform you on the [trade] chart. When you’ve got conviction a couple of participant and also you assume the commerce is the appropriate factor so that you can do, you then go forward and do it. The commerce was pushed extra by a participant we thought would deliver loads of worth to our group.”
Stroud was particularly emotional when his identify was referred to as, probably the results of hypothesis over the past couple weeks that he may tumble as a result of he reportedly didn’t rating nicely on the S2 Cognition Take a look at. Questions on Stroud’s management additionally emerged as smokescreens urged that the Texans solely had eyes for Bryce Younger — who was the No. 1 overall pick by the Panthers — among the many quarterbacks.
“I had a sense this morning that I’m going to the Texans,” Stroud stated. “I don’t care in regards to the outdoors noise. I’m not going to be excellent.”
Anderson, who was the consensus high non-quarterback earlier than final season started, nonetheless wound up with that label regardless of a much less productive season that put fellow defensive linemen Jalen Carter and Tyree Wilson in place to problem him. Anderson “guessed proper” and wore a purple and blue swimsuit — Texans colours — to make his want come to fruition.
”I wish to be part of historical past and part of one thing particular,” Anderson stated. “I went to the Texans and bought within the facility. It was all the pieces I believed I wanted. That’s why I’m a Texan.”
Whereas Younger needs to be a Week 1 starter in Carolina, Stroud could be compelled to take a seat on the bench at first. The Texans nonetheless have Mills and veteran Case Keenum, and Caserio already shut down speak of a timetable for Stroud taking on.
“His toughness, competitiveness, accuracy are all strengths of his,” Caserio stated. “He actually has loads of issues to work on. He desires to be nice.”
The Cardinals traded again up from No. 12 to No. 6 to take offensive sort out Paris Johnson Jr., who would have been their choose at No. 3 over Anderson, in keeping with NFL Community.
“They bought each of us!” Anderson exclaimed to reporters in Kansas Metropolis about he and Stroud. “We’ve been constructing this bond for 2 weeks.”
And now for years to come back.