DeMeco Ryans Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Insider: Texans not a lock to take QB with No. 2 pick

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 4/12/23

On the surface, the Houston Texans decision with the No. 2 overall pick appears to be an easy one: take whoever is left between Alabama QB Bryce Young and Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud.

But as SI.com’s Albert Breer recently stated, it should not be considered a foregone conclusion that the Texans will go signal-caller with their selection -- especially if the player they covet happens to go to the Carolina Panthers.

“I don’t think (GM Nick) Caserio and (head coach DeMeco) Ryans will reach on a guy they’re not 100% sold on with the second pick (maybe they’d be more open to a dice roll later in the draft),” Breer wrote.

“Both guys have seen teams built in other ways, and both have seen teams find quarterbacks in other ways. So if anyone will be open to it, it’d be these two guys.”

Can you see a world in which the Texans don't take a QB at #2?

"Last year, the Texans had the number 3 overall pick... and they took a corner.

There is a sample size of Nick Caserio drafts, and it was 2 unexpected draft picks..."@PSchrags pic.twitter.com/g6jyfizM6n
— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) April 12, 2023

Breer points out that no team employing Caserio has previously drafted a QB higher than 62nd overall -- Jimmy Garoppolo in 2014 with the Patriots -- and that Ryans went to three NFC championship games in San Francisco without ever selecting a quarterback in the first 62 picks.

Many draft experts believe that the Texans prefer Young to Stroud. If the Panthers take the Alabama signal caller with the first overall pick, then Houston could potentially pounce for a pass rusher in their slot -- or trade back for additional draft capital.

It was earlier reported that the Texans and Chicago Bears had the framework of a deal in place that would have seen Houston move up to No. 1 before the collective machinations fell through and the Panthers made their move.

“If it’s not a quarterback, I’d expect Caserio to try to trade down,” Breer said. “I still think it’ll wind up being one (likely Stroud, in particular), especially with ownership a little more involved this year. But I’m not 100% sure of it.”

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