Texans could shock the football world with this 2023 NFL Draft decision

In ESPN's consensus prospect rankings, Anderson sits second behind his Crimson Tide teammate QB Bryce Young, who Mel Kiper Jr. has Houston selecting in his most recent mock draft. Anderson, a two-time unanimous All-American, recorded 205 total tackles, 62 for loss and 34.5 sacks in three seasons in Tuscaloosa. 

Aside from the shock factor, Houston skipping out on a quarterback second overall would carry massive implications for the entire draft, with Arizona standing to gain the most.

The Cardinals hold the third pick in the draft, and without a need for a quarterback, there was already speculation that they could trade down. As it stands, Arizona could earn a solid return for their pick, though if Houston takes a defender second overall, the pick becomes even more valuable. 

Ultimately, King believes the Texans will hold onto the second pick and draft a passer despite what his source claims because it's CEO Cal McNair's preference. There's also no guarantee they can trade back up to get their preferred prospect if they don't select them at No. 2.

However, the move might pay off if the Texans bypassed the quarterback position with the second overall selection.

In 2002, the Texans selected QB David Carr as their first pick in franchise history, and he had no chance to succeed primarily because of a terrible supporting cast. Carr was sacked 249 times in five seasons with the Texans, nearly half the amount Tom Brady, the most sacked quarterback in history, accumulated during his 23-year career (565).

Perhaps Caserio is considering Carr's career as he continues laying the groundwork for a strong foundation to aid his signal-caller of the future. It's clear that the franchise is in much better shape heading into 2023 than in 2002, but they're more than a QB away from being a contender. 

While it remains unclear whether Caserio is comfortable not taking a quarterback at No. 2, moving back to Indianapolis' fourth pick could still allow Houston to select Anderson. Trading with Indianapolis could net Houston a return to move up from No. 12 without sacrificing its 2024 first-rounders. Arizona, of course, would have to trade its pick in this scenario. 

So far, Caserio has earned praise for his offseason moves, and only time will tell whether that still holds true following the draft. 

The 2023 NFL Draft, hosted in Kansas City, is scheduled to begin on April 27.