Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud. Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Texans would have selected different QB over C.J. Stroud with No. 1 pick?

By Vinny Somma | Last updated 11/15/23

With how C.J. Stroud has performed in his first nine games in the NFL, it's difficult to envision a scenario where the rookie signal-caller is not at the helm of the Houston Texans offense for years to come.

Yet, according to longtime Houston beat writer John McClain, there's a strong probability that Stroud wouldn't have ever donned a Texans uniform had the team received the No. 1 pick in last April's NFL draft.

Joining "The NFL Report" podcast on Monday, McClain voiced his belief that had the Texans had the opportunity to select Alabama quarterback Bryce Young over Stroud, they would have.

“I think — and they’ll never admit this — if they had the No. 1 pick, [the Texans] would’ve taken Bryce Young, even though there were a lot of people out there who had Stroud rated over Bryce Young,” McClain said.

Of course, this what-if scenario is irrelevant for a Texans franchise that appears to have found its franchise signal-caller. Over the past two weeks, Stroud has put a stamp on his Rookie of the Year bid and even snuck into the MVP discussion with 826 passing yards, six touchdowns and just one interception.

While Stroud has the Texans (5-4) on the verge of their first postseason appearance since 2019, Young and the Carolina Panthers have found far less success this year.

With an NFL-worst 1-8 record, the Panthers will not sniff the postseason for the sixth consecutive season in 2023. As for Young, he's failed to pass the eye test, struggling to push the ball down the field and dissect coverages.

Young's production is among the worst in the NFL, owning a 33.2 QBR (ranked 31 out of 32 among eligible quarterbacks) and his recent play has given Panthers fans very little to feel excited about. Over Young's last two games, the former Heisman Trophy winner has accounted for just 358 yards, one passing touchdown and three interceptions.

While the Panthers rookie still has time to turn things around, and even has an NFL star coming to his defense, it's safe to say the Texans aren't losing sleep at night wondering what could have been had they had the opportunity to select Young.

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