New Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans may forego taking a quarterback with his first pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and reportedly might instead target a player that could be his version of San Francisco 49ers superstar Nick Bosa.
The Houston Texans have a very interesting decision to make on April 27. It wasn’t long ago that they were seen as one of the few organizations in the sport that had a legitimate franchise quarterback. However, after scandals that forever tarnished his reputation, the Texans had to move on from former signal-caller Deshaun Watson.
Related: 2023 NFL mock draft – Texans trade down with Raiders, Rounds 1-3 projections
Since then they have been on a search for a new long-term answer for the position. They gave former backup Davis Mills a shot at the job but by year two it was abundantly clear he was best suited as a QB2 on an NFL depth chart. That is why the 2023 draft seems like the perfect time to address that need.
This year’s class has four players many believe could be taken in the first round and the Houston Texans have the second pick in this opening round of the event. However, in recent days there have been rumblings the team may not be thrilled with the next best options after Bryce Young — the prospect expected to be taken with the first overall pick by the Carolina Panthers.
Houston Texans record (2022): 3-13, last place in AFC South
Rumors continue to suggest Ryans, the former defensive coordinator of the 49ers, may prefer to lean toward the strategy of the best player available and that would likely be one of the top defensive talents in the 2023 NFL Draft. And a new report claims the Texans may be targeting a player beyond Will Anderson Jr. and Jalen Carter — the top-rated defensive players on many draft boards.
In a new edition of Peter King’s “Football Morning in America” column, the long-time NFL insider speculated on who the Houston Texans could take with their first pick next week and some league-sourced intel that corroborates the notion.
“I will not be surprised if, in the Edge category, Tyree Wilson is picked ahead of Will Anderson. I particularly will not be surprised if Houston — whether at two or through a trade-down if the Texans don’t take a quarterback — takes Wilson over Anderson. ‘DeMeco Ryans could look at Wilson after his year in San Francisco and say, I got my Nick Bosa,’ said someone in the league who knows Ryans.”
– Peter King
King also speculated that he would still be surprised the Houston Texans didn’t take a QB with their top pick. But after signal-callers, it seems that pass rushers are the next most valued position in the sport, so the move does seem to be sound with a first-round selection.