Houston GM: Texans Have Received Calls About Trading No. 2 Overall
Expert Analysis 4/17/23
The Houston Texans have received trade offers for the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, and the team hasn’t shut the door on moving the pick, general manager Nick Caserio said in a news conference on Monday.
“Are we open for business? We’re open to listening,” Caserio told reporters. “We’ve received some calls about the No.2 overall pick… So I think my job responsibility is to listen and not rule anything out.”
Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud (scouting report) is the betting favorite to go No. 2 overall and was recently overtaken by Bryce Young (scouting report) as the betting favorite for No. 1 overall. The Texans are without a franchise-caliber starting quarterback, leading many to speculate Houston would target one of the top quarterbacks, such as Young or Stroud.
>> Read: The 33rd Team’s Mock Draft 5.0
However, it appears Houston hasn’t ruled out moving the second overall pick and giving another team a chance to secure one of the top two quarterback prospects.
“Anything is possible,” Caserio said when asked if the team was considering not selecting a quarterback at No. 2. “The hope is we come out of this draft with good football players that can help our team.”
The Chicago Bears traded the No. 1 overall pick to the Carolina Panthers for a massive haul, including first and second-round picks in the 2023 and 2024 NFL Draft as well as wide receiver D.J. Moore. Depending on which team Houston negotiates with, the Texans could expect a similarly impressive haul in exchange for the No. 2 pick.
Ari Meirov of the 33rd Team believes the Panthers trade to get No. 1 might also be the leading factor in the Texans’ willingness to move out of their spot at No. 2 in the draft.
“There is a quarterback in this draft that Houston loves and they wanted to get to No. 1 to secure him” said Meirov. “And now, there’s a chance that Carolina is going to take that quarterback at No. 1 and you’re left settling on a quarterback.”
>> Read: The 33rd Team’s 2023 NFL Draft Big Board
Caserio’s comments, meanwhile, come amid speculation the Texans’ general manager could be on the move following the NFL Draft. However, Caserio shut down that speculation on Monday.
“Quite frankly, I’m almost embarrassed I have to [address this],” Caserio told reporters. “I feel sort of like Leonardo DiCaprio in Wolf of Wall Street. I’m not leaving. There’s never really been any substantive discussions of the sort.”
The Texans have 12 total picks in the 2023 NFL Draft, including No. 12 overall. Houston last had a winning season in 2019, and it has lost at least 12 games in three straight seasons.