Which Draft Pick Do the Houston Texans Have in the 2023 NFL Draft?

The Houston Texans were one of the bottomfeeders of the league in the 2022 season under former coach Lovie Smith’s one-year tenure leading the team through its second season without former quarterback Deshaun Watson at the helm of the offense.

They were projected to land the top pick in the 2023 NFL Draft for most of the season until the improbable comeback win over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 18.

Houston will be picking second and twelfth (pick acquired from Cleveland via Watson trade) in the first round in 2023, having the potential to add star talent to a young roster.

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How Did Houston Perform in 2022?

The Texans went 3-13-1 in 2022, good for the second-worst record in the league. The three wins and the tie all came against AFC South opponents in what was one of the worst divisions in the NFL this season.

Davis Mills quarterbacked the team for a majority of the season, with Jeff Driskel and Kyle Allen rotating in at times. Mills was underwhelming, going 292-for-479 for 3,118 yards with 17 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. His 2022 performance will likely have the team reevaluating the quarterback position heading into 2023.

Quarterback wasn’t the only position that was appears to be unsettled on the team. The front seven defensively consistently got thrashed on the ground and struggled to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

What Needs Does Houston Face?

Houston finished 20th in the league with 39 sacks and led the league in rushing yards surrendered per game at 170.2

Ogbonnia Okoronkwo is an upcoming free agent and was second on the team in sacks (5), giving them even more of a hit in the already weak defensive front.

The leading receiver in Houston was WR Brandin Cooks, the 10-year NFL veteran who is approaching his age-30 season. Cooks grabbed 57 catches for 699 yards and three touchdowns on the season, but clearly expressed his desire to play for a contending team rather than the rebuilding Texans.

While he wasn’t dealt at the trade deadline, he will likely be dealt during the offseason which will leave a hole in an already thin Houston receiver room.

While the Texans face a lot of holes in their roster reconstruction, some of the most gaping holes include QB, WR, DL, EDGE, and LB.

What Prospects Could Houston Target?

Most mock drafts have Houston taking their quarterback of the future at pick 2. They should have a good option between Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud, but no longer get to make the choice themselves unless they trade up one spot to get their guy.

Stroud still has not declared for the NFL Draft, but is expected to declare by Monday’s deadline due to his status as a probable top-5 selection.

After getting their quarterback at pick 2, at pick 12 Houston should go with the top prospect on the board. While they have young talent in players like CB Derek Stingley Jr., FS Jalen Pitre, and WR John Metchie III, they are far from having a complete roster and need to go with talent over need.

Some intriguing prospects that could be available for Houston at pick 12 include WRs Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Quentin Johnston, OT Peter Skoronski, TE Michael Mayer, DLs Bryan Bresee and Siaki Ika are all prospects who could be in consideration for GM Nick Caserio at pick 12, who did a great job with Houston’s 2022 draft.

As the offseason continues we will see rosters unfold throughout free agency and prospects jump up the draft boards with strong combine performances, but Houston would be smart to do what they did during the 2022 Draft and stick with on-field performance rather than letting combine measurables cloud their outlook.

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