Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio. Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

ESPN draft experts have interesting projection for Texans

By Cory Kefauver | Last updated 4/20/23

ESPN draft experts Matt Miller and Jordan Reid had an interesting projection for the Texans. The duo projects Houston will pass on a QB with its first two picks in the first round (Nos. 2 and 12), trade back into the first round and select Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker.

Miller and Reid predict that Houston would trade a second-rounder (No. 33), third-rounder (No. 104) and a 2024 second-rounder to the Bills to leap back into the first round to snag Hooker.

Per Bleacher Report, the Texans have been listening to trade calls for the second overall pick. Houston GM Nick Caserio said he is not ruling out any possibilities with the selection.

Nick Caserio on possibility of not drafting a quarterback: 'We won't eliminate anything. We just try to make good decisions.' #Texans
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) April 17, 2023

If the Texans aren't sold on any of the top QBs, they could trade their No. 2 overall pick or select the top non-quarterback player and go with another option such as Hooker to fill their biggest hole.

Davis Mills started 14 games at QB last season for Houston (3-13-1) but was not impressive.

The Panthers have the top selection next Thursday, which will almost certainly will be a QB, probably Bryce Young of Alabama.

ESPN's first-round projection for Hooker is high compared to where other outlets projected him. Dane Brugler of The Athletic projects him as a second-round pick, but even that may be high for Hooker given his age (25) and concerns about a season-ending knee injury suffered last season.

NFL teams generally prefer to draft players who are on the younger side of 25.

It's not impossible that Houston forgoes picking a QB in the first round. New head coach DeMeco Ryans--who is signed to a six-year contract--may be in no rush to rebuild and could choose to fill some of the team's other holes.

The Texans could be playing the long game and figure they can draft a QB such as Southern Cal's Caleb Williams in next year's draft. But a team can never bet on securing a top-five pick -- even during a rebuild.

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