NFL Mock Draft: Texans Skip QB at No. 2; Anthony Richardson at 12?
With the NFL draft officially three weeks away the number of mock drafts will continue to ramp as more information comes out, from pre-draft visits to rumors of who teams like with their pick.
For the Houston Texans, they find themselves in an enviable position with two first-round picks in the top 15.
While one of those picks is almost certainly going to be used to draft their next franchise quarterback, in CBS Sports' latest projections the Texans do take a quarterback - just not with the No. 2 overall pick.
Rd. 1 No. 2 - Will Anderson - EDGE (Alabama)
"The Texans are PROBABLY taking a quarterback at No. 2, but they also turned down a chance to move into the first pick, (presumably) knowing the Bears had other suitors for the spot.
So what if they're just happy with one of the Alabama players? Houston took two of them last year with Nick Caserio in charge after Jack Easterby's ousting. It would seriously shake up the draft in a fun way."
In the scenario where the Texans opt to skip on a quarterback at No. 2 overall, landing arguably the best defensive prospect, if not the best prospect overall is not a bad route.
The Texans were not great on defense last season, allowing opponents to score 24.7 points per game on 379.5 yards of total offense. Adding Anderson, though, would give Houston another young franchise cornerstone on defense after taking cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. and safety Jalen Pitre in 2022.
Anderson had a "down" year in his final season at Alabama, recording 51 total tackles with 17 tackles for loss and 10 sacks.
While that might not seem like a down year, it only makes Anderson's sophomore season that much more impressive. In 2021 he was unstoppable, recording 101 total tackles including a whopping 31 tackles for loss and 17.5 sacks.
Foregoing a quarterback with the second pick might not be the conventional move, but picking Anderson is a move that is hard to find fault with - especially when the Texans get their franchise quarterback at No. 12 overall in this mock.
Rd. 1 No. 12 - Anthony Richardson - QB (Florida)
"I honestly didn't plan this when I went Anderson at No. 2 but if you're the Texans how do you not sign in blood for this right now? An elite defensive prospect and an upside-riddled QB who you don't feel compelled to start right now.
OC Bobby Slowik was in San Francisco when they drafted a smaller, slower passer a few years ago attempting to reinvent the ShanaClan offense."
After seeing Bryce Young go first overall and passing on C.J. Stroud with their second pick, the Texans would likely be over the moon to see Richardson slide down the board to them at No. 12 overall.
Richardson is arguably the most polarizing quarterback prospect in this draft class, with some analysts believing he's the best quarterback in the draft while others vowing not to touch him in the first round.
There is no doubt Richardson is a project quarterback, but the ceiling is fun to imagine. As a junior he threw for 2,549 yards with 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions, completing only 53.8 percent of his passes. He torched defenses on the ground as well, though, rushing for 654 yards and nine touchdowns.
Ultimately, the Texans are likely to go quarterback at No. 2 overall and draft whoever the Panthers don't take at No. 1.
However, if they opt to pass on Young or Stroud, landing potentially the best player in the draft and their next franchise quarterback would not be a bad haul in the first round.
You can find Connor Zimmerlee on Twitter @Connorjz98
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