Texans Trade To No. 1 In NFL Draft? Why Houston Didn't Do It
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Some say the Texans' last win of the season in 2022 - the 32-31 win over the Colts on Jan. 8 - was a parting shot from former coach Lovie Smith, who knew his days were numbered in Houston.
That win cost the Texans the No. 1 overall draft pick, as Chicago ended the year with a slightly worse record of 3-14 compared to Houston's 3-13-1. It's pretty apparent the Texans will target a quarterback in next month's NFL Draft, and the No. 1 pick would allow them first dibs on whoever they felt was the best fit.
Bears general manager Ryan Poles spoke to NBC Sports recently and said his team and the Texans engaged in "significant discussion" about a trade involving the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft.
"I thought there was an opportunity to do something historically pretty cool with a trade from one to two and two to nine," he said. "That had potential to add more draft capital this year, and then the possibility that you're sitting on three ones in the following year. That had my attention. But my gut told me to trigger on it now."
Ultimately, the Bears sent that top pick to Carolina, who is in need of a franchise quarterback, for additional draft picks and a bonafide No. 1 receiver in D.J Moore. Chicago landed the No. 9 picks in 2023 as well as a first-rounder in the 2024 NFL Draft.
The Texans simply didn't have anything to offer on the level of a wideout like Moore. Poles probably could've accumulated more picks had he executed separate trades with the Texans and Panthers, and Houston ultimately sent wideout Brandin Cooks to Dallas.
Poles did what was best for his franchise, and Houston simply couldn't match what Carolina was offering.
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