'Unfair!' New Texans QB - Bryce Young or CJ Stroud - No 'Savior' - Coach DeMeco Ryans
DeMeco Ryans is fired up.
The Houston Texans have a chance to change everything around here, and maybe to change it quickly, due to their ownership of picks Nos. 2 and 12 in this NFL Draft.
And the new coach concedes that it's "exciting" to own that second pick, which can begin a roll in which Houston sort of "controls'' this draft.
But Ryans would like to keep something else under "control.''
That something is "expectations.''
"I think it's unfair to ask a guy, just because you're pick No. 2 overall, you have to come in and, 'You're the face of our franchise and you're the leader'," Ryans said at this week's pre-draft press briefing. "That's unfair to the guy, and I'm not going to put that type of weight on the shoulders of whoever it is that we pick."
That's wise, in theory. Of course, whomever is the chosen one - Houston is expected to take either Alabama QB Bryce Young or Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud at No. 2, whichever one Carolina doesn't take at No. 1 - will be seen as ...
"The Chosen One.''
That's just how this works.
But along the way, Ryans will try to build a sensible framework around the expectations.
"We're expecting him to come in, be a great teammate, work hard, be deliberate in what you're doing, and have a mindset to get better each and every day," he added. "That's the mindset no matter if it's pick 2 or the last pick of the draft ... I'm not asking a guy to come in and be the savior for our team.
"I'm asking a guy to come in and put his head down and just work."
Houston is already doing its work on Young (with a pre-draft visit the team this week) and Stroud (who visited last week). Get this right, and the program will grow - maybe even in a way that matches the inevitable expectations.
Want the latest in breaking and insider news for the Houston Texans? Click Here
Follow Texans Daily on Twitter and Facebook
Make sure to subscribe to our daily podcast @LockedOnTexans today! Click here To Listen.
