Perfect Picks 2023: Houston Texans

By Lee Wakefield

With the NFL Draft approaching we will be looking at each team and evaluating where they need to improve. In this particular series we will run a seven round mock using the Pro Football Network Mock Draft Simulator and find the ‘Perfect Picks’ for each franchise.

We will highlight four players that could help each team. This will feature picks 1 and 2, a mid round gem and a late round sleeper. 

Round 1 - CJ Stroud (Quarterback, Ohio State)

For me, this pick really does put the perfect, into Perfect Picks to start off our Texans mock draft here.

I am still full of the belief that the Panthers traded up to grab Stroud, however, when there are rumors sweeping the Twitterverse that Carolina likes Byrce Young, and analysts such as Daniel Jeremiah have the Alabama passer at #1 overall in his latest mock draft, it really has to make you sit up and take some notice.

This would be great for the Texans as they get their quarterback of the future without having to deal with the pressure that would come with selecting a player who is a complete outlier in terms of his size.

Stroud showed all the poise and all the throwing ability you would want to see in a franchise passer when he was under the microscope at the Combine and should possess a reasonable floor as a prospect. Stroud will also be given time to develop for a franchise starting from the ground up.

The Texans have already signed Laremy Tunsil to an extension and given their new QB a safety blanket tight end in Dalton Schulz. As you will see at the bottom of the page, I spent other draft picks on further offensive weapons like Luke Musgrave and Tyler Scott in order to challenge all levels of the opposing defense. I also selected the Texans their center of the future, someone whom Stroud can grow up with, as well as some depth along the offensive line.

I feel like I like the look of their offense now. Which is a huge improvement from a year ago.

Round 2 - Tyree Wilson (Edge, Texas Tech)

During the first couple of waves of free agency, the Texans went shopping for veterans who can elevate their floor and cheaper players who can fill out their roster, but essentially everyone is on a one to a two-year deal.

Houston is seeing if they can throw a whole bunch of mud against the wall and are seeing what sticks, as they look to build the semblance of a competitive roster for 2023. Those that work out will either be extended or get paid by other teams, those that don’t will be discarded.

The star power, however, must come from the draft, and with the twelfth overall pick, the Texans have the chance to follow up their QB selection by adding a potential defensive star.

That is where Tyree Wilson comes in.

Wilson has been an extremely impactful edge rusher for Texas Tech for the past couple of years; he has the length and the strength to be a real force in the NFL and a cornerstone piece for the Texans for the next decade plus.

Wilson probably isn’t going to turn the franchise around on his own, but this isn’t a one-year rebuild for Houston, and they can supplement him with depth this year (such as YaYa Diaby, as I did here) and then give him a partner in the 2024 draft.

Mid Round Gem - Antonio Johnson (Safety, Texas A&M)

I spent the earlier day two picks on offensive players who will make C.J. Stroud’s life and transition to the NFL easier, so for the final pick of Saturday, I wanted to go defense and Antonio Johnson was the best player left on the board for me at this point.

Texas A&M Head Coach, Jimbo Fisher said of Johnson’s versatility;

“There’s not much he can’t do. He’ll play nickel, safety, dime. We can move him around and match him up because he’s such a tremendous football player.”

I like the idea of, not only Johnson the player but also adding a versatile DB to a unit that has some nice, young talents courtesy of last year’s draft in Derek Stingley Jr. and Jalen Pitre.

Johnson is all-action and would bring a sense of urgency to the Texans’ defense on the back end.

In year one Johnson would be the third safety in the rotation alongside Jimmie Ward and Pitre. He could be in line to replace Desmond King as the primary slot defender in 2024, as the former Charger only has a year left on his deal, but for now, could easily be the sixth DB covering tight ends or enforcing in the run game as he is equally comfortable with either assignment.

Late Round Sleeper - Tyler Scott (Wide Receiver, Cincinnati)

As we can see from Tyler Scott’s Mockdraftable spider diagram, he’s an undersized, pocket-rocket of a receiver. Scott rates highly for the 40-yard dash, his 10-second split, and explosivity tests such as the vertical and broad jumps.

Nothing worries opposing defensive backs and defensive coordinators more than somebody on the other team who is a threat to run by you every time he’s on the field. That is what Scott will give to whichever team drafts him next month.

A field stretcher gives the Texans the ability to instantly strike their opponent, stretch the field and, open up space underneath for their rookie QB.

These are all things that make your life easier as an offense and as a team; nobody wants to have to force their QB to play in a condensed space, where all throws become contested or tight-window throws – Aside from Joe Lombardi with the Chargers last season, at least.

Scott isn’t ever going to be the crown jewel in the receiver room, but if we look at this draft and the depth chart, I don’t think that person is actually on the roster yet. One thing I do think though, is that this selection would turn out to be a bargain and make the Texans better in 2023, giving them the platform to build from for 2024 and beyond, which has to be their intention this year.

Draft In Full:

Round 1 – CJ Stroud (Quarterback, Ohio State)

Round 1 – Tyree Wilson (Edge, Texas Tech)

Round 2 – John Michael Schmitz (Center, Minnesota)

Round 3 – Luke Musgrave (Tight End, Oregon State)

Round 3 – Antonio Johnson (Safety, Texas A&M)

Round 4 – Keannu Benton (Defensive Tackle, Wisconsin)

Round 6 – Tyler Scott (Wide Receiver, Cincinnati)

Round 6 – YaYa Diaby (Edge, Louisville)

Round 6 – Connor Galvin (Offensive Tackle, Baylor)

Round 6 – Atonio Mafi (Offensive Guard, UCLA)

Round 6 – Elijah Higgins (Wide Receiver, Stanford)

Round 7 – Noah Daniels (Cornerback, TCU)

Lee Wakefield

NFL Draft Contributor

Lee Wakefield has covered the NFL and College Football for a number of publications, including Full 10 Yards & First And 10. Chargers Sufferer. Currently a contributor for With THe First Pick. @Wakefield90 on twitter.

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