FLIP THE SCRIPT
Here's what the Houston Texans are looking at if they swerve everyone on draft day
Feb 8, 2023, 9:31 am
Could the Texans pass on QB? Composite image by Jack Brame.
The Houston Texans know it will have the second overall draft pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Despite that, the team is not so sure about who will be available to take with that selection.
One team that could shake things up in the draft is the AFC South rival Indianapolis Colts. Currently holding the No. 4 overall pick, the Colts are in desperate need for its next signal caller after years of trying to find Andrew Luck’s replacement.
If the Colts were to trade up to No. 1 with the Chicago Bears and take whoever was the Texans’ No. 1 player at quarterback, who should Houston take instead?
With the hiring of DeMeco Ryans a week ago, it is no doubt the Texans are going to be looking at numerous players on the defensive side of the ball who can make plays and be building blocks for Ryans’ swarm vision. But who are some of the players on that side of the ball that are viable options for the Texans to take at two or elsewhere if they choose to trade down?
Will Anderson Jr. – Alabama
The Texans were only 19th in the NFL when it came to sacks in the 2022 season, and they were dead last when it came to rushing yards allowed to opponents, giving up over 170 yards on the ground per game.
Will Anderson Jr. is a player that instantly would fill a need on the team if he was selected at No. 2. The 6-foot-4-inch linebacker at Alabama became a tackle-for-loss king for the Crimson Tide during his three years there.
Playing in 41 games for Alabama in his three-year stint, Anderson racked up 62 tackles for loss and an outstanding 34.5 sacks. In 2021, he was a monster who put up 34.5 tackles for loss and 17.5 sacks alone in that season.
Ever since losing J.J. Watt after the 2020 season, the Texans have not had the identity nor the player with an ability to be a game wrecker for opposing teams. Anderson’s versatility on defense seems like a perfect fit for a Ryans' team because he is a player that can be relentless, make plays, and be adaptable.
Tyree Wilson – Texas Tech
Similar to Anderson, Tyree Wilson put together a strong résumé during his time at Texas Tech. What is most exciting about him is that every season with the Red Raiders he showed growth, which is mirrored by his numbers.
In 2020 after transferring from Texas A&M, he only had 1.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in nine games. That number jumped to 13.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks in 2021 as he appeared in 13 games for Texas Tech. Lastly, in 2022, Wilson’s numbers once again jumped even though he only played in 10 games. He garnered 14 tackles for loss and still got seven sacks in less games.
Standing at 6 feet and 6 inches, Wilson has plenty of room left for growth. One of Wilson’s best games this season came against then 16th-ranked North Carolina State, when he got 11 tackles and two sacks against the Wolfpack.
Jalen Carter – Georgia
Jalen Carter will be a big addition upfront to whichever team he is drafted to. The 6-foot-3-inch defensive lineman was a key piece in Georgia’s back-to-back national championship-winning seasons.
When it comes to the Texans’ rushing defense struggles, taking an interior lineman would be addressing a need.
For Houston, taking Carter could be a game changer. The Bulldog was known for his ability to bulldoze into the backfield of opposing teams at Georgia. He accumulated 18.5 tackles for loss and six sacks from his interior position with the Bulldogs.
It is worth noting the Texans have interior lineman Roy Lopez on the roster, who has been a decent piece on the otherwise struggling Houston defensive line.
The bottom line, if Houston cannot take or chooses not to take a quarterback with the second overall pick, there are plenty of defensive choices on the board that could be nice additions to the Texans’ defense.
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
How Astros advanced metrics tell puzzling story about Houston's start
Apr 17, 2025, 5:21 pm
Major League Baseball’s regular season is 162 games long. You can think of 18 games as the first inning of the season, 18 times nine equaling 162. While the Astros 8-10 record is not good, it’s far from disastrous. Think of it as them being behind 1-0 after the first inning. It is pretty remarkable that they have yet to win consecutive games. Even during last year’s 7-19 stink bomb of a start the Astros twice managed to win two in a row.
The Astros’ offensive woes are plentiful. Oddly enough as impotent as they’ve been, the Astros have yet to be shutout. But in half their games they have scored exactly one or two runs. Basically, most of them stink thus far. Exemptions go to Jose Altuve and Isaac Paredes, but it’s not like either of them has been outstanding. It’s still early enough that one big series can dramatically alter the numbers, but the Astros badly need Yordan Alvarez to pick up his production. Yordan enters the weekend batting just .224 with a .695 OPS and just four extra base hits. Yainer rhymes with minor. As in minor leagues, where Diaz belongs at his current level of performance. That is not saying Diaz should be sent down, just that any random AAA catcher called up couldn’t have done much worse to this point. Diaz isn’t hitting Altuve’s weight, a woeful .130 with seven hits in 57 at bats. Diaz simply remains too undisciplined at the plate swinging at too many balls. He’s drawn three walks. And now to Christian Walker, who thus far has delivered return on investment for his three year 60 million dollar contract about as strong as the stock market’s performance in Tariff Time. Walker’s .154 batting average and .482 OPS are very Astro Jose Abreu-like. Walker’s23 strikeouts in 65 at bats jump off the page. He has often looked befuddled in the batter's box. Walker is definitely pressing and frustrated, wanting to perform better for his new team. Jeremy Pena goes into the weekend batting .215 and has one hit in 13 at bats with runners in scoring position. Brendan Rodgers, Jake Meyers, and Chas McCormick all have weak stat lines, with little reason to expect quality offensive output from any of them. Cam Smith is at .200 with a yucky .591 OPS but he’s obviously a young stud work in progress thrown into the deep end of the pool.
All batting orders are top-heavy, the Astros’ on paper more so than many. As I set forth on one of our Stone Cold ‘Stros podcasts this week, the first inning should be a team’s best offensive inning. It’s the only frame in which a team gets to dictate who comes up from the start with the batters lined up just as the manager slots them. Add to that, the first inning is a good time to get to a starting pitcher before he settles in. The Astros have scored a pitiful three first inning runs in 18 games, and in two of the games they pushed one across in the first, it turned out to be the only Astro run of the game. Improvement needs to come internally from the big league roster. It’s not as if the Astros have a meaningful prospect at AAA Sugar Land who looks ready to help. Entering play Thursday the Space Cowboys’ team average was .186. Second base hopeful Brice Matthews is nowhere close, batting .180 and striking out left and right. Outfielder Jacob Melton opened three for 17 following the back injury-delayed start to his season.
As exasperating and boring as the offense has been for so many, grading needs to occur on a curve. So, while the Astros’ team batting average is a joke at .216, know that at close of business Wednesday the entire American League was batting just .232. The American League West-leading Texas Rangers scored eight fewer runs over their first 18 games than did the Astros, though that is skewed by the Astros’ one 14-run outburst against the Angels.
Familiar faces return
This weekend the Astros play host to the San Diego Padres at Daikin Park. The Friars are off to a fabulous start at 15-4. The Padres being here creates a mini reunion as both Martin Maldonado and Yuli Gurriel are on their roster. In a telling fact, Maldonado would have the third-highest batting average on the Astros if on the team with his current numbers. Maldonado is hitting .250 with seven hits in 28 at bats. The last season he finished above .200 was 2020. The only season in his career Maldonado topped .234 was his rookie season with a .266 mark in 2012.
Gurriel was last good in 2021 when he won the American League batting title at .319. He fell off a cliff from there, though perked up to have a fine postseason in the Astros’ 2022 run to World Series title number two. “La Pina” is batting .115 with just three hits in 26 at bats. Gurriel may be released soon, and approaching his 41st birthday June 9, that would probably be the end of the line. Short-timer Astro Jason Heyward is also on the Padres, and batting .190.
For Astro-centric conversation, join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and me for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday. Click here to catch!
_____________________________________________
*Looking to get the word out about your business, products, or services? Consider advertising on SportsMap! It's a great way to get in front of Houston sports fans. Click the link below for more information!