EVERY-THING SPORTS
An open letter to Nick Caserio from a Houston Texans supporter
Mar 1, 2023, 1:28 pm
The stakes are high for Texans GM Nick Caserio. Composite image by Brandon Strange.
Here's what the Houston Texans must avoid at all costs heading into next season
The Houston Texans are the owners of the number two overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. They “earned it” courtesy of winning the last game of the 2022 season. Had they lost, they would've owned the number one overall pick and control of the draft that goes along with it. Instead, the Bears are in the driver's seat with that pick. Unlike the Texans, the Bears have a young quarterback on a rookie deal they believe in (for now). The Texans are known to want to draft a quarterback with one of their top draft picks.
With all of that in mind, here's an open letter from me to Nick Caserio:
Dear Nick,
Given the fact that some will try to get cute and come up with creative ways for you to get a quarterback, this isn't a decision that requires much thought. You're smart and can deduce who are the top two guys available at the quarterback position, it makes the decision even easier. Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud are the top two guys, in case you weren't aware. You own the second pick, simple math will tell you one will be available even if the Bears make a trade with one of the QB-hungry teams drafting behind you. Couple things I feel you should know and/or do:
1) DO NOT trade up to number one overall! There's no need to give up the draft capital you have built up in order to get one of the top two QB prospects. I understand Bryce Young may be the number one guy, but C.J. Stroud is a very good number two prospect. Plus he fits the profile mold of QBs you've drafted in the past when it comes to ideal size. This team has lots of holes to fill. Giving up picks to find the guy when the next best option is right there makes no sense.
2) There's no need to draft a defensive stud at number two, then make a move to get a quarterback or draft whoever falls to you at twelve, or even later.
More about police securing arrest warrants for former Georgia star Jalen Carter stemming from the top NFL draft prospect’s alleged involvement in a fatal crash involving a teammate.https://t.co/w5ub9PZsY8
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 1, 2023
Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter is perhaps the best prospect in the draft, but he was recently charged with some serious crimes related to the crash and deaths of a former teammate and staffer. Will Anderson and Tyree Wilson are two of the top edge prospects, but they both have flaws and aren't worth passing on a potential franchise QB. Julius Peppers was the last time this team should've drafted a DL over a QB prospect. (Save the Mario Williams over VY crap. That's another debate we're not doing here.)
3) Your job is on the line. You're on your third coach in three years. I know the McNair's are on your butt about producing a winner. The best way to do that is to take a QB at number two, then use the rest of those picks to surround him with talent he'll need to succeed. Make good use of the cap space available. Identify the positions you could use on both sides of the ball and sign them to good contracts. DeMeco Ryans was the right choice at head coach. If you keep pushing the right buttons, you'll be hailed as a conquering hero here (despite your terrible takes on BBQ).
Trust me on this Nick, I think you can get the job done. I believe you're fully capable of completing the mission of bringing this team into national prominence and away from the ditch of despair. Making this team a winner and playoff contender (possibly winning a title) should get you a statue or at least something. The only thing stopping you would be you overthinking this. Don't be dumb. Continue being a smart. You'll be fine. If not, you'll be on the first thing smoking out of town and people will dance on your old parking spot. You got this! Call me if you need some help. (Text me first so I know it's you. I don't answer unsaved numbers.)
Signed,
A concerned media member and team supporter.
The Houston Texans addressed their most glaring needs by selecting offensive tackle Aireontae Ersery and a pair of Iowa State receivers in the NFL draft.
“The idea was to try to add good players, good people that are young, tough, hungry, that want to win, that put the team first,” general manager Nick Caserio said. “These picks exemplify that.”
The Texans got players that could help them quickly despite not picking in the first round for a second straight season. They didn’t have a first-round pick last year because of trades, including the one to move up and get defensive end Will Anderson with the third overall pick in the 2023 draft.
This season they shipped the 25th overall pick to the Giants on Thursday in exchange for several picks.
Their first selection in this draft was receiver Jayden Higgins, who was taken with the second pick of the second round. They added Ersery later in the second round with the 48th overall selection and picked up Higgins’ teammate Jaylin Noel in the third round.
Ersery could be Houston’s left tackle of the future after the offseason trade of five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil. Ersery started 38 games at left tackle over three seasons at Minnesota where he was a third-team All-American last season.
He comes to Houston to help shore up a line that allowed C.J. Stroud to be sacked 52 times last season, which was the second most in the NFL.
The Texans added veteran tackle Cam Robinson this offseason and Ersery will compete with him to protect Stroud’s blind side as the Texans attempt to reach the playoffs for a third straight season under coach DeMeco Ryans.
The 6-foot-6, 331-pound Ersery, who was the Big Ten’s Offensive Lineman of the Year last season, can’t wait to play with Stroud.
“C.J. Stroud is a baller,” Ersery said. “I’m so honored to be a guy to help out and come in and help protect him. I’m just super stoked and I know I’m going to a great organization.”
Cyclones teammates
Higgins and Noel join the Texans to add more depth at receiver to complement star Nico Collins with Tank Dell recovering from a serious knee injury and Stefon Diggs gone to the Patriots.
Higgins, who has been compared to Collins, had 87 receptions for 1,183 yards and nine touchdowns last season for the Cyclones and Noel added 80 catches for 1,194 yards and eight scores.
After Higgins was drafted, Noel never imagined he’d be heading to Houston, too. He shared on social media a fortune he received from a Chinese restaurant that read: “Look forward to an unplanned reunion with an out-of-touch friend.”
Noel later shared his feelings about joining Higgins on the roster.
“I was surprised,” Noel said. “But they’ve seen that 1-2 punch all year. They’re going to be very happy with those selections for sure.”
Caserio said a talk with Iowa State coach Matt Campbell on Friday helped him make his final decisions on the receivers.
“He was effusive in his… belief and praise of both Higgins and Noel,” Caserio said.
The Texans now have three receivers from Iowa State on their roster after drafting Xavier Hutchinson in the sixth round in 2023.
Overcoming obstacles
Ersery and his four siblings were raised by a single mother and experienced homelessness when he was a child despite her working multiple jobs. He is thrilled to have put those struggles behind him as he embarks on his next chapter.
“I’ve got that hardworking mentality from her,” he said. “So, growing up times were tough but now I’ve got my foot in the door and I look forward to trying to change some things around.”
Caserio loves guys with work ethic like Ersery’s and said that’s one reason why they believe he’ll fit in with the Texans.
“If you come in and put your head down and work and just get better, take advantage of your opportunities, you’re going to have a shot to have success and do a lot of good things for the organization,” he said.
What’s in a name?
Along with Noel, the Texans added another Jaylin in this draft with they picked USC cornerback Jaylin Smith in the third round.
“We got Jaylins, and we got all these guys around. It’s going to be hard to keep them straight,” Caserio joked on Friday after they picked Smith.
Then on Saturday, the Texans added another player with the same name, albeit with a different spelling, when they took Penn State safety Jaylen Reed in the sixth round.
That gives them four players with the same name and three different spellings as the three rookies join starting safety Jalen Pitre on the team.
Doubling up
Along with drafting two players from Iowa State, the Texans also added a pair of players from Southern California when they picked running back Woody Marks in the fourth round after drafting Smith in the third.
Marks ran for a career-high 1,133 yards with nine touchdowns for the Trojans last season after transferring from Mississippi State.
Be sure to watch the video below as NFL.com Draft Analyst Lance Zierlein shares his thoughts on all the Texans' picks!