QB SPLASH
Report: Houston Texans draft plans could ultimately hinge on polarizing QB
Mar 7, 2023, 2:37 pm
The Texans could look to add Jimmy Garoppolo and Anthony Richardson. Photo via: Wiki Commons.
The Houston Texans are expected to have a new signal caller as the starter for 2023, but it might not be as everyone initially expected.
There is a push within the Houston Texans organization to sign quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo this offseason with the idea of also picking a young play caller in the first round and sitting him for the year to grow, CBS Sports reported on Tuesday morning.
Of course, Garoppolo would have to want to come to Houston in this scenario.
With Houston owning the No. 2 and No. 12 overall picks in this year’s draft, many expected the Texans to take one of Bryce Young, CJ Stroud, Anthony Richardson or Will Levis. One of the biggest concerns about all of the prospects, however, has been whether any of them would be ready to be a day one starter.
Signing Garoppolo opens the door to many possibilities for the Texans, including what they can do with their current draft capital. Here are some scenarios of what Houston can do.
Trade down
If the Texans sign Garoppolo, the need to take a quarterback with the No. 2 pick becomes less important and opens the door to multiple possibilities.
Because there is not a clear-cut No. 1 guy to take at QB, the Texans could trade down. Teams like the Las Vegas Raiders (No. 7 overall), Atlanta Falcons (No. 8 overall), or Carolina Panthers (No. 9 overall) may value one of the quarterbacks as a can’t pass prospect.
Even if the Chicago Bears trade the No. 1 overall pick to the Indianapolis Colts or stay steady at the top, Houston has a great shot at still being able to pick one of those four quarterbacks with a first-round pick outside the top six. The reason being, Arizona, Seattle and Detroit sit at No. 3. No. 5 and No. 6 respectively. All do not have a strong need at the position.
The trade down scenario is only feasible if general manager Nick Caserio and head coach DeMeco Ryans believe there is not much separation between the four quarterbacks or that their best quarterback prospect will still be available outside the top six.
The benefit of trading down is that Houston stays with two high first-round draft picks and can add even more capital in the process.
Focusing on defense
One of the glaring weaknesses of the 2022 Houston Texans defense was its inability to stop the run. Even if the Bears opt to keep the No. 1 draft pick and take a defensive star like Will Anderson Jr., the Texans are guaranteed to have the option to take one of Anderson, Jalen Carter, depending on how his off-the-field concerns play out, Tyree Wilson or Myles Murphy at No. 2.
Any of those players have a chance to significantly improve Houston’s defensive line struggles from day one. If Houston is comfortable with either Levis or Richardson, both of whom are considered to be long-term prospects, and believe one of them will be available at No. 12, signing Garoppolo gives the Texans the flexibility to address other areas with their top pick.
Takes pressure off top QB prospect
Even if the Texans opt to take a quarterback with the No. 2 pick despite signing Garoppolo, it would take away an enormous amount of pressure on that prospect.
Not having to worry about being the starter from day one will offer Houston’s potential top quarterback selection an opportunity to learn the offense with less stress, at his own pace, and have the resource of another person in the building, who has been around it for the past six seasons.
Garoppolo has been with the San Francisco 49ers since 2018 and knows the ins and outs of the type of offense the Texans will look to run in 2023 under Bobby Slowik. He also has familiarity with Caserio. Both were together with the New England Patriots.
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Miami (6-7) at Houston (8-5)
Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBS
BetMGM Odds: Texans by 3.
Against the spread: Dolphins 5-8; Texans 5-6-2.
Series record: Texans lead 8-3.
Last meeting: Dolphins beat Texans 30-15, on Nov. 27, 2022, in Miami.
Last week: Dolphins beat Jets 32-26 in OT; Texans were off, beat Jaguars 23-20 on Dec. 1.
Dolphins offense: overall (19), rush (24), pass (14), scoring (23).
Dolphins defense: overall (9), rush (7), pass (11), scoring (T14).
Texans offense: overall (18), rush (16), pass (17), scoring (11).
Texans defense: overall (5), rush (10), pass (7), scoring (T12).
Turnover differential: Dolphins minus-2; Texans plus-10.
Dolphins player to watch
QB Tua Tagovailoa, who has been one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL at throwing with anticipation and accuracy since he returned from a concussion in Week 8. Tagovailoa leads the NFL with a 73.8% completion rate and threw for 300 yards for the third straight game last week vs. the Jets. Tagovailoa is the first player in NFL history to have at least 40 pass attempts, multiple touchdown passes and no interceptions in three consecutive games within a single season.
Texans player to watch
QB C.J. Stroud has thrown for at least 225 yards in each of his six home games this season and is 11-4 in 15 starts in Houston, including the playoffs. He has thrown for 3,117 yards with 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions this season.
Key matchup
Houston RB Joe Mixon vs. Miami’s run defense. Mixon ran for 101 yards in Houston’s previous game for his seventh 100-yard game this season. He ranks third in the NFL by averaging 88.7 yards rushing a game. This week he’ll face a run defense that ranks seventh in the NFL by holding teams to 105.6 yards a game.
Key injuries
Miami LT Terron Armstead is dealing with a knee injury that limited him to just five snaps last week. He did not practice Wednesday… LBs Bradley Chubb (knee) and Cameron Goode (knee) could make their season debut, depending on how this week of practice goes, coach Mike McDaniel said. … WRs Tyreek Hill (wrist) and Jaylen Waddle (hamstring), RB Raheem Mostert (hip), and LB Anthony Walker Jr. (hamstring) were among those limited in practice Wednesday. … Houston S Jalen Pitre is expected to miss a second straight game with a shoulder injury. … DE Denico Autry was limited in practice Wednesday because of a knee injury.
Series notes
Houston won the first seven meetings in this series. … Miami didn’t get its first win against the Texans until a 44-26 victory in 2015. … The Dolphins have won the past two meetings. … These teams first met in the season opener in 2003 when Houston got a 21-20 win on a late field goal.
Stats and stuff
Three of Miami’s final four games of the season are on the road. … K Jason Sanders needs 13 points Sunday to reach 800. He also needs one field goal to reach 177, which would give him the second-most field goals made in franchise history. … TE Jonnu Smith needs 100 yards receiving to reach 792 and set a franchise record for most yards receiving by a tight end in a single season. Smith had three catches for 44 yards, including the game-winning TD vs. the Jets last week after having no receptions during regulation. … Tagovailoa needs a completion rate of 70% or better on Sunday to reach eight consecutive games completing at least 70% of his passes. That would tie him with Joe Montana (1989) and Drew Brees (2017-18) for the longest streak in NFL history. … The Dolphins gave up a season-high 402 yards to the Jets last week. Aaron Rodgers burned Miami’s pass defense for 319 yards, and Miami’s secondary allowed a combined 223 yards by Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams. … Houston can clinch the AFC South title for the second straight year with a win and a loss by Indianapolis Sunday. … The Texans rank second in the NFL with 84 tackles for loss. … Their 42 sacks also rank second. … WR Nico Collins had eight receptions for 119 yards for his fourth 100-yard game this season in Houston’s previous game. He has had at least 75 yards receiving and a TD reception in each of his four home games this season. … TE Dalton Schultz had five receptions for 61 yards and a score in Week 13. He has had at least five catches in two of his past three games. … LB Azeez Al-Shaai will serve the first game of a three-game suspension for an illegal hit to the head of QB Trevor Lawrence Sunday. … DE Danielle Hunter is one of two players in the NFL this season with at least 15 tackles for loss (15) and 10 sacks (10 1/2). It’s his sixth career season with at least 10 sacks. He has eight tackles for loss and five sacks combined in his past three games. … DE Will Anderson has had a sack in his past two home games. … LB Henry To’oTo’o has had at least five tackles in four straight games. … CB Derek Stingley had his third interception of the season in his previous game. … CB Kamari Lassiter had a career-high eight tackles, including a tackle for loss in Week 13. … S Jimmie Ward has had an interception in his past two home games. He also had an interception in his previous game against Miami in 2022 while with San Francisco.
Fantasy tip
Collins has 456 yards receiving and four touchdown receptions in four home games this season.