Pat McAfee Show: Michael Lombardi sets the record straight on CJ Stroud, Texans
REAL TALK
18 April 2023
NFL insider Michael Lombardi joins The Pat McAfee Show and shares his thoughts on why he believes the Houston Texans are going to take the best player available, and that isn't CJ Stroud, according to him.
Lombardi is of the opinion that every QB in this draft besides Bryce Young has something “wrong with them.” Meaning, something about their game indicates to him that they're not ready to step in and play at the NFL level.
So if it's not Stroud, what will the Texans do? Lombardi believes the Texans and DeMeco Ryans will have a long-term outlook and minimize risk by taking the best player available. Which according to him is Georgia defender Jalen Carter, but Carter's off the field issues likely will cause Houston to pass on him in favor of Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson or Texas Tech d-lineman Tyree Wilson.
The Texans could also be in position to trade down and get a nice trade package for a team looking to draft Stroud.
A new wrinkle?
Lombardi later makes the case that it seems NFL teams are starting to believe Stroud may not go No. 2 after all, and are seriously considering other possibilities. If teams are preparing as if this could actually happen, and it isn't a smoke screen, there might be something to this. Of course, the Texans could just be doing a good job of creating uncertainty.
We'll find out next Thursday!
Be sure to check out the video above to learn more!
Warning: The video contains graphic language.
José Soriano and two relievers combined for a two-hitter and Oswald Peraza hit his first home run since a trade from the Yankees to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 3-0 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday.
Soriano (10-9) allowed one hit and struck out eight in seven innings. Luis García allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth and Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth for his 25th save.
There were two outs in the fifth when Peraza connected off Hunter Brown (10-7) into the bullpen in right-center field to put the Angels up 1-0. His homer comes after his two-run single in the ninth inning Saturday helped Los Angeles to a 4-1 victory that snapped a three-game skid.
Yoan Moncada walked to start the eighth and scored on Mike Trout’s double that bounced off the wall in center field to make it 2-0. Taylor Ward walked before Luis Rengifo reached and Trout scored on an error by Lance McCullers Jr. when the pitcher overthrew first base.
Yordan Alvarez singled with no outs in the first and Soriano walked a batter in the second and sixth innings. The Astros didn’t get another hit until Ramón Urías doubled with one out in the eighth inning. Los Angeles outfielder Taylor Ward was injured trying to make a catch on that hit when he crashed face-first into the metal scoreboard in left field.
He was carted off the field holding a towel to the right side of his face. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance where interim manager Ray Montgomery said he would receive stitches to close the cut and be evaluated.
Brown allowed three hits and a run with five strikeouts in six innings. McCullers Jr. allowed three hits and two runs in his first relief appearance since 2018.
Key moment
The home run by Peraza.
Key stat
It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.
Up next
LHP Yusei Kikuchi (6-9, 3.68 ERA) will start for Los Angeles in the series finale Monday against RHP Luis Garcia, who’ll make his return after sitting out since May 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery.
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