Pat McAfee Show: Michael Lombardi sets the record straight on CJ Stroud, Texans

REAL TALK

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.

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Opening Day is upon us! Composite Getty Image.

The long wait is finally over. The Astros are back in action on Opening Day against Nestor Cortes and the New York Yankees.

Not only do we have an official roster released by the Astros, but we also know how manager Joe Espada is going to put his stamp on the batting order.

First, let's look at the roster below.

Grae Kessinger made the club after dealing with a hamstring injury that had his availability in question. He gets the nod over Corey Julks who is heading back to Sugar Land.

Tayler Scott and Parker Mushinski will join the Astros bullpen, and Bennett Sousa is now on the IL with shoulder inflammation. Kessinger, Scott, and Mushinski were the only true wildcards to make the club, as there weren't any real surprises otherwise.

Astros lineup versus the Yankees

Manager Joe Espada recently said he planned on hitting Yordan Alvarez second and was considering batting Kyle Tucker in the three spot. And that's exactly what he did today against the lefty, Cortes. We were wondering if Espada would change his batting order against left-handed pitchers, but he told the media today that would not be the case.

The other big question mark was whether Jake Meyers or Jeremy Pena would bat ninth. Today, Meyers is slotted to hit last.

Here's the batting order with Framber Valdez pitching for Houston.

Getting Alvarez and Tucker more at-bats sounds like a recipe for success to us. And if we're being honest, this is an improvement from last year's lineup on paper. Now the guys have to go prove it on the field.

Let's go beat those Yanks, and go Astros!

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