The Houston Texans NFL draft picks 2023 is the list of players that the Houston Texans, a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas, selected in the 2023 National Football League (NFL) draft. The NFL draft is an annual event in which NFL teams select eligible college football players to join their rosters. The Texans had 12 picks in the 2023 draft, including two in the first round.
History: The NFL draft was founded in 1936 as a way to distribute players among the league’s teams and to prevent bidding wars for the best players. The first draft was held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and consisted of nine rounds and 81 selections. The first player ever drafted was Jay Berwanger, a halfback from the University of Chicago, who was picked by the Philadelphia Eagles but never played in the NFL.
The NFL draft has evolved over the years in terms of format, rules, and eligibility criteria. The draft is now held over three days and consists of seven rounds and 259 selections. The draft order is determined by the previous season’s standings, with the worst team picking first and the Super Bowl champion picking last. Teams can also trade their picks with other teams for players or other picks. The draft is broadcast live on television and online, and attracts millions of viewers and fans.
The NFL draft is considered one of the most important events for NFL teams, as it allows them to acquire new talent and improve their rosters. The draft is also a source of excitement and speculation for fans, media, and analysts, who follow the prospects’ performances, rankings, and projections before and during the draft. Some of the most famous and successful players in NFL history were drafted by their teams, such as Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Lawrence Taylor, and Walter Payton.
Here is a 2023 NFL draft pick-by-pick breakdown for the Houston Texans:
Round 1: No. 2 – C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
The Texans selected Stroud as their franchise quarterback of the future after trading away Deshaun Watson to the Cleveland Browns in 2022. Stroud had a stellar season at Ohio State in 2022, leading the Buckeyes to a national championship and winning the Heisman Trophy. He has a strong arm, good mobility, and high football IQ.
Round 1: No. 3 (from ARI) – Will Anderson Jr., LB, Alabama
The Texans acquired this pick from the Arizona Cardinals as part of the DeAndre Hopkins trade in 2020. They used it to bolster their defense with Anderson Jr., who was widely regarded as the best defensive player in the draft. Anderson Jr. was a dominant force at Alabama, recording 18 sacks and 32 tackles for loss in 2022. He has a rare combination of speed, power, and technique.
Round 2: No. 62 (from PHI) – Juice Scruggs, G, Penn State
The Texans traded down from their original second-round pick (No. 34) with the Philadelphia Eagles and received this pick along with a third-round pick (No. 69) and a fifth-round pick (No. 167). They used this pick to address their offensive line with Scruggs, who was a four-year starter at Penn State and earned All-Big Ten honors in 2022. He has good size, strength, and agility.
Round 3: No. 69 (from LAR) – Tank Dell, WR, Houston
The Texans added some firepower to their receiving corps with Dell, who was a local star at Houston. Dell had a breakout season in 2022, catching 85 passes for 1,342 yards and 14 touchdowns. He has great speed, hands, and route-running skills.
Round 4: No. 109 (from LV) – Dylan Horton, DE, TCU
The Texans traded up from their original fourth-round pick (No. 130) with the Las Vegas Raiders and gave up a sixth-round pick (No. 201) to get Horton, who was a productive pass-rusher at TCU. Horton had 12 sacks and 16 tackles for loss in 2022. He has a quick first step, good bend, and high motor.
Round 5: No. 167 (from LAR) – Henry To’o To’o, LB, Alabama
The Texans added more depth to their linebacker group with To’o To’o, who was a teammate of Anderson Jr. at Alabama. To’o To’o was a leader and playmaker for the Crimson Tide defense, recording 92 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and three interceptions in 2022. He has good instincts, range, and coverage skills.
Round 6: No. 205 (from BUF) – Xavier Hutchinson, WR, Iowa State
The Texans acquired this pick from the Buffalo Bills as part of the Duke Johnson trade in 2020. They used it to select Hutchinson, who was a reliable target at Iowa State. Hutchinson had 64 receptions for 876 yards and seven touchdowns in 2022. He has good size, hands, and body control.
Round 7: No. 248 (from PHI) – Brandon Hill, DB, Pitt
The Texans traded down from their original seventh-round pick (No. 242) with the Philadelphia Eagles and received this pick along with a conditional 2024 seventh-round pick. They used this pick to take a flyer on Hill, who was a versatile defensive back at Pitt. Hill played both safety and cornerback for the Panthers, and had 48 tackles, four interceptions, and nine pass breakups in 2022. He has good athleticism, ball skills, and tackling ability.
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The Houston Texans have had some interesting draft picks in the last five years. Here are their top draft picks from 2022 to 2018, along with some information about their performance and college background:
- 2022: The Texans had two first-round picks in 2022, selecting cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. from LSU at No. 3 overall and offensive lineman Kenyon Green from Texas A&M at No. 15 overall. Stingley Jr. has started nine games for the Texans, recording one interception and one sack. Green has started 15 games for the Texans, playing both guard and tackle positions. The Texans also drafted safety Jalen Pitre from Baylor in the second round, who has been a standout on defense with seven weighted AV and five interceptions.
- 2021: The Texans did not have a first- or second-round pick in 2021, as they traded them to the Miami Dolphins in 2019 as part of the deal for left tackle Laremy Tunsil. Their first pick was quarterback Davis Mills from Stanford at No. 67 overall in the third round. Mills has played in four games for the Texans, throwing for 614 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions.
- 2020: The Texans also did not have a first-round pick in 2020, as they traded it to the Dolphins in the same deal for Tunsil. Their first pick was defensive tackle Ross Blacklock from TCU at No. 40 overall in the second round. Blacklock has played in 25 games for the Texans, recording 31 tackles and two sacks.
- 2019: The Texans had a first-round pick in 2019, selecting offensive tackle Tytus Howard from Alabama State at No. 23 overall1. Howard has started 30 games for the Texans, playing mostly at right tackle but also at left guard and left tackle.
- 2018: The Texans did not have a first- or second-round pick in 2018, as they traded them to the Cleveland Browns in 2017 as part of the deal for quarterback Deshaun Watson1. Their first pick was safety Justin Reid from Stanford at No. 68 overall in the third round1. Reid has been a key player for the Texans, starting 54 games and recording nine interceptions, three forced fumbles and two sacks.
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FAQs
Q: Who did the Texans draft with the second overall pick in 2023?
A: The Texans drafted quarterback C.J. Stroud from Ohio State with the second overall pick in 2023. Stroud was a Heisman Trophy finalist in 2022 and led the Buckeyes to the national championship game. He threw for 4,480 yards, 43 touchdowns and six interceptions in his junior season.
Q: Why did the Texans trade their first and third round picks to Arizona in 2023?
A: The Texans traded their first and third round picks to Arizona in 2023 as part of a blockbuster deal for linebacker Will Anderson Jr., who was the third overall pick in 2023. Anderson Jr. was a unanimous All-American and the SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2022. He had 17.5 sacks, 31.5 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles in his sophomore season at Alabama.
Q: Who is Juice Scruggs, the Texans’ second round pick in 2023?
A: Juice Scruggs is an offensive lineman from Penn State, who the Texans selected with the 62nd overall pick in 2023. Scruggs played both guard and center for the Nittany Lions and was a first-team All-Big Ten selection in 2022. He is known for his strength, mobility and versatility on the offensive line.
Q: How many picks did the Texans have in the 2023 NFL draft?
A: The Texans had eight picks in the 2023 NFL draft, including two in the first round. They also had one pick each in the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh rounds. The Texans acquired some of these picks through trades with other teams, such as the Browns, Eagles, Rams and Raiders.
Q: Who is Tank Dell, the Texans’ third round pick in 2023?
A: Tank Dell is a wide receiver from Houston, who the Texans selected with the 69th overall pick in 2023. Dell played for his hometown Cougars and was a second-team All-American Athletic Conference selection in 2022. He had 74 receptions for 1,234 yards and 12 touchdowns in his senior season. He is a speedy and explosive playmaker who can stretch the field and make defenders miss.
