Should Texans trade into Round 2, the move is simply player driven
The Houston Texans do not have a second-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft.
The Texans used the pick as part of a package to move up and take defensive end Will Anderson No. 3 overall on Thursday night. The Arizona Cardinals have No. 33 overall in Round 2.
The Texans will still be active on Day 2 of the draft from Kansas City as Houston has picks 65 and 73 overall available in Round 3.
General manager Nick Caserio would not rule out the possibility of Houston moving back into Round 2, but such a move would be based on the players available.
“So we have 65 and 73 and then the two fours, the fifth, the three sixth, the two sevenths,” Caserio said. “We have a little bit of flexibility. [Thursday night] we’ll go back and kind of see what’s left, understanding there’s probably going to be another 30-ish, 35 players that are probably selected before we pick. Could we move from 65 into the second round? That’s a possibility, but that’s going to be player driven.”
Caserio said the Texans have earmarked players that they prefer. However, they also know that during the process of not having a second-round pick means they could lose players by the time they are able to pick in Round 3.
Said Caserio: “That’s the reality of it. We’re going to lose players along the way. I think, in that general range, kind of how we have the players graded relative to their value and potentially what their role could be, we think there will be an opportunity to add some players to our team that we’ll be happy to have in the building.”
The Texans were able to obtain the Cardinals’ Round 4 selection at No. 105 overall. Houston has the preceding selection, which means they could build a package with one of their third-round picks to get back into Round 2.
