It's clear there was a focus on foraging elite athletic traits, starting with the most important pick of the lot. The Colts made 12 picks, and I can't really gripe much about any of them, even if I thought the interior offensive line could have used reinforcements. This might be my favorite haul of the Chris Ballard era. Northwestern DT Adetomiwa Adebawore (No.Seventh-rounder Brandon Hill is on the small side, but he plays fast. The undersized Henry To'oTo'o continued the run on Alabama players to Houston, bringing green-dot-caliber instincts and smarts to the LB crew - and also special teams, for that matter. Dylan Horton adds youth to an experienced defensive line, as well as the ability to rush the passer from multiple techniques.
The Texans had three Day 3 selections on the defensive side, one at each level. The final offensive pick, Xavier Hutchinson, profiles similarly to Jakobi Meyers and could be a security blanket for Stroud. He was a wicked cover in college with his stop-start agility and low center of gravity, working mostly out of the slot. Stroud apparently told the Texans he wanted Tank Dell, and I can't wait to see how the diminutive demon is unleashed. Both have good football IQ and versatility to play guard, so there was sense behind the picks, as the O-line still needed padding. Houston doubled up at center with Juice Scruggs (Round 2) and Jarrett Patterson (Round 6), and based on where they got them, I see Patterson as the better value. He can be a star in the hands of DeMeco Ryans and Matt Burke, able to rush inside and out, drop in coverage and defend the run. Anderson can scream off the edge thanks to elite get-off and close fast with a great internal GPS system. was dinged a bit for his lack of elite size and occasional penchant for sloppiness (penalties and missed tackles), but at his best, he's a Khalil Mack-style game-influencer.
On a team without a ton of elite separators, Stroud's touch and placement will be crucial. He could be a strong fit in the Shanahan-influenced offense brought in by new Texans OC Bobby Slowik, and there might be room for Stroud to expand his game with moving pockets and a handful of running opportunities per game. While part of that is because of Young's tiny build, I also believe Stroud can eventually be a top-12 quarterback in the league with his smart, savvy approach. Stroud ever so slightly ranked ahead of Bryce Young as the QB1. 205)Īlthough it cost them a pretty penny to do so, the Texans landed two of my top three players in the 2023 NFL Draft.
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