NEWSLETTER
The Bleacher Nation NFL 2023 Mock Draft will be a running mock draft that spans between now and round one of the NFL Draft. Each of the 31 picks (Miami forfeited their first-round pick due to tampering) will get a dedicated post. Here’s how it’ll work:
The Texans are on the clock in the Bleacher Nation NFL Mock Draft …
The Pick Is In
QB Bryce Young — Alabama
The Fit
Much like the Panthers’ pick, the fit is quite simple … the Texans need a franchise quarterback.
The Houston Texans may have had Bryce Young at No. 1 on their big board even before they coughed up the top pick to the Bears in Week 18. Luckily for them, if the Panthers take C.J. Stroud, they’ll still get their guy at No. 2.
DeMeco Ryans and the Texans get their QB of the future at No. 2, and Young lands where many pre-season projections had him going anyway.
Scouting Report
Bryce Young is one of the rare Nick Saban-Alabama quarterbacks with no national championship during his time in Tuscaloosa. Still, he’s one of the best to do it at Alabama.
In 2021, Young threw for 4,860 yards, 47 touchdowns, seven interceptions, and a 117.4 passer rating. That campaign was good enough the make him the first Alabama QB to win the Heisman Trophy. However, young took a step back this season, finishing with a 114.9 passer rating, 3,325 yards, 32 touchdowns, and five interceptions.
Still, Young was one of the best QBs in the nation, and he’s either 1 or 1a on most big boards around the NFL world.
The Alabama QB posted a better deep ball grade than C.J. Stroud (95.0) and was north of 90.0 in all levels, according to PFF. He may not have the same feathery soft touch that C.J. Stroud possesses, but he’s an other-worldly playmaker who handles pressure at an elite level, something Stroud doesn’t.
Final Thoughts: Stroud can make plays all over the field with his arm and can do so with zip on the ball. However, his size is a concern. Seeing over the line from the pocket is an issue, evidenced by his knack for sitting deep in the pocket at Alabama.
Bleacher Nation’s 2023 NFL Mock Draft
- Carolina Panthers (via CHI) — QB C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
- Houston Texans
- Arizona Cardinals
- Indianapolis Colts
- Seattle Seahawks (via DEN)
- Detroit Lions (via LAR)
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Atlanta Falcons
- Chicago Bears (via CAR)
- Philadelphia Eagles (via NO)
- Tennessee Titans
- Houston Texans (via CLE)
- New York Jets
- New England Patriots
- Green Bay Packers
- Washington Commanders
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Detroit Lions
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Seattle Seahawks
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Baltimore Ravens
- Minnesota Vikings
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- New York Giants
- Dallas Cowboys
- Buffalo Bills
- Cincinnati Bengals
- New Orleans Saints (via SF)
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Kansas City Chiefs
