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The Houston Texans are reportedly not sold on Ohio State’s CJ Stroud and are considering edge rusher instead with the second overall pick in next week’s NFL Draft. According to NFL Network Analyst, Lance Zierlein, GM Nick Caserio is also trying to trade out of the pick
"We've received some calls on the number 2 pick," Caserio said of the team’s draft plans. "If you want to quote me...are we open for business? We're open to listening."
Houston reportedly has Alabama’s Bryce Young No.1 on its board and Kentucky’s Will Levis behind him at No. 2. Caserio could look to take an edge rusher at No. 2 and move up from No. 12 if Levis starts to slip down the board.
Head Coach DeMeco Ryans signed a 6-year deal with the team this offseason with the expectation that he'll be around for the long haul. There's a legitimate possibility that quarterback might not necessarily be at the top of their priority list since Bryce Young is no longer on the table.
Ryans, 38, is a defensive minded head coach and might opt towards favoring Alabama’s Will Anderson Jr. or Texas Tech’s Tyree Wilson instead of a signal caller. Coming from San Francisco, Ryans could decide building through the trenches is the way to go as they are still in the midst of a rebuild.
CJ Stroud is falling down the draft board could go down as one of the biggest draft surprises in recent memory as less than a week ago, Stroud was the favorite in Vegas to be selected No. 1 overall.
Rumors are swirling around Stroud in a negative light as some early speculation is Houston ownership might not want Stroud because his agent David Mulugheta is also the agent of current Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, who spent four seasons in Houston.
Earlier today, CBS Analyst Brady Quinn was on the PickSix Podcast and reported a concern team’s could potentially have is CJ Stroud ghosting the Manning Passing Academy and being a no show after he was supposed to be in attendance with both Levis, Young and other prospects.
“I’ve been told that he committed to [Manning Passing Academy] the night before and ghosted them, just not showing up,” said Quinn. “That’s football royalty and when you don’t do that, it’s going to kind of set off alarms for people.”
According to WTOL11 News, Stroud has become harder to evaluate, because of a poor performance on the S2 Cognitive test. Other reports have come out indicating Stroud isn't as coachable or easy to work with as scouts and team personnel would like him to be.
The draft process has been known to over exaggerate smokescreening, but when multiple reports come out within a two to three day span, it raises questions about Stroud as a prospect in the upcoming draft.
After being named the starter once Justin Fields departed for the draft, Stroud statistically will be one of the most decorated quarterbacks in Ohio State history. He’s thrown for the second most yards in school history with 8,123 yards, second most touchdowns in school history with 85 along with being graded as the most efficient quarterback in Big Ten history.
After being the starter for two seasons, Stroud led the Buckeyes to a 16-2 record with a Rose Bowl win over Utah where he threw for over 500 yards and six touchdowns. He also ended his career completing 69.2% of his passes, throwing for 8,123 yards and 85 touchdowns with only 12 interceptions.
Stroud’s performance on the field could justify him being top three pick in next Thursday night’s draft, but with the most recent reports about his demeanor and personality, it’s in question how far he’ll fall down the draft board. Josh Rosen from UCLA had similar concerns in 2018 and fell to the No. 10 pick.
Houston has kept its draft plans underwraps, but come next Thursday, it could become chaotic if they don’t select Stroud and instead go after Kentucky’s Will Levis or potentially trade up from No. 33 into the first to draft Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker, knowing Stroud was there’s for the taking at No. 2.
Only time will tell what Nick Caserio decides to do, but with DeMeco Ryans as head coach, there could be a change in philosophy and a preference to build through the defense.
Ryans and Caserio could opt to land either USC’s Caleb Williams or North Carolina’s Drake Maye in next year’s draft instead of pushing for one this year.
The NFL Draft takes place in Kansas City next Thursday through Saturday and everyone should expect the rumor mill and reckless speculation to continue until the draft officially concludes and all 32 teams make their selections.
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