The 2023 offseason was crucial for a Houston Texans team looking to rebuild and return to prominence. How many 2023 NFL Draft picks did the Texans have to work with as they looked to kick-start their rebuild?
Want to see how the Texans graded out during the 2023 NFL Draft? Then come check out our full Houston Texans draft grades. You can also see the entire 2023 NFL Draft results.
Houston Texans Draft Picks by Round in 2023
- Round 1, Pick 2
C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State - Round 1. Pick 3 (from ARI)
Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama - Round 2, Pick 62 (From PHI)
Juice Scruggs, C, Penn State - Round 3, Pick 69 (From LAR)
Nathaniel Dell, WR, Houston - Round 4, Pick 109 (from LV)
Dylan Horton, EDGE, TCU - Round 5, Pick 167 (from LAR)
Henry To’oTo’o, LB, Alabama - Round 6, Pick 201 (from MIN)
Jarrett Patterson, C, Notre Dame - Round 6, Pick 205 (from BUF)
Xavier Hutchinson, WR, Iowa State - Round 7, Pick 248 (from PHI)
Brandon Hill, S, Pittsburgh
*Compensatory selection
How Many Draft Picks Did the Texans Have Entering the 2023 NFL Draft?
The Texans had nine draft selections in the 2023 NFL Draft. They had all the ammunition they needed to add another game-changing rookie class. The 2022 cohort brought high-level playmakers like Jalen Pitre, Derek Stingley Jr., and Dameon Pierce.
Houston’s original sixth-round selection was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for offensive guard Shaq Mason, but the Texans were able to get a seventh-round pick back in the swap.
MORE: FREE Mock Draft Simulator With Trades
The Texans forfeited their original fifth-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft and were fined $175,000 for a salary cap reporting violation. However, they added an additional fifth-rounder from the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for WR Brandin Cooks.
Those late-round picks gave the Texans an opportunity to add coveted roster depth and strike gold late in the 2023 NFL Draft. But the team’s selections in the early rounds were most important. Luckily, Houston was well-stocked there as well.
Houston had the second overall pick in the draft. With that pick, they chose Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud.
On top of the second selection, the Texans also traded up to No. 3 to draft Alabama EDGE Will Anderson Jr.
All told, the Texans had four selections within the top 105 picks. They had two in Round 1, one in Round 2, and one in Round 3. That allotment of picks allowed the Texans to add a franchise QB and insulate the core of talent around him.
Who Did the Texans Draft in 2023?
Stroud and Anderson were two of the best prospects in this class for good reason. Stroud is a terrific pocket-passer who wins with his ability to process what he sees pre-snap and then deliver accurate passes to all levels of the field. If he can hone in on his playmaking skill, he can be a star for the Texans.
Anderson will be the foundational piece on the other side of the ball. A fantastic pass rusher who wins with great speed and technique, Anderson profiles as at least a Pro Bowl-caliber contributor. He was a dominant presence since Day 1 at Alabama due to his tools and skill set.
MORE: History of Houston Texans First-Round NFL Draft Picks
Houston had a massive hole at center entering the draft, so it wasn’t a surprise when they took Penn State’s Juice Scruggs in the second round. Scruggs has experience all along the interior but profiles best as a zone-blocking center. He’s a perfect fit for the Texans’ new running game.
The rest of Houston’s draft sought out role players. Local receiver “Tank” Dell is one of the most exciting and interesting athletes in short areas but is also well under 5’9″ and weighs 163 pounds. He’s unlikely to be anything more than a rotational contributor — hopefully an explosive one.
Mid-round picks Dylan Horton and Henry To’oTo’o will fight to be rotational players as well. Horton is a big edge rusher who can either play the strong-side end spot in both 4-3 or 3-4 fronts. He has good athleticism but isn’t overly dynamic, so there’s not a high upside for him to become more than a solid cog in the wheel.
To’oTo’o is a more physically-limited linebacker, but he can be effective. Houston wisely didn’t overinvest in someone who isn’t a freak athlete, but that doesn’t mean To’oTo’o can’t execute as a solid run-stuffer and be a two-down player.
Their final three picks profile as developmental options who could raise the floor of the team’s depth. Notre Dame’s Jarrett Patterson was a standout player in college but is light and lacks functional play strength. Neither Xavier Hutchinson nor Brandon Hill has an easy pathway to playing time early in their careers but can fight to be special teams contributors while they develop.
