Houston Texans Trade for Number Three Selection, Draft Top Defensive Prospect

Houston Texans Trades for Number Three Selection, Drafts Will Anderson, Edge, Alabama

After the Carolina Panthers drafted Bryce Young with the first overall selection, reports indicated the Houston Texans were likely to select a quarterback. Rumours indicated the Texans had planned to select their future franchise quarterback in C.J. Stroud. The team, however, also needed to select a top pass rusher to shore up their defense. In trading up to select Will Anderson at number three, the Texans got the universally recognised top defensive player in the 2023 NFL Draft. Many draft pundits ranked Will Anderson as the top player, regardless of position.

The Arizona Cardinals, meanwhile, received an NFL Draft haul from the Houston Texans trade, swapping picks three and 12, and getting three other high-ranked selections. The Cardinals will likely use those selections to take several defensive players and wide receivers. Rumours had long indicated the Arizona Cardinals would trade the number three selection. The Cardinals have Kyler Murray at quarterback, and were unlikely to select a top quartberack prospect this year. In a quarterback-needy NFL, some team was likely to trade up for their franchise quarterback at number three. Instead, the top defensive prospect went off the board in a stunning trade.

Although pundits recognise Will Anderson as the top defensive prospect, few expected the Houston Texans to trade up for the top defensive prospect. Their defense has immediately improved. The Houston squad will expect a lot from Anderson this season. At Alabama he, however, played beyond their already high expectations, landing 10 sacks in 2022, 17.5 in 2021, and being the first Alabama player to earn two-time unanimous All-American accolades.