Where will CJ Stroud fall if Texans make historic mistake at No. 2?

If the Texans opt for Will Levis instead of CJ Stroud, where will Stroud fall, and how bad will Houston look as a result?

Bryce Young is widely expected to go No. 1 overall to the Carolina Panthers in the 2023 NFL Draft. CJ Stroud was projected to go No. 2.

That is until things changed. According to Pro Football Talk, it is being reported that Kentucky QB Will Levis is now a betting favorite to be the selection for Demeco Ryans and Co. come Thursday night. Granted, Houston can do whatever they want with its picks, but that won’t stop anyone from commenting.

If Houston does choose Levis, there is a possibility it could go down as a pick almost as bad as Zach Wilson. There is also a chance that Levis could turn out to be a franchise quarterback, though the former situation is looking more likely.

Where will CJ Stroud go if he doesn’t end up with the Houston Texans?

What happens to CJ Stroud, then? Where will he land? If the board plays out a certain way, it is more likely that the Las Vegas Raiders will pick Stroud 7th unless someone trades up to No. 3 with Arizona and takes Stroud before he could land with the Colts.

Why would the Colts not take Stroud? New head coach Shane Steichen comes from Philadelphia and has worked with Jalen Hurts and probably prefers a dual-threat at QB, hence, Anthony Richardson. Stroud could then wind up in Vegas with Josh McDaniels. For all the faults he has had, McDaniels does know how to call plays for a quarterback.

The draft is just days away, and given the uncertainty after the No. 1 overall pick, it is entirely plausible that the No. 2 pick offers the most intrigue. But what if Stroud goes No. 1 to Carolina instead of Young? That is entirely plausible; if it does, the board will shake up significantly. All eyes now turn to Thursday Night as the waiting game continues.