This team can’t overthink drafting Alabama QB Bryce Young

The Houston Texans cannot overthink this and must draft Alabama quarterback Bryce Young.

Despite a remarkable showing by Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud in Peach Bowl, the Houston Texans would have a problem if they did not draft Bryce Young out of Alabama at the top of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Although the Texans have a very winnable game in Week 18 vs. the booty cheeks Indianapolis Colts, they are better served to drop the regular-season finale than to allow the Chicago Bears the opportunity to secure the No. 1 overall pick. While Stroud would be an excellent pick as well, Young would kill it for the Texans. More importantly, he cannot go kill it for the Colts. It is an easy choice.

While Stroud can become a superstar in either Indianapolis, Carolina, Las Vegas or wherever, the Texans’ brass cannot pass on the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner out of Alabama. It would be too painful if he became a star somewhere else, especially if Stroud or a stalwart pass-rusher were to somehow bomb for the Texans. Not a soul would blame Houston for selecting Young over Stroud.

Odds are, whoever Houston does not take will probably be the new face of the franchise in Indy.

Houston Texans need to take Bryce Young over C.J. Stroud in 2023 NFL Draft

Look. This is not going to be Peyton Manning vs. Ryan Leaf, or even Andrew Luck vs. Robert Griffin III. To be fair, it could be closer to Jameis Winston vs. Marcus Mariota. Regardless, do not be tempted by what Stroud did vs. the Georgia defense in the Peach Bowl. Nobody is really stopping the Ohio State receiving corps these days. Also, do not be dissuaded by Young’s shorter stature.

You play your home games in a dome. The Colts play in a dome. While you may play the Jaguars in London occasionally, Jacksonville has mild winters and Nashville’s aren’t too bad. The Titans are getting a domed stadium in the near future as well. Overall, you are not going to be crushed by taking a smaller quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick as you would by playing in most divisions.

Could Stroud become the better pro? Yes, but what if this plays out like the Miami Dolphins passing on Justin Herbert for Tua Tagovailoa? Miami plays its home games in South Florida, but most play three annual road games in East Rutherford, Foxborough and Orchard Park. Herbert plays at least nine games in a domed environment annually. He is also 6-foot-6 with a howitzer.

In a way, Stroud’s cannon and size makes him a candidate to realistically play anywhere. You could technically apply that to Will Levis out of Kentucky, Anthony Richardson out of Florida and maybe even Hendon Hooker out of Tennessee? Those three SEC star quarterbacks are nowhere near as accomplished as Young or Stroud, but all three will not have issues looking over an offensive line.

So what’s Young got to do with it? He has a certain je ne sais quoi that cannot be duplicated or replicated. Young has the ability to just make things happen. He may have played at Alabama, but his receiving corps left a lot to be desired. Stroud benefited massively from that, as did Hooker. Levis had to deal with a new coordinator, while Richardson had to work with a new head coach…

Ultimately, Young’s intangibles and ability to create magic will be the spark that gets this Texans franchise turned around. Stroud may have the highest ceiling, but when was the last time an Ohio State quarterback amounted to all that much at the NFL level? With Alabama, three of their quarterbacks are in the hall of fame and three others are starting games across the league today.

Young is the most talented quarterback to ever play for Nick Saban, so that’s all you need to know.

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