After the excitement of Day 1 of the 2023 NFL Draft, it was going to be hard for the Texans to keep up that momentum on Day 2. Especially with it starting with the Texans set to miss the entire 2nd round after trading that pick (#33) to help move up to get Will Anderson at #3 overall. And let's face it, living up to the fireworks that took place at the top of the draft, well, there was going to be a little drop off at the very least.
So with the 62nd pick of the 2023 NFL Draft the Houston Texans select Penn State C/G Juice Scruggs. The "experts" have mixed feelings about this pick, considering most have Scruggs rated as a 3rd or 4th round pick. If that's the case, did the Texans really need to give away 2 picks to move up 3 spots and take this guy in the 2nd round? Apparently Caserio thought so as C is a position the Texans needed an upgrade at, and 2 other centers had already come off the board in that round.
And with the 69th pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, the Texans stay in their own backyard and select University of Houston WR Nathaniel "Tank" Dell. Tank put up consecutive 1,300 yard seasons for the Cougars the last 2 years. His 1,398 yards last season were the most in the country. His 109 receptions last year were 2nd most in the country, and he led the nation with 17 receiving TDs last year. Tank has 29 TDs the last 2 seasons. Though his 40 time only comes in at 4.49, which by NFL standards isn't considered all that anymore, but believe me, it's still blazing, this is a guy who can get separation at all 3 levels, short, medium and deep, meaning he is a great route runner. Tank handled kickoff returns for the Coogs in '20 and '21 but switched to punt returns last season where he averaged 17 yards per return with 1 return TD. He'll likely see some return duties with the Texans as well. In fact, that might be his primary role as WR John Metchie is supposed to be back for the Texans after missing his rookie season with leukemia. Metchie is expected to be in the slot where I'd assume Tank would be as well.
After a blockbuster start to the draft by the Texans, their next pick most definitely was a drop off, if for nothing else, it came at the end of the 2nd round. Yes, that means GM Nick Caserio moved up into the backend of the 2nd to get Day 2 started. To do that the Texans call the Eagles to move up 3 spots, from #65 (2nd pick of the 3rd round) to #62 (next to last pick of the 2nd round). They give up 6th round pick (#188) and 7th round pick (#230). Caserio really hates those late round picks.
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| Penn State - C Juice Scruggs |
So with the 62nd pick of the 2023 NFL Draft the Houston Texans select Penn State C/G Juice Scruggs. The "experts" have mixed feelings about this pick, considering most have Scruggs rated as a 3rd or 4th round pick. If that's the case, did the Texans really need to give away 2 picks to move up 3 spots and take this guy in the 2nd round? Apparently Caserio thought so as C is a position the Texans needed an upgrade at, and 2 other centers had already come off the board in that round.
Scruggs broke his back in a car accident in 2019. There appears to be no lingering issues with that. He started 26 games in his career at Happy Valley, 17 at C and 9 at RG. So Scruggs can play guard but I believe he'll take over at C for the Texans. Plus his tape at RG wasn't that great. In 2021, where Scruggs played a majority of his games at RG, he allowed 16 hurries, 4 QB hits and 2 sacks. Not what you want to see. In 12 games at C last season the numbers were a little better, 10 hurries allowed, 3 QB hits and 1 sack. Still not all that optimal. He will square up a defender and won't give up ground but he's more of a wall than a drive blocker. That sounds like it would be questionable in the run game, but Nittany Lion RBs averaged over 5.4 YPC with 23 TDs combined last season. Scruggs doesn't have great quickness and could struggle against late blitzers and counter moves from defenders. He's solid all around but isn't really elite in any specific area.
Again, and this has nothing to do with the player who hasn't played a single NFL snap, but I don't see the value here of giving up 2 picks to move up 3 spots to get this guy, considering another C wasn't taken until pick #97. Scruggs could turn out to be a solid NFL player, and it does address a team need, but again it boils down to value for me. The Texans saw it different, obviously, and that's fine.
The Texans started the day with two 3rd round picks. They, of course, trade up to the backend of the 2nd round, but that still left them with pick #73, one of the 3rd round picks they got from the Browns in the Watson deal. Caserio is back on the phones, this time with the Rams and they are giving up more picks to move up. Actually it's just 1 pick they give away and they get one back, so this was a pretty decent deal. The Texans give LA their 5th round pick (#161), LA gives the Texans their 6th round pick (#191), and the 2 teams swap 3rd rounders with Houston moving up 4 spots from #73 to #69, with LA, of course dropping to #73.
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| Houston - WR Tank Dell |
And with the 69th pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, the Texans stay in their own backyard and select University of Houston WR Nathaniel "Tank" Dell. Tank put up consecutive 1,300 yard seasons for the Cougars the last 2 years. His 1,398 yards last season were the most in the country. His 109 receptions last year were 2nd most in the country, and he led the nation with 17 receiving TDs last year. Tank has 29 TDs the last 2 seasons. Though his 40 time only comes in at 4.49, which by NFL standards isn't considered all that anymore, but believe me, it's still blazing, this is a guy who can get separation at all 3 levels, short, medium and deep, meaning he is a great route runner. Tank handled kickoff returns for the Coogs in '20 and '21 but switched to punt returns last season where he averaged 17 yards per return with 1 return TD. He'll likely see some return duties with the Texans as well. In fact, that might be his primary role as WR John Metchie is supposed to be back for the Texans after missing his rookie season with leukemia. Metchie is expected to be in the slot where I'd assume Tank would be as well.
There are some issues with Tank. He struggles with contested balls, but if he gets any kind of the same separation he got in college, with Stroud's accuracy, he might not find himslf in too many contested situations. Of course it's the NFL where nothing is ever the same as it was in college. Tank also has a dropped pass issue that needs to be cleaned up. He had 21 drops the last 2 seasons. And the other thing with Tank is, he is one teeny tiny dude. This guy is 5'8", 165 pounds. Yikes!!! If people were worried about Bryce Young's size, (different position, I know, WRs are generally smaller), Tank makes him look like Andre the Giant.
Dell was considered a 2nd round target so I think the Texans got good value here moving up to get him early in the 3rd, especially considering they got a 6th round pick back in the process, which could very well be used to move back into the 5th to get the pick back they gave away there.
So that will do it for Day 2. The Texans have 6 picks left for the final 3 rounds, and I can almost guarantee they won't be making all 6 of those picks. So look for more wheeling and dealing from Caserio. Day 3 is scheduled to start early as the Texans have both the 2nd and 3rd picks in the 4th round. No 5th rounder at the moment. They have 3 in the 6th and of course they will have the very last pick in the draft, Mr. Irrelevant. I don't believe that pick can be traded so the Texans will have to stick around until the end.
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