Could the Texans plans for NFL Draft change after hiring DeMeco Ryans?

Are the Houston Texans still going to draft a quarterback with the second overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft?

The Houston Texans on Tuesday announced their next head coach with the hiring of DeMeco Ryans, who previously was defensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers. This is the third new head coach for the Texans in as many years but there is a case to be made that this is the most promising hire over this period for the Houston Texans.

DeMeco Ryans began his career in the NFL as a player for the Texans when they drafted him in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He would win Defensive Rookie of the Year and go on to make two Pro Bowls in six seasons in Houston.

After his playing career was over, he made the shift to coaching by joining the San Francisco 49ers’ coaching staff in 2017. He has moved his way up the coaching ranks to defensive coordinator, a role he has been in for the past two years.

During that stretch though, the 49ers have had one of the best defenses in the NFL. This past season they allowed the fewest total yards per game (300.6) and points per game (16.3).

Could the addition of DeMeco Ryans change the Houston Texans’ plans for the 2023 NFL Draft?

The general assumption is that the Houston Texans are going to draft a quarterback with the second overall pick. The good news is that this year there are two top-tier players at the position with Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud.

However, there are also two elite defensive players at the top of most draft boards in defensive tackle Jalen Carter out of Georgia and Will Anderson Jr. out of Alabama. When considering the defense Ryans’ had with the 49ers, it would make sense for the Texans to try and add a cornerstone player like Carter or Anderson to build this defense around.

While it remains to be seen exactly what the Houston Texans might do, the foregone conclusion that they were going to draft a quarterback with the second overall pick is probably not as certain anymore with DeMeco Ryans coming in as head coach.