2023 NFL Draft: Handing out grades for the AFC South

Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
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The AFC South loaded up on young quarterbacks in the 2023 NFL Draft. Let’s hand out draft grades for this improving division.  There is a chance that each starting QB in the AFC South in 2023 will be under 25 years old.

This could be a very talented division in a couple of short years.  Right now, though, a few teams in the division are obviously in a rebuilding mode and likely won’t be all too competitive this year.  However, the way to fix that is by nailing picks in the 2023 NFL Draft.

So, let’s hand out draft grades for the AFC South from the 2023 NFL Draft.

KANSAS CITY, MO – APRIL 27: Will Anderson Jr. poses for a portrait after being selected third overall by the Houston Texans during the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft at Union Station on April 27, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO – APRIL 27: Will Anderson Jr. poses for a portrait after being selected third overall by the Houston Texans during the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft at Union Station on April 27, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images)

2023 NFL Draft: Handing out grades for the AFC South – Houston Texans

Here is the draft class from the Houston Texans:

Round 1, Pick 2 – C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
Round 1. Pick 3 – Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama
Round 2, Pick 62 – Juice Scruggs, CB, Penn State
Round 3, Pick 69 – Nathaniel Dell, WR, Houston
Round 4, Pick 109 – Dylan Horton, EDGE, TCU
Round 5, Pick 167 – Henry To’oTo’o, LB, Alabama
Round 6, Pick 201 – Jarrett Patterson, C, Notre Dame
Round 6, Pick 205 – Xavier Hutchinson, WR, Iowa State
Round 7, Pick 248 – Brandon Hill, S, Pittsburgh

The Houston Texans took over the top of the draft when they took their QB of the future in CJ Stroud, then proceeded to trade up from the 12th overall selection to land Will Anderson Jr.  Depending on who you ask, the Texans landed the best QB in the draft and the best defensive player in the draft.

They also bolstered their offensive line, added a true threat at wide receiver and put themselves in position to make some noise this year under DeMeco Ryans.

Grade: A