C.J. Stroud Pick Wasn't Forced on Texans Front Office, Chairman Cal McNair Says

Houston Texans chairman Cal McNair told reporters on Monday that he didn't force the team's front office to use the No. 2 overall selection in this year's NFL draft on Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud.

"[My wife] Hannah and I don't make the picks. We'll make it clear there," he said. "We have a great group of scouts led by Nick [Caserio] and James Lippert, and they did a lot of work on the draft board, and then they followed that on draft day, and they moved up when they saw the value was there and moved back."

Caserio added before the draft that, while he needed to explain his draft decisions to McNair and his rationale for the moves he wanted to make, the Texans' owner gave him the leeway to make the decisions he felt were right for the organization

"The biggest thing he's just been supportive of what we're doing," he told ESPN's Ed Werder. "They've fully appreciated what we're trying to do. And they've enabled us the opportunity to kind of do what we feel is in the best interest of the organization."

There was speculation that McNair had pushed for Stroud over a defensive player like Alabama edge-rusher Will Anderson Jr. Instead, Caserio was able to get both.

The Texans wasted little time bolstering the defense after the Stroud selection, trading the Nos. 12 and No. 33 overall picks in this year's draft and 2024 first- and third-rounders to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for the No. 3 overall pick, which they used to select Anderson.

Houston's incoming draft haul, alongside free-agent additions like tight end Dalton Schultz, running back Devin Singletary, linebackers Denzel Perryman and Cory Littleton, defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, wide receiver Robert Woods and safety Jimmie Ward, among others, has the Texans looking like an improved group.

"I think you just have to look at the roster, and I think it's a better roster this year, very competitive," McNair said Monday. "They want to have competition spots on the roster. So, I see a lot of progress. A lot of good things."

Time will tell. The Cardinals will certainly be rooting for the Texans to continue their three-year streak of losing seasons, armed with their first-round pick.