Texans QB C.J. Stroud 'Obviously' Week 1 Starter?

Can Houston Texans first-round draft pick C.J. Stroud can win the starting job over Davis Mills and Case Keenum?

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud was taken with the No. 2 overall selection in the NFL Draft. Why not start him?

Former 11-year NFL outside linebacker Rob Ninkovich agreed, saying on ESPN's "Get Up" that Stroud will have the best rookie season of the 14 drafted quarterbacks.

"I'm going to have to say C.J. Stroud because, well, obviously he's probably the only rookie starting week 1," Ninkovich said. "High draft pick."

Stroud is one of four rookie quarterbacks competing for starting jobs alongside AFC South signal-callers Indianapolis Colts' Anthony Richardson and Tennessee Titans' Will Levis and Carolina Panthers gunslinger Bryce Young.

Ninkovich thinks Young can challenge Stroud for the draft's top QB.

"Carolina, let's see what the little guy can do," Ninkovich said. "If he can bounce around, run away from those big linemen trying to kill him."

Stroud certainly has the pedigree to come in and lead this Texans team, throwing for 8,123 yards and 85 touchdowns in college — both of which rank second in Ohio State program history. Oh, and he did that in two seasons in the scarlet and gray.

The Texans did their due diligence building Stroud's supporting cast, bringing in wide receivers free agents Robert Woods and Noah Brown as well as third- and sixth-round draft picks Tank Dell and Xavier Hutchinson.

While Chicago Bears' Justin Fields is in the process of breaking the stigma surrounding Buckeyes signal-callers having success in the NFL, his bread and butter is as a dual-threat quarterback.

Stroud, on the other hand, has the arm talent to be a franchise quarterback.

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You can follow Casey Smith on Twitter @casey_smith2419

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