Texans Draft QB Bryce Young in Sports Illustrated Fan Nation NFL Mock

To best understand the Texans choices, we give you the SI publishers' top three choices ... And then we give you Bryce Young.

The 2023 NFL draft is nearly upon us, and in many cases the first round is starting to take shape ... although almost nothing happens until the Houston Texans say it does.

Sports Illustrated's FanNation (click here) publishers have conducted a new mock draft, with five quarterbacks coming off the board early enough ... including Houston pulling the trigger in a logical way.

To best understand the Texans choices, we give you the SI publishers' top three choices ...

1. Carolina Panthers - Pick: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
Analysis: Bryce Young may be the better of the two quarterbacks right now, but it won’t remain that way for long. Frank Reich has assembled a quality, experienced coaching staff which should accelerate the development of Stroud, ultimately making him the better and most ideal option. By taking Stroud, the Panthers get the most accurate QB in the class. Plus, how many successful 5'10" quarterbacks have there been in the history of the NFL? — Schuyler Callihan, All Panthers

2. Houston Texans - Pick: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
Analysis: There have been mixed reports coming out of Houston, but anything other than a quarterback would be a surprise. With Stroud off the board, the Texans select Young, whose intelligence, accuracy and off-script playmaking could help new coach DeMeco Ryans get off to a fast start. — Daniel Flick, Texans Daily

3. Arizona Cardinals - Pick: Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama
Analysis: Make no mistake, the Cardinals are trading out of this pick. Yet for the sake of this mock draft, we’ll make perhaps the easiest selection of the draft with Anderson arriving to a Cardinals team without J.J. Watt and Zach Allen, who accounted for exactly half of their 36 sacks from last year. The Cardinals need help everywhere, but especially in the front seven. Anderson could be the cornerstone defensive player to help turn the tide in Arizona. — Donnie Druin, All Cardinals

Those three players are likely to be the top three selections considered by Houston.

Want the latest in breaking and insider news for the Houston Texans? Click Here

Follow Texans Daily on Twitter and Facebook

Make sure to subscribe to our daily podcast @LockedOnTexans today! Click here To Listen.

Want even more Houston Texans news? Check out the SI.com team page here.