It’s time to put this to rest: the Texans DID NOT overpay for the #3 overall pick

This post is operating under the assumption that we all agree the trade was essentially for Stroud and not Anderson. I know people still seem to think that isn’t the case, but for the sake of this post I’m not going to try and argue that point.

In 2021 San Francisco was slated to make their first selection in the draft at pick #12 (same as the Texans), but decided to move up to pick #3 for a QB (same as the Texans). To achieve this, San Fran traded the following to Miami:

• 2021 #12 Overall which the Dolphins traded for Jaylen Waddle and the Cowboys subsequently used for Micah Parsons

• 2022 #29 Overall which the Dolphins used in their trade for Tyreek Hill

• 2023 #102 Overall used for LB Channing Tindall

• 2023 #29 Overall which the Dolphins traded for Bradley Chubb from the Broncos, who used that pick for Sean Payton

Obviously this trade flopped heavily for the 49ers, but that isn’t the point. This trade set the market value to trade up for a QB in the exact position jump the Texans would make in this years NFL Draft. To move from 12 to 3 cost capital that was used for Jaylen Waddle, Tyreek Hill, Micah Parsons and Sean Payton.

The Texans, in drafting Stroud #2 overall, dropped the value of the pick at #3 because there was no longer a “top” QB prospect available. The Texans, with Anthony Richardson still on the board, then traded the following to go from #12 to #3:

• 2023 #12 Overall, AZ used to trade up for Paris Johnson

• 2023 # 33 Overall, Cards traded to the Tits for Will Levis (lmao get fucked)

• 2024 1st

• 2024 3rd (which we recouped by trading AZ’s pick #105 to Philly for a 2024 3rd, essentially canceling this out)

All this to say – you may not like the trade, you may not like Stroud, but the package the Texans traded to make a selection at 3rd overall was completely in line with the recent precedent set by San Francisco. If Stroud/Anderson turn into the players that Demeco and Casserio think they will then this trade will have been more than worth it for the juice it will provide our team for years to come.