Few people in the industry are more well-connected to Houston and the NFL draft than Lance Zierlein.
Over the years the NFL Network draft analyst and commentator, has correctly projected a lot of the Texans’ first-round picks, including both of them in 2022. Zierlein, who is responsible for doing NFL.com’s scouting reports, recently released a mock draft that had Texans fans and those in the NFL world in an uproar.
When Zierlein posted the mock draft to Twitter on Tuesday, he jokingly said that it would get him kicked out of Houston. Judging by the replies on Twitter, he may be right.
The mock draft that gets me kicked out of Houston….
— Lance Zierlein (@LanceZierlein) April 4, 2023
After projecting Alabama’s Bryce Young to the Carolina Panthers at No. 1 overall, Zierlein doesn’t have the Texans selecting a quarterback. Rather, he has them taking a gamble on Texas Tech edge rusher Tyree Wilson with the second overall pick. He’s his explanation for the selection:
“If the Texans miss out on Young, they might not be a lock to take Stroud. With needs along the defensive front and two 2023 first-round picks, the choice could be between Wilson and Will Anderson Jr.”
From there, Zierlein has the Texans trading back up from No. 12 to come and get their franchise quarterback. He has the Texans trading up five spots to No. 7 with the Las Vegas Raiders and selecting Kentucky’s Will Levis with their second first-round pick. It’s worth mentioning that Florida’s Anthony Richardson was still available in this scenario and wasn’t selected until No. 14 by the New England Patriots.
With Zierlein having mocked Wilson and Levis, the NFL world’s reaction was about what you’d expect:
Not me. I don’t kill the messenger. LZ was right on Watt pick.
That said, in a low trust environment, surprise picks are harder on player picked than it should be. Very unpleasant. Hard to justify to all stakeholders. Watt navigated that well but most humans are not him. https://t.co/cZObXOSCh6
— Stephanie Stradley (@StephStradley) April 4, 2023
This was very chaotic. But I am here for chaos. Very interesting scenario Lance provides here. https://t.co/dWeQn2RuZb
— Jared Feinberg (@JRodNFLDraft) April 4, 2023
#2 overall😳😳😳😳 https://t.co/0piB2j5put pic.twitter.com/yHopDAqTRZ
— Will Parkinson (@Willpa11) April 4, 2023
This is causing my computer to overheat it's so good. Love it. https://t.co/e5ckKfDKjv
— Andrew Perloff (@andrewperloff) April 4, 2023
Why is some of Twitter getting worked up over a mock draft having a bigger, longer, stronger DE being the first DE off the board?
Haven’t we seen the NFL do just that like 852 times now? https://t.co/arP58lPAED
— Matt Lane (@Matty_KCSN) April 4, 2023
Maybe Lance is right re: the #Texans …
But passing on Stroud at 2 and then TRADING UP for Levis would be so bad. https://t.co/gAdKgpMGGl
— Jared Smola (@SmolaDS) April 4, 2023
Lance with a fun mock draft that probably has Nick Caserio fired by 2024: https://t.co/o73Jl6dPVd
— John Crumpler (@JohnHCrumpler) April 4, 2023
No reaction was beating that of Zierlein’s son, though.
Now my son is going in on my mock. I love the weather in Colorado. Will you have me? pic.twitter.com/lYRYfk7yxx
— Lance Zierlein (@LanceZierlein) April 4, 2023
[NFL.com]
