Will Anderson Jr. is widely viewed as the No. 1 prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft, but the Houston Texans might not see it that way. If the Texans eschew a quarterback with the second overall pick, they could go with Texas Tech edge rusher Tyree Wilson, according to new information in Adam Caplan’s Pro Football Network mock draft.
NFL Draft Rumors: Texans May Prefer Tyree Wilson to Will Anderson Jr.
In Caplan’s mock draft, the insider reveals that the Texans could lean toward Wilson over Anderson.
“From talking to a personnel source who has worked with GM Nick Caserio in the past, he doesn’t think he’ll force a pick just because it’s a major need (QB),” Caplan writes. “Rather, he’ll select the best player on the board, and that’s Wilson, who is one of the few truly elite players for this year’s draft.”
While Anderson is considered the best prospect in the draft based on both PFN’s internal big board and the industry consensus board, Wilson isn’t far behind, coming in sixth in PFN’s rankings and 12th on the industry board.
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Caplan isn’t the only plugged-in reporter that believes Wilson could be the Texans’ pick at No. 2. NBC Sports’ Peter King recently said he would “not be surprised” if Wilson is drafted over Anderson.
“DeMeco Ryans could look at Wilson after his year in San Francisco and say, ‘I got my Nick Bosa,’” a source close to Ryans told King. Meanwhile, an NFL coach with a top-10 pick told King, “Wilson will be a better pro than Anderson.”
Taking Wilson over Anderson would represent a step off the beaten path for the Texans. But Houston is already trending towards doing the unexpected by selecting an edge rusher over a quarterback, as most expected a QB would be the pick after Houston earned the second overall pick.
NFL Draft Betting Odds Still Favor Anderson Over Wilson
Although Anderson is the reigning two-time Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner as college football’s best defensive player, the Texans might prefer Wilson based on his physical profile.
Anderson is a solid physical specimen at 6’4″ and 253 pounds, but Wilson is taller, heavier, and longer. Wilson measured in at 6’6″, 271 pounds, and has 35 5/8″ inch arms as opposed to Anderson’s 33 7/8″.
Wilson’s prototypical size might be enough for him to be drafted before Anderson, but the betting markets still have Anderson as the favorite.
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DraftKings lists Anderson at +150 to be the No. 2 pick, while Wilson is tied with Kentucky quarterback Will Levis at +250. Meanwhile, FanDuel has Anderson at +250, Levis and Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud at +250, and Wilson at +400.
However, it’s entirely possible that the markets haven’t yet responded to the latest news from Caplan, King, and others. As the draft inches closer, Wilson may become the betting favorite to be drafted by the Texans.
There’s little doubt that Houston needs an edge rusher — its current starters are Rasheem Green and 34-year-old Jerry Hughes. But only time will tell if the Texans made the right decision if they choose to select a pass rusher over a quarterback at No. 2 and if they go with Wilson over Anderson.
