NFL Draft Prospect Odds: Will Houston Pull Off a Stunner with the No. 2 Overall Selection?

Plenty of Options For the Houston Texans With the Second Overall Selection

One would think that one of these years, the Houston Texans would figure out how to make the best use of a top pick in the NFL draft. However, going into this week’s draft, it is uncertain what Houston will do at No. 2. That is evident when looking at the recent movement in the NFL Draft prospect odds.

There are reports that the Texans will pass on a quarterback with the second overall pick. Whenever these reports come out close to the draft, it is wise to put only a little stock in them. There is a chance that Houston is looking to entice the Indianapolis Colts, who have the No. 4 pick, to send an additional pick to Houston to move up a couple of spots since the Colts are in the market for a quarterback.

The odds for who will be the No. 2 pick have changed dramatically in the last couple of weeks.

The first round is set for Thursday. Carolina has the top pick and is expected to select former Alabama quarterback Bryce Young first overall. Houston has picks No. 2 and 12.

When looking at the NFL stats, Houston was 25th in passing yards during the 2022 season and 20th in sacks.

Here’s some of the storylines surrounding the No. 2 pick.

Where There’s A Will, There’s a Way

It wasn’t that long ago that former Penn State and Kentucky quarterback Will Levis was priced at -140 to be taken with the eighth pick or lower. The NFL Draft prospect odds look much different these days.

Now, he is the betting favorite to go second overall to the Texans. Levis certainly helped himself during the pre-draft process as he showed off the best arm among the quarterbacks available for this draft.

At 6-foot-4, 229 pounds, he certainly looks the part of an NFL quarterback. If there is a concern, it could be his performance against the top competition.

In his last four games against ranked opponents, he completed 64% of his passes for 767 yards with three touchdown passes and six interceptions.

Still, his odds of going second overall have moved from +1800 to -135.

A Cloud Surrounding Stroud

At a time, the former Ohio State C.J. Stroud was thought to be the best quarterback prospect in the draft.

Now, four players are ahead of him in the odds to be the No. 2 overall pick when it comes to the NFL Draft prospect odds.

Stroud had a horrible score on a cognitive test that was given to the top quarterback prospects. The talent he had to throw to at Ohio State could be used against him.

Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave were the only rookie receivers to go over 1,000 receiving yards during the 2022 NFL season, while Marvin Harrison would likely be the top receiver option if he were in this year’s draft. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who could go to Houston with the 12th overall pick, was the team leader in receptions and receiving yards in 2021 before an injury-ravaged 2022 season.

With 85 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions over the last two seasons, it’s hard to know what more Stroud could do at the college level.

He comes in at +350 to be the No. 2 pick. Not too long ago, his odds were at -150 to be the top pick in the draft.

Getting Defensive

Stroud is not the only top prospect whose stock seems to be headed in the wrong direction.

When the college season ended, Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. and Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter figured to be the top options to become the first defensive player off the board.

Carter’s involvement in a car accident that claimed the lives of his former college teammate Devin Willock and Georgia staff member Chandler LeCroy is one of the reasons why he is falling out of favor with some NFL teams. Some of his workouts haven’t helped his cause.

Anderson doesn’t have any of those issues. However, Texas Tech edge rusher Tyree Wilson has seemingly leapfrogged Anderson on draft boards.

Wilson had 15.5 sacks and 29 tackles for loss over the last three seasons for the Red Raiders. Anderson finished with 61 tackles for loss and 34.5 sacks at Alabama during that time.

One difference is that Wilson is 6-foot-6, 271 pounds compared to Anderson, checking in at the NFL scouting combine at 6-3.5 and 253 pounds.

This could be similar to when the Jacksonville Jaguars selected Travon Walker over a more productive college player in Aidan Hutchinson.

The NFL point spreads list Wilson at +230 and Anderson at +330 to be the No. 2 pick.

It wasn’t long ago when Anderson was priced at +350 and Wilson at +1800 to be the No. 2 overall selection.

And Now For Something Completely Different

There is quite a gap in the odds after Levis, Wilson, Anderson and Stroud.

Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson is next at +1500 despite some less-than-stellar passing numbers with the Gators. Young comes in at +2200, mostly because he is expected to be gone before Houston goes on the clock. Carter is next at +2800.

Buckle up; things could get interesting after the first pick is announced on Thursday night.

Can’t get enough? Here’s more!

• End of Round One NFL Draft Betting Strategy
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• NFL Draft Position Betting Odds: Alabama Pass Rusher Will Anderson Could Shake Up The First Round
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