Raiders Draft Rumors: C.J. Stroud To Fall Below Texans At No. 2?

From the beginning of the draft process, Alabama’s Bryce Young and Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud have been the two quarterback prospects at the top of everyone’s list. As is the case in most drafts, the quarterbacks tend to rise to the top and Young and Stroud have been expected to be the first two picks in some order of the 2023 NFL Draft. That would basically take them out of range for the Las Vegas Raiders should they want a quarterback in the first round.

The Raiders’ plans remain unclear as it would make sense for them to focus on shoring up some of the other holes in their roster. However, if they believe they could get their franchise quarterback they could look to make the move to grab him and things have suddenly gotten very interesting at the top of the draft.

Recent rumors have suggested that the Houston Texans, owners of the second overall pick, are looking to go defense with their pick and C.J. Stroud could be available at no. 3, via RaidersBeat.com:

“I was told by someone in the NFL yesterday that I truly respect [that] the Texans are going defense at no. 2,” Bonsignore said on the Morning Tailgate with Clay Baker. “We’ve been talking about this a lot. I’ve had a weird feeling for a couple of weeks now. I don’t know if the Texans like that second quarterback if the Panthers take Bryce Young. I don’t know how they feel. I’ve been getting weird information.”

At one point it felt like Stroud was the favorite to go first overall, but now it seems like the Carolina Panthers are favoring Young. The Texans have a major need at quarterback as well which is why most assume they would simply take whichever quarterback was left at 2, but that now seems to be in question.

If Stroud is available at 3, where the Arizona Cardinals are selecting, QB-needy teams will be will be calling as the Cardinals are set at the position with Kyler Murray. Will the Raiders be one of those teams should this situation play out, no one is sure.

For the most part the Raiders have been linked to Florida’s Anthony Richardson, but that was also under the assumption that Young and Stroud would be off the board. The Raiders obviously signed Jimmy Garoppolo this offseason, but he is more of a short-term answer and if they view Stroud as the leader of the franchise moving forward and they have a chance to get him, they could look to make some major moves on draft night.