The Houston Texans will enter the 2023 season with an answer at quarterback, and that answer is Ohio State quarterback CJ Stroud.

The NFL Draft betting odds at FanDuel Sportsbook fluctuated wildly on Stroud's probability of being the second overall pick.

CJ Stroud Draft Profile

There were rumors surrounding Stroud's slide down the draft board, but the pedigree he offers still made him one of the most coveted assets in the draft.

And the Texans didn't pass on him.

According to ESPN's QBR metric, Stroud ranked third in the country in 2022. Stroud had the benefit of throwing to some of the best recent prospects we've seen at Ohio State but still did about all you could ask of him -- and possibly more, as he ranked eighth in the country in big-time throw rate, via PFF.

CJ Stroud Top Comparables

According to my NFL prospect database -- which accounts for production, size, draft capital, age, and more historically important variables -- here are Stroud's top five comparable players.

1. Bryce Young - 88.8%
2. Zach Wilson - 88.1%
3. Jameis Winston - 85.0%
4. Sam Darnold - 84.8%
5. Dwayne Haskins - 84.3%

CJ Stroud in Houston

The Texans ranked 32nd in adjusted offensive efficiency in 2022, according to numberFire's expected points model. That included the 30th-ranked adjusted passing unit.

The Davis Mills experiment did not pan out in 2022. He was 0.11 expected points per play worse than the NFL average quarterback, via numberFire.

Houston Texans 2023 Outlook

The Texans' regular season win total number is set at 5.5 with -122 odds on the over, according to FanDuel Sportsbook's NFL odds.

They're +630 to make the playoffs, as well as +18000 to win the Super Bowl (a league-worst line).

The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author’s advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.