Saturday random thoughts:
At least one projected, current, draft order has it: Texans (1/1); Lions (1/2); Bears (1/3); Seahawks (1/4); Panthers (1/5); and Eagles (1/6).
The Bears have Justin Fields and the Eagles have Jalen Hurts at QB, so they will not be drafting at the QB position.
The Seahawks have Geno Smith at QB. His contract is up this year, but Smith is a top 10 QB, currently ranked #7. Under Smith the Seahawks are in the playoff hunt with a 7-5 record.
The Lions are in a bit of a pickle. Goff's contract runs through 2024 and he is currently ranked #15. The Lions' record is 5-7.
The Panthers, next to the Texans, are hurting the most at QB. Sam Darnold's contract is up in 2022 and he is ranked #29.
So what I'm looking at is whether the Texans have an opportunity to trade down, and how far, and still have a high probability of drafting Bryce Young.
Since his rookie contract (2013-2016), Geno Smith has signed a series of 1-year contracts, the highest paid being this year with Seattle ($1,212,500). He should be looking to cash in, and I'm projecting the Seahawks will be trying to resign the #7 ranked QB.
So that leaves the Lions and the Panthers, and both should be looking at drafting QB, unless they sign a vet prior to the draft.
So where does that leave the Texans? Just throwing it out there, Jared Goff is 6'4"/222 lbs and I'm guessing C.J.Stroud, without a coaching change, better fits the Lions' offensive scheme and the Michigan weather. If I were the Texans, I'd have my eye on swapping down with Detroit, and looking for no more than their first second round selection, currently around #46. Detroit also has a second, second round selection, at the end of the round.
Depending on how the draft order ends up (Chicago may end up at 1/2), trading down with the Lions, and still getting Young, is a risk I'd seriously consider chancing.
The Panthers also have two second round selections (currently about #40 and #59) and will be looking to move up. The question is, which QB would they be eyeing? The Texans would certainly have to be aware of the chance of being leapfrogged as they were in 2017.