Texans grab TCU WR Quentin Johnston for Alabama QB Bryce Young in USA TODAY mock draft

The Houston Texans are as linked to Alabama quarterback Bryce Young as cruise ships to Galveston.

According to Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz of USA TODAY, who released his first mock draft for 2023, the Texans use their No. 2 overall pick to take Young after the Chicago Bears use the No. 1 overall pick to grab his teammate, edge defender Will Anderson. No matter how the coaching search turns out for Houston, Young is expected to be their first selection of Round 1.

Thanks to an offseason trade with the Cleveland Browns last year, the Texans picked up an extra first-round pick, valued at No. 12 overall. Houston uses that pick to add another young wideout for their rookie field general to work with.

Houston can’t expect for Bryce Young — or any other quarterback — to single-handedly save an offense that ranked 31st with just 17 points per game. Enter Johnston, a 6-4, 215-pound burner who’s equally comfortable hauling in deep bombs as he is evading defenders after slants.

The Texans may be the in the market for a young, highly touted receiver after Brandin Cooks made it be known he wants nothing to do with a rebuild, if that is where Houston is going in 2023. Johnston would bolster a receiving corps that has relied on Nico Collins and Chris Moore and is also hopeful John Metchie can play after battling leukemia in 2022.

The Texans could also trade out from No. 12 overall. Houston had the No. 13 overall pick in Round 1 of the 2022 NFL draft and struck a deal with the Philadelphia Eagles to move down to No. 15. Houston used that selection to take Texas A&M guard Kenyon Green.

The results from the USA TODAY mock would give fans the sense Houston had a dynamic quarterback-receiver duo that would be enjoyable to watch, if not competitive in their own right, for the next four seasons.