2023 NFL Draft: Texans select CJ Stroud with second overall pick in surprise move

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The Houston Texans selected Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud with the second overall pick in somewhat of a surprise.

Stroud had long been the consensus No. 2 pick by just about every expert since the 2022 NFL season ended, but rumors changed up the betting odds throughout the week.

At one point on Tuesday, sportsbooks took notice of a Reddit rumor that said Will Levis told people the Carolina Panthers called him and told him he would go No. 1. That rumor caused Levis' odds everywhere to shake up a ton, and he was favored to go second overall on Tuesday morning.

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C.J. Stroud #7 of the Ohio State Buckeyes reacts after a touchdown during the second quarter against the Georgia Bulldogs in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 31, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia.  (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

As early as Thursday, Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson became the huge favorite to go second, but the Texans decided to rock with the quarterback.

The Texans would get Anderson anyway - about five minutes after drafting Stroud, they traded up to the third selection to stay on the clock, and they took the edge rusher to plug him on the defense.

Some also thought Stroud's stock took a hit after his reported 18% on the S2 Cognitive Test, which recently replaced the Wonderlic, was the lowest among all quarterbacks in this draft.

Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud throws during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game against Notre Dame, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

Stroud finished in fourth place in the Heisman Trophy voting in