Let's also not forget that Mac is two years closer to a large(r) contract as well. Not great for a long term rebuild.
If he works well in your offense, he's your guy - no need to go after another one unless the opportunity presents itself. Just continue building around him.
If you can get Mac Jones for a Future seventh rounder, it's all about his Contract. But there is a lot more involved in acquiring him. And it all has to do with cos/t and value to your team over the life of the contract. You simply cannot take those elements out of the equation. Part of the value is in options to take a defensive player early or use the pick to trade for additional value in this and/or future drafts. If the two QBs were truly 1a and 1b, then their value would be 2800 according to the usual chart of trade values. If instead. you use Something like Draftbuzz, you get something like this (note - 3 players are currently ranked higher in the 2024 draft class): 1. Young 96.6 2. Anderson 93.4 3. Stroud 92.0 4. Carter 91.9 5. Skoronski 91.1 6. Murphey 90.7 7a. Robinson 90.0 7b. Witherspoon 90.0 9. Q Johnson 89.5 10. Smith-Njigba 89.4 11. Wilson 89.2 12. Gonzales 89.0 Note - Only two QBs are off the board at 1-12. If the QB rush is realized and this Big Board is a good evaluation of talent, then more of these top overall players will be available at 12. ref Hooker 87.8 Levis 87.7 Richardson 87.5 McKee 85.6 Hall 82.9 Bennett 82.5 As you can see, Hooker is right in the among the other 2 considered third tier QBs this year and are often mocked in the top 6. Also consider even if this is the perfect draft evaluation in general, it does not include team specific value of players who fit a system or fill a particularly egregious need. For example, a perfect fit in a traditional drop back offense has added or less value in the team that has chosen a particular system, Like our Texan who are planning a west coast based defensive style for 2023. A QBs run and escape skills are more highly valued and the drop in Stroud fit and increase in 3rd tier fit (because they show better west coast fit) might make them superior on the Texans Big Board.
I can't help thinking this would be just dooming us to mediocrity with 500 plus or minus seasons because 500 is so much better than 200 plus or minus. Is your mindset about building a Superbowl winner or a perennial above average team? This absolutism about taking a 16th ranked (at best) QB in the NFL just reeks.
If I had to guess today and the Texans stay at 2 I would say the pick would be between Levis, Anderson, and Wilson. I would lean slightly towards Tyree Wilson as the pick. Mainly because the athletic 6'6 270 lb 4-3 defensive ends are much harder to find. I have a feeling that the Texans will come away with Wilson and Levis in the draft and will use trades to make it happen.
