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Draft Fact or Fiction: CJ Stroud to the Texans, Nolan Smith, Zay Flowers’ Fit

In Mike Farrell’s Fact or Fiction — Draft Edition, he determines if CJ Stroud will succeed with the Texans…

Mike Farrell| March 21, 2023 (Updated: July 9, 2025)
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In today’s Fact or Fiction — NFL Draft edition — I look at three big recent topics around the NFL Draft and decide whether the statement is indeed FACT or if it’s FICTION.


1. CJ Stroud would succeed with the Texans.

Farrell’s take: FICTION

You may disagree, but I feel there’s only one QB in this NFL Draft who can elevate an awful team to big things. And that’s Bryce Young who should be the Carolina Panthers selection. If Young slides to the Texans at No. 2 I think he can have success there as well, but I think Stroud will struggle badly. He doesn’t have the same pocket awareness as Young, he will be annihilated with that awful OL protecting him, and his confidence will plummet. Young just has a different mental makeup, trust me.

Penn State linebacker Abdul Carter (11) sacks Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud for an 8-yard loss in the second quarter against Ohio State at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, in State College. The Nittany Lions fell to the Buckeyes, 44-31.

2. Nolan Smith will be the first UGA player drafted.

Farrell’s take: FICTION

DT Jalen Carter might be slipping in the draft while Smith has cemented himself as a first round pick with an amazing combine, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I keep picturing Carter in a Lions jersey, but he could easily land with the Las Vegas Raiders, Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Bears, or Philadelphia Eagles. And if he does slip past the top 10 he’s not getting past the Lions’ second pick at No. 18. As for Smith, Tampa Bay or Seattle at No. 19 and 20 could be potential landing spots. There’s an outside chance he goes ahead of that Lions’ No. 18 pick to the Steelers at No. 17, but I doubt they’d take Smith over Carter.

Mar 2, 2023; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Georgia defensive lineman Nolan Smith (DL45) participates in drills during the NFL combine at Lucas Oil Stadium.

3. Zay Flowers would be perfect for the Vikings.

Farrell’s take: FACT

Adam Thielen is gone, and Justin Jefferson needs someone to take the attention away from him. While the Vikings might go CB, they could easily go WR, and Flowers has some Stefon Diggs in him and might help relieve the bad taste left by moving on from Diggs.

Nov 26, 2022; Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA; Boston College Eagles wide receiver Zay Flowers (4) against the Syracuse Orange during the second quarter at Alumni Stadium.

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Category: Draft, Fact or FictionTag: Boston College Eagles, CJ Stroud, Eli Gillman, Georgia Bulldogs, Houston Texans, Mike Farrell, Minnesota Vikings, NFL Draft, Nolan Smith, Ohio State Buckeyes, Princewill Umanmielan, Zay Flowers
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