How Close Were Texans To Trading With Bears For No. 1 Draft Pick?

Some say the Texans' last win of the season in 2022 - the 32-31 win over the Colts on Jan. 8 - was a parting shot from former coach Lovie Smith, who knew his days were numbered in Houston.

How so?

That win, in the last game of the season, cost the Texans the No. 1 overall pick in next month's NFL Draft. Instead, the Chicago Bears held the worst record in the league at 3-14, while the Texans held a tie at 3-13-1.

Houston clearly is targeting a quarterback after watching Davis Mills continue to struggle for the past two seasons. And if they held the first overall pick, there would be no question they'd have first dibs at whoever they wanted to fill that roll.

Bears general manager Ryan Poles spoke to NBC Sports recently and said his team and the Texans engaged in "significant discussion" about a trade involving the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft.

"I thought there was an opportunity to do something historically pretty cool with a trade from one to two and two to nine," he said. "That had potential to add more draft capital this year, and then the possibility that you're sitting on three ones in the following year. That had my attention. But my gut told me to trigger on it now."

Ultimately, the Bears sent that top pick to Carolina, who is in need of a franchise quarterback, and that will affect the Texans' choice. 

If Smith did plan to disrupt the opportunity for the Texans to have the first pick, it would seem his plan worked.

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