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MY Team - Building the 2025 Houston Texans

IT”S BEEN FUN LOOKING BACK…

at the past two drafts and the past two seasons as the Texans continued to crawl out of the three year abyss that nearly sunk the franchise.

GM Nick Caserio joining in 2021

Derek Stingley Jr. drafted in 2022, in addition to Jalen Pitre, Christian Harris and Dameon Pierce.

Head coach DeMeco Ryans jumping on board in 2023

The 2023 Draft with numerous starters

The 2023 season joyride

Stefon Diggs, Joe Mixon, Azeez and Danielle Hunter joined the fray.

Then, the 2024 Draft surprised many with four quality building blocks.

The momentum continued to build and build and build but this game has a way of humbling anyone and everyone. The 2024 season started well then the Texans couldn’t block anyone in an embarrassing loss at MInnesota, nearly got QB C.J. Stroud decapitated at Green Bay, lost to Garrett Wilson’s two one handed TDs on Halloween night, Stefon Diggs got injured, so did Jalen Pitre and finally in the most gruesome fashion, fan favorite Tank Dell. Everywhere the Texans turned it ran into a collective brick wall.

That collective kick in the nuts was HUGELY valuable for this organization, if I’m being honest. 2023 was a thrilling joyride after winning 11 games over three seasons. There was a ton of hype for 2024 and many thought the Texans underachieved. Yet, they won the AFC South and a Wild Card playoff game for the second consecutive season. But, many thought the Texans could’ve been better had they not had offensive issues and inconsistencies all season long. 

So, enter Nick Caley as new OC and his former coaching partner Cole Popovich as OL coach. Exit Laremy Tunsil, Shaq Mason and former first rounder Kenyon Green. Will that all be enough to get the 2025 OL to a much different level, one that raises the offense to the same level that the defense is on currently? That’s the goal and this Draft could be another catalyst for that improvement. As such, let’s dive into the draft needs for the 2025 NFL Draft for MY Houston Texans.

2025 Draft Capital

1st - 25th

2nd - 58th

3rd - 79th, 89th

4th - NONE

5th - 166th

6th - NONE

7th - 236th, 241st

Key Free Agent Signings/Trades

WR Christian Kirk (Jaguars)

OT Cam Robinson (Vikings)

OG Laken Tomlinson (Seahawks)

DT Sheldon Rankins (Bengals)

Edge Darrell Taylor (Bears)

S C.J. Gardner-Johnson (Eagles)

Key

Pro Bowler/Pro Bowl Potential - Red

Projected Starter - Bold

Free Agent signing - Italics

Trade - *

POSITION ANALYSIS - OFFENSE

Quarterback

C.J Stroud

Davis Mills

Kedon Slovis

Draft Priority: ZERO - This is not the draft to select a QB and I’ve said that for a while. Plus, this is a strong threesome in Houston, led by Stroud. Moving on.

Quarterback Prospects to Watch

NONE

Running back

Joe Mixon

Dameon Pierce

Dare Ogunbowale

J.J. Taylor

Jawhar Jordan

(FB) British Brooks

(FB) Jakob Johnson

Draft Priority: Medium to high - Mixon was absolutely fabulous in 2024 on so many different levels. When the run blocking broke down, seemingly most of the time, Mixon made it happen on his own. With a revamped OL, I’m stoked to see what Mixon can do in 2025. But, what does the new offensive brain trust think of Pierce? That’s the big question in the backfield. Regardless, this is a draft class with a bunch of young studs, the best RB draft class in a long time. Consequently, there are quality options in all rounds, so one of the Texans’ seven draft picks will be/should be a RB.

Running Back Prospects to Watch

Omarion Hampton, North Carolina

TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State

Kaleb Johnson, Iowa

Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State

Dylan Sampson, Tennessee

Brashard Smith, SMU

D.J. Giddens, Kansas State

Woody Marks, USC

Ollie Gordon, Oklahoma State

Marcus Yarns, Delaware

Wide Receiver

Nico Collins

Christian Kirk

Justin Watson

Xavier Hutchinson

John Metchie III

Braxton Berrios

Jared Wayne

Johnny Johnson

Xavier Johnson

**Tank Dell - more than likely out for most or all of 2025. *silently shakes head in sadness*

Draft Priority: Medium to high - If Tank was healthy enough to make it back for 2025, I’d not worry much about this WR group. But, BUT it’s going to be a while for Tank to make it back from his knee injury and I’d like for him to be 1000% healthy when he does. Figuring that Dell wouldn’t be available much in 2025, the Texans brilliantly traded for Kirk. I LOVED that move and signing Watson was a SNEAKY HOT move too. But, this receiver group has missed a lot of games due to injury, including Kirk who missed 14 games the past two years. So, a draft pick is happening at this position, potentially as early as pick No. 25.

Wide Receiver Prospects to Watch

Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona - could he fall to No. 25? I don’t see it, but some do.

Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State

Luther Burden III, Missouri

Jayden Higgins, Iowa State

Kyle Williams, Washington State

Jalen Royals, Utah State

Jaylin Noel, Iowa State

Jack Bech, TCU

Savion Williams, TCU

Xavier Restrepo, Miami, FL

Tight end

Dalton Schultz

Cade Stover

Brevin Jordan

Irv Smith Jr.

Draft Priority: Medium to high - The TEs didn’t have tremendous seasons last year. Schultz wasn’t near as effective as he was in 2023. Jordan missed nearly the entire season after tearing his ACL in week two. Stover suffered through the typical rookie ups and downs after he was thrown into the fire after Jordan’s injury. But, Schultz can certainly rebound. Jordan appears to be healthy for 2025. Stover is ready to break out, in my opinion. However, this is a solid/strong TE draft class and there are a few TEs that would accentuate this group.

Tight End Prospects to Watch

Elijah Arroyo, Miami, FL

Mason Taylor, LSU

Harold Fannin Jr, Bowling Green

Jackson Hawes, Georgia Tech

Thomas Fidone, Nebraska

Moloki Matavao, UCLA

Luke Lachey, Iowa

C.J. Dippre, Alabama

Interior Offensive linemen

G Tytus Howard

C Jarrett Patterson

G Juice Scruggs

G Laken Tomlinson

G Ed Ingram

G/C Jerome Carvin

G Nick Broeker

G/T Jaylon Thomas

G LaDarius Henderson

Draft Priority: HIgh - In my 11 years in the building, Texans fans have never been as frustrated with a singular unit as they were with the OL in 2024, namely the interior. It had more to do with the fact that the Texans now have a franchise QB that we all know needs to be protected. So, the Texans traded for one guard and signed two others. They’ll also draft one, perhaps two, to add to the mix. I do like Howard at guard. He really showed some improvement when he moved over to left guard in December. Put it this way, he was a better LG than he was a RT. Patterson actually settled down the OL with his protection decisions and such. Given all that, though, it’s clear that guard and center will be in flux and remain a draft need until the right interior trio is found.

Interior Offensive line Prospects to Watch

Tyler Booker, Alabama

(G/T/C) Grey Zabel, North Dakota State

(G/T) Donovan Jackson, Ohio State

(C) Jared Wilson, Georgia

Tate Ratledge, Georgia

(G/T) Wyatt Milum, West Virginia

Emery Jones, LSU

Miles Frazier, LSU

(C) Jonah Monheim, USC

Jalen Rivers, Miami, FL

(C/G) Jackson Slater, Sacramento State

Connor Colby, Iowa

(C/G) Clay Webb, Jacksonville State

Hayden Conner, Texas

(C) Eli Cox, Kentucky

(C) Jake Majors, Texas

Tackles

Cam Robinson

Blake Fisher

Trent Brown

Zach Thomas

Austin Deculus

Draft Priority: Medium to high - When people asked me after the season what I would do to kickstart the rebuild of the OL, I said that it would probably take trading Laremy Tunsil to REALLY make a statement. Then, on the first day of legal tampering it happened. It was time. LT needed a restart and the Texans needed one as well. But, the facts are still that one of the best pass protecting left tackles now resides in the nation’s capital. I did think Fisher showed potential, even though the metrics/analytics nerds didn’t think that. He will get better too in his second season. The key is Robinson and what he has left in the tank. Whoever plays LT will probably not be at the level of Tunsil, but it’s not about one guy, it’s about the whole group. I like Robinson and Fisher, plus the addition of Brown was key. I just don’t love a ton of tackles in this draft class where the Texans pick and beyond. But, they still need to add to the room, even if they sign another vet or two after the draft.

Tackle prospects to watch

Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas

Josh Conerly Jr., Oregon

Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota

Charles Grant, William & Mary

Marcus Mbow, Purdue

Anthony Belton, NC State

Cameron Williams, Texas

John Williams, Cincinnati

Logan Brown, Kansas

Chase Lundt, U Conn

Esa Pole, Washington State

Jalen Travis, Iowa State

Carson Vinson, Alabama A&M

POSITION ANALYSIS - DEFENSE

Interior Defensive Line

Sheldon Rankins or Mario Edwards

Tim Settle or Mario Edwards

Kurt Hinish

Tommy Togiai

Jayden Peevy

Draft Priority: Medium to BIG SIZED - The one thing Foley Fatukasi gave to the Texans last year was agile SIZE when he was healthy. He’s still out there rehabbing from an injury last year and I wouldn’t mind bringing him back to team with his mates last year and Rankins, re-signed for 2025. This overall IDL draft class is as good as it’s ever been, so I could see Texans adding one of those studs, perhaps as early as No. 25.

Interior Defensive Line Prospects to Watch

Walter Nolen, Ole Miss

Kenneth Grant, Michigan

Derrick Harmon, Oregon

Darius Alexander, Toledo

Alfred Collins, Texas

Vernon Broughton, Texas

C.J. West, Indiana

Jamaree Caldwell, Oregon

J.J. Pegues, Ole Miss

Warren Brinson, Georgia

Edge

Danielle Hunter

Will Anderson Jr.

Denico Autry

Darrell Taylor

Derek Barnett

Dylan Horton

Solomon Byrd

Kingsley Jonathan

Casey Toohill

Draft Priority: Low - This might be the best, and most importantly the deepest, group of edges in the league. I’d be surprised if one of these seven picks is at this position. Let’s move on.

Edge Prospects to Watch

NONE

Linebacker

Azeez Al-Shaair

Henry To’o To’o

Christian Harris

E.J. Speed

Jake Hansen

Nick Niemann

Jamal Hill

Draft Priority: Medium to low - Al-Shaair is the defense’s emotional, and on-field, leader and To’o To’o moved into the starting lineup with Harris injured for most of the year. To’o To’o was one of the three or four best defenders for the Texans in 2024. Harris, when healthy, can do things no other LB in this group can do. Then, the Texans signed Speed?? Wow. Deep, fast and athletic, there’s going to be one heck of a competition to earn reps in 2025, but the top three LBs of this group missed over 20 games combined, so depth is needed and young depth (and special teams) could help on day three.

Linebacker Prospects to Watch

Cody Simon, Ohio State

Jack Kiser, Notre Dame

Cody Lindenberg, Minnesota

Jay Higgins, Iowa

Teddye Buchanan, Cal

Safety

C.J. Gardner-Johnson/Jimmie Ward

Calen Bullock

M.J. Stewart

Russ Yeast

Draft Priority: Medium - The trade for CJGJ was a bomb dropper and it rejuvenated the Texans fan base. Nationally, the reviews were tremendous, adding another DAWG to this DAWG defense. Bullock was a third round gem and he’s only going up from here. This is a ballhawk unit for sure. Unfortunately, the status of Ward is up in the air given the injury he suffered in December at Kansas City. When he returns, whoa, this group is NASTY. But, the Texans may have to use one of their seven picks on a safety to account for Ward’s potential absence.

Safety Prospects to Watch

Kevin Winston Jr, Penn State

Andrew Mukaba, Texas

Jaylen Reed, Penn State

Sebastian Castro, Iowa

Jonas Sanker, Virginia

Dante Trader Jr, Maryland

R.J. Mickens, Clemson

Billy Bowman, Oklahoma

Kitan Crawford, Nevada

Craig Woodson, Cal

Glendon Miller, Maryland

Cornerbacks/Nickels

Derek Stingley Jr.

Kamai Lassiter

(5¢) Jalen Pitre

Tremon Smith

Ronald Darby

Gregory Junior

D’Angelo Ross

Draft Priority: Low - I said it after last season and I’ll say it with more emphasis this year, Derek Stingley Jr. is the best CB in the game and one of the three best defensive players in the NFL as well. He earned The Big Bag back in early March and it was well deserved. Lassiter was the PERFECT selection at No. 42 in the second round last year. I mean, he was a DAWG in college and a DAWG on the field last year. The Texans had some trouble in the playoffs, missing Pitre so having him back healthy is huge…and he got paid too. But, the sneaky hot signings of the offseason - bringing Tremon back and signing Darby for relative peanuts - help round out the group.

Cornerbacks/Nickels Prospects to Watch

Marcus Harris, Cal

Mello Dotson, Kansas

Jaylin Smith, USC

Quincy Riley, Louisville

Jason Marshall Jr, Florida

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