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Texans Draft Forecast: What Could Happen, What Should Happen, and What I’d Do

  • 5 hours ago
  • 5 min read

Texans Draft

Setting the Stage: What We Can Expect from the Texans in the Draft


Heading into the 2025 NFL Draft, there are several things we can expect from the Texans based on how they’ve operated this offseason and what they’ve said publicly.


  • This is a team in win-now mode. Everything they’ve done since the Kansas City playoff loss supports that—from moving on from OC Bobby Slowik to trading Pro Bowl LT Laremy Tunsil, cutting veteran Shaq Mason, and moving Kenyon Green. These weren’t reset moves—they were calculated upgrades to push this team further.

  • Roster spots are hard to come by. Caserio himself said, “It’s going to be hard to make this team.” That’s a clear signal that they won’t be chasing 7–10 rookies just to fill out camp. They’ll be aggressive in going after guys who can help right away.

  • Trades—both up and out—are likely. With extra draft capital from the Tunsil trade (a 2025 3rd and a 2026 2nd and 4th), Houston is positioned to move up for a top-tier guard, Z WR, or IDL. And with few roster holes, some players may be used to facilitate those moves.

  • Watch for potential player trades. Guys like Dameon Pierce, Christian Harris, and John Metchie III could be moved. Each has just one year left on their rookie deal, each would create cap flexibility, and all are currently buried on the depth chart.

    • This isn’t personal—this is about value, roster fit, and maximizing opportunity in a championship window. Pierce has struggled in the zone scheme. Harris has flashed athleticism but may be replaceable in sub-packages. Metchie has talent, but injuries and depth at WR could push him further down the ladder.


These are the realities that shape my approach to this draft. It’s not about collecting bodies—it’s about finding instant impact players who can help right now, while CJ Stroud is still on his rookie deal and this team is built to compete. From there, it’s about sticking to the board, targeting specific types at key positions, and adjusting when value presents itself.window.


What I Believe Will Happen


I believe the Texans will continue targeting best player availabile (BPA) within their needs—especially in the early rounds. With limited roster spots available, Caserio even said “it’s going to be hard to make this team.” That tells me he’s not looking to add eight-plus rookies. He’s looking to hit on three to five who can play right now. Expect aggression, expect trade-ups, and expect quality over quantity.


What I’d Do


I’d focus early picks on filling these three critical needs:

  1. Plug-and-play offensive guard

  2. Z WR who can contribute immediately

  3. 1-tech nose tackle to anchor the A-gap


Behind that, I’d target a change-of-pace RB and a developmental offensive tackle who could eventually start but may kick inside early.


The strategy: follow the board at those positions. If guys from my list are starting to disappear, trade up and get one. If several are still there at my pick, trade back and get value. I want instant contributors more than I want extra bodies.


My Texans Draft Board


Plug-and-Play Guards (1st–Early 2nd)

  • Tyler Booker – Alabama (ideal fit)

  • Donovan Jackson – Ohio State (SWARM)

  • Kelvin Banks Jr. – Texas (if he falls and moves inside early, somewhat of a risk)

  • Grey Zabel – NDSU (Caserio likely passes on FCS)


Z WRs (1st–2nd)

  • Matthew Golden – Texas (perfect fit)

  • Emeka Egbuka: some risk moving from slot to Z

  • Jack Bech – TCU (outside experience and physical)

  • Kyle Williams – Washington State (been a favorite all process)


Developmental / Positional Flex WRs

  • Isaiah Bond – Texas

  • Ricky White – UNLV

  • Tory Horton – Colorado State

  • Theo Wease Jr. – Missouri


1T Nose Tackles

  • Kenneth Grant – Michigan

  • CJ West – Indiana

  • Alfred Collins – Texas

  • JJ Pegues – Ole Miss (great value late)

  • Cam'Ron Jackson

  • Aeneas Peebles (Not a TON of A gap, more than most)

  • Deone Walker


Change-of-Pace RBs (Day 3)

  • Dylan Sampson

  • TreVeyon Henderson

  • RJ Harvey

  • DJ Giddens (not perfect fit but could work)

  • Devin Neal (not perfect fit but could work)

  • Jaydon Blue – Texas (elite value)

  • Brashard Smith – SMU (explosive, pass game weapon)

  • Jarquez Hunter

  • Trevor Etienne

  • Bhayshul Tuten

  • LeQuint Allen


Developmental / potential plug & play guards (3rd-4th round):

  • Tate Ratledge

  • Miles Frazier

  • Willie Lampkin: versatile piece


Developmental OL (Guard Now, OT Later)

  • Marcus Mbow – Purdue

  • Aireontae Ersery: not sold on guard, not sure Texans are sold on him either overall

  • Jonah Savaiinaea – Arizona

  • Wyatt Milum – WVU

  • Ozzy Trapilo – Boston College (trained with Dante Scarnecchia)

  • Charles Grant

  • Anthony Belton

  • Chase Lundt


Scenario-Based Mock Drafts


To play out the different ways this board could fall, I ran three full mock draft scenarios, each reflecting a different path depending on how the top 50 picks go. In every one, I leaned into my approach: BPA within needs and trading when it made sense.


Scenario 1: IDL First, Trade Up for Guard & WR


  • R1: Kenneth Grant, IDL

  • R2: Tyler Booker, G (trade up)

  • R2: Kyle Williams, WR (trade up again)

  • R3: Ozzy Trapilo, T

  • R5: Jaydon Blue, RB (after trading Dameon Pierce)

  • R5: Jackson Hawes, TE

  • R7: Ricky White, WR


Why this worked: The board gave us a top-tier nose tackle first. We responded by being aggressive with our capital to get our plug-and-play guard and WR. Filled all three core needs by Pick 50.


Texans Mock Draft, Kenneth Grant in 1st

Scenario 2: WR First, Then Fill the Rest


  • R1: Matthew Golden, WR

  • R2: Tyler Booker, G (trade up)

  • R3: Alfred Collins, IDL (trade back)

  • R3: Marcus Mbow, T

  • R4: Brashard Smith, RB (trade back)


Why this worked: Golden slid to 25, so we struck early at WR. We traded minimal capital to get Booker next. We traded back from 58 to get extra capital while mutliple of our targets were burried on the board, then snagged a Day 2 IDL and Day 3 OT. A strong example of letting the board guide you and adjusting when depth exists. We trade back two more times as plenty of change of pace RB's are available. At the end, rather than make a late pick that may not make the roster, we cash out for better picks next year.


Texans Mock Draft, Matthew Golden in first

Scenario 3: OL First, Then Skill


  • R2: Tyler Booker, G (after trading down from 25)

  • R2: Jack Bech, WR (trade up with Bears)

  • R3: Dylan Sampson, RB

  • R3: CJ West, IDL

  • R3: Marcus Mbow, T (after trading Dameon Pierce)

  • R5: Willie Lampkin, G

  • R7: Jalin Conyers, TE


Why this worked: Started with a guard and adjusted based on depth. Used RB slightly earlier to secure a difference-maker. Still got a true 1T and long-term OL depth. This one shows how trading down early can still result in a top-heavy haul.


Texans mock draft, trade back for Tyler Booker

Conclusion: The Plan Is Flexible, the Vision Is Clear


If it were up to me, I’d walk out of this draft with a plug-and-play guard, a Z WR who can produce now, and a 1T who can anchor the middle of the defense. Anything after that is about adding speed, depth, and versatility.


That said—this isn’t rigid. The board can flip your plan in five picks. If a WR falls, you take him and adjust. If IDL thins out, maybe you reach slightly or trade up.


What I’ve outlined here is a vision—not a script. It's based on need, positional value, and roster construction. I understand these are specific preferences and could be viewed as nitpicky. But in a win-now mode, every pick matters. Every piece needs to fit.


This team has Super Bowl potential. This draft should reflect that.

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