Texans Draft Recap: Stressan, Depressan, and Now Guessan

Going into the first round of the NFL Draft, I believed the Texans could be aggressive — maybe even trade up — to fill two immediate needs: an offensive guard and a Z wide receiver.

At first, that plan felt alive. But things started to unravel quickly.

The Dallas Cowboys selected Tyler Booker at No. 12, a player many assumed the Texans would jump on at No. 25. After that, the run on offensive linemen and wide receivers began, draining the board of several top targets.

Still, hope remained. Matthew Golden, a local Houston standout from the University of Houston and Texas, whom the Texans visited and who would have been a perfect fit, began to fall. It looked like the Texans might just have him fall into their laps... they just needed to get past one more team needing a receiver: the Green Bay Packers at No. 23.

And of course, the Packers selected Golden.

At that point, I pivoted my hopes to Donovan Jackson, the guard from Ohio State who also had a pre-draft visit with the Texans and was another natural fit. But Minnesota, sitting at No. 24, sniped him too.

After those two quick gut punches — stressan after Golden, depressan after Jackson — the Texans were now on the clock at No. 25. But Nick Caserio had another move in mind.

Instead of reaching for someone not graded as highly, Caserio traded back with the New York Giants:

Texans get: No. 34, No. 99, and a 2026 3rd-round pick
Giants get: No. 25

Initially, it felt like I was in "guessan" mode. But after hearing Caserio's post-draft press conference, it all started to make sense.

What We Learned From Caserio's Press Conference

Caserio was unusually candid after the first round:

He confirmed the Texans were very active — talking with almost every team.

They had interest to trade up, but the price was too high.

They started proactively looking to trade out of No. 25 during the late teens as the board didn't fall the way they hoped.

They had multiple trade-back offers and picked the best value available.
Caserio emphasized that discipline and pragmatism guided their approach, not panic.

One interesting nugget: earlier rumors suggested the Texans had considered trading up to No. 9 with New Orleans. Many assumed it would be for Kelvin Banks Jr., but after seeing Dallas take Tyler Booker at No. 12, maybe that early move was actually targeting Booker instead.

Caserio also noted that while the draft board may have surprised outsiders, it fell largely how he and DeMeco Ryans expected, validated through conversations with agents across the league.

Whether you fully believe Caserio or not, hearing this should reassure Texans fans who were frustrated by not landing an offensive lineman or receiver in the first round. The Texans stuck to their plan and refused to overpay

The Sweet Spot of the Draft (and the Texans' Aggression on Day 2)

Rather than forcing a first-round pick, the Texans moved into a range Caserio and Ryans call the "sweet spot" or "meat of the draft" — the early second and third rounds.

And if history tells us anything, it's that this is where Caserio and DeMeco do their best work — and aren't afraid to be aggressive when they find their guy.

Here’s a list of notable Texans drafted in that "sweet spot" range under Caserio:

Davis Mills
Nico Collins
Jalen Pitre
John Metchie III
Christian Harris
Juice Scruggs
Tank Dell
Kamari Lassiter
Blake Fisher
Calen Bullock

But it's not just about picking good players — it's about going to get them:

2022:
- Traded up for John Metchie III at No. 44 (gave up a third and two fourths)
- Traded up for Christian Harris at No. 75 (gave up a third and fifth)
2023:
- Traded up for Juice Scruggs at No. 62 (gave up a third, sixth, and seventh)
- Traded up for Tank Dell at No. 69 (gave up a third and fifth)
2024:
- Picked Kamari Lassiter at No. 42 after trading down from the first round
- Traded up for Calen Bullock at No. 78 (gave up a third and fourth)

Bottom line: Even with ten total picks this year, expect the Texans to continue prioritizing quality over quantity — and if there's a player they believe in early on Day 2, history shows they're not going to sit back and hope he falls.

Looking Ahead to Round 2

The Texans now sit at pick 34 (second overall on Day 2) and still have a boatload of ammunition with 10 total picks.

While Caserio and Ryans won't force things, history suggests they could aggressively target impact players early tonight — just like they have in the past.

Primary positions to watch:

Offensive Guard (still a big need)
Wide Receiver (still need a Z to pair with Kirk and Collins)
Defensive Tackle (true 1T nose tackle type)

But now, after trading back and adding even more draft capital in this sweet spot of the draft, the Texans have the flexibility to also target other positions that weren't originally viewed as top needs — specifically running back and developmental offensive tackle — much more aggressively if the value lines up.

Here’s my narrowed down list of names that fit the Texans’ scheme, needs, and skillset parameters — a precise list, but one that still allows for some flexibility based on how the board falls:

Offensive Guard:

Tate Ratledge
Jared Wilson

Z Wide Receiver:

Jack Bech
Kyle Williams

1T Nose Tackle:

CJ West
Alfred Collins
Jordan Phillips

Running Back (Speed compliment to Joe Mixon):

Dylan Sampson
TreVeyon Henderson
RJ Harvey
DJ Giddens
Jarquez Hunter

Offensive Tackle (some with guard/tackle versatility):

Aireontae Ersery
Ozzy Trapilo
Marcus Mbow
Jonah Savaiinaea
Wyatt Milum
Charles Grant
Anthony Belton

Again, this isn’t an exhaustive list — there are other good players who could fit if things break differently, and there will be Day 3 players available too — but these names match the Texans’ precise profile very closely.

Another thing to keep in mind tonight: A small trade back is still very possible.

Based on how the board looks, many of the guys I have earmarked for the Texans likely won't come off for another 10 picks or so. So if a desperate team calls looking to move up early in Round 2, Caserio could move back a few spots, pick up even more ammo, and then use that extra firepower to aggressively move around with the two third-round picks we already have.

Also, do not rule out the Texans using this extra capital to trade for a player instead of just draft picks. It would likely need to be someone still on a rookie contract with multiple years left, and if that happens, it’s possible the Texans might have to make a corresponding move — either trading away a current player or clearing some cap space with a cut to make it work. Something to keep an eye on tonight.

Caserio and Ryans showed patience and discipline on Thursday. Now, with the board reshuffling and the sweet spot right in front of them, they have the flexibility to strike for true difference-makers — and the track record to believe they'll get it right.

Trust the plan. It's about quality over quantity — and Day 2 is where the Texans have consistently found real building blocks.

f you’re still feeling stressed after how yesterday went, I get it — but I encourage you to stay patient and see how today plays out.

Caserio has shown us that this is the part of the draft he truly loves, and it’s clear he would rather be aggressive in Round 2 or 3, where the price of a potential overpay is much smaller, rather than forcing a move in Round 1 like he wisely passed on yesterday.f you’re still feeling stressed after how yesterday went, I get it — but I encourage you to stay patient and see how today plays out.