What Texans Draft Visit Trends Reveal About Nick Caserio, DeMeco Ryans, and the 2025 Draft

With the NFL Draft nearly here, fans are speculating wildly about what Nick Caserio and DeMeco Ryans will do next. While the Texans don’t tip their hand publicly, there are clues we can study: the team’s history of pre-draft visits.

Thanks to data compiled by WalterFootball.com — which pulls from local beat reporters, national analysts, and other draft sources — we have working visit logs for 2023, 2024, and 2025. While not comprehensive (some meetings go unreported or happen privately), this data offers valuable insight into how the Texans scout, prioritize, and evaluate talent.

These visits, regardless of label — Top 30s, Combine meetings, Locals, Pro Days, Virtuals — all reflect intentional touchpoints with players. Sometimes they lead to draft picks. Sometimes they’re about character checks, fallback plans, or simply doing due diligence.

But across three years of patterns, one thing becomes clear:

If you know what to look for, you’ll start to see more than just draft prep — you’ll start to see a philosophy.

Full Tables of Texans Draft Visits

2023 Texans Visits (Unofficial)

Name	Position	School	Visit Type (Known/Assumed)
Devon Mathews	Safety	Indiana	Unreported
Tyjon Lindsey	Wide Receiver	Oregon State	Unreported
Dee Winters	Linebacker	TCU	Unreported
Will Anderson Jr. ✅	Edge	Alabama	Top 30
Demarvion Overshown	Linebacker	Texas	Unreported
Quentin Johnston	Wide Receiver	TCU	Combine
Keondre Coburn	Defensive Line	Texas	Combine
Habakkuk Baldonado	Defensive End	Pitt	Combine
Daniel Barker	Tight End	Michigan State	Unreported
Adetomiwa Adebawore	Defensive Line	Northwestern	Combine
Noah Taylor	Linebacker	North Carolina	Unreported
DJ Johnson	Linebacker	Oregon	Combine
Jordan Bowen	Defensive Back	Minnesota	Unreported
Jordan Battle	Defensive Back	Alabama	Combine
Jason Taylor	Defensive Back	Ohio State	Unreported
Kaevon Merriweather	Defensive Back	Iowa	Combine
Sydney Brown	Safety	Illinois	Combine
Anthony Johnson	Defensive Back	Iowa State	Combine
Brandon Joseph	Defensive Back	Notre Dame	Combine
Tyreque Jones	Cornerback	Boise State	Unreported
Daniel Scott	Safety	California	Combine
Antonion Johnson	Safety	Texas A&M	Unreported
Rashad Torrence	Defensive Back	Florida	Combine
Darius Rush	Cornerback	South Carolina	Combine
Myles Brooks	Cornerback	Louisiana Tech	Unreported
Anthony Richardson	Quarterback	Florida	Combine + Visit
C.J. Stroud ✅	Quarterback	Ohio State	Combine + Visit
Tre’vius Tomlinson	Cornerback	TCU	Unreported
Mekhi Blackmon	Defensive Back	USC	Combine
Ja’Korian Bennett	Cornerback	Maryland	Combine
Bryce Young	Quarterback	Alabama	Combine + Visit
Will Levis	Quarterback	Kentucky	Combine + Visit
Isaiah Moore	Linebacker	NC State	Unreported
Jayden Reed	Wide Receiver	Michigan State	Combine
Nolan Smith	Edge	Georgia	Combine
Michael Wilson	Wide Receiver	Stanford	Combine
Jordan Addison	Wide Receiver	USC	Combine
Ronnie Bell	Wide Receiver	Michigan	Combine
Max Duggan	Quarterback	TCU	Combine
Sam LaPorta	Tight End	Iowa	Combine
Rakim Jarrett	Wide Receiver	Maryland	Combine

✅ = drafted by the Texans in 2023

All visit types are treated equally in this analysis, regardless of label.

Positional Breakdown:

Of the 41 reported visits in 2023, the Texans focused heavily on the secondary — with 15 defensive backs (CBs, safeties, and general DBs) visited. They also brought in 7 wide receivers, 5 linebackers, and 5 quarterbacks, including all four of the top prospects (Stroud, Young, Levis, and Richardson). The trenches were less emphasized, with only 4 edge rushers, 3 defensive linemen, and 2 offensive players from the TE/OL groups. This suggests 2023 was a year of intense vetting at premium positions — especially QB and DB — despite only two players from the visit list ultimately being drafted.

2023 Texans Draft Picks

Round	Pick	Player	Position	School	Notes
1	2	C.J. Stroud ✅	Quarterback	Ohio State	Acquired via trade with CLE
1	3	Will Anderson Jr. ✅	Edge	Alabama	Traded up with Arizona
2	62	Juice Scruggs	Center	Penn State	From Philadelphia
3	69	Tank Dell	Wide Receiver	Houston	From L.A. Rams
4	109	Dylan Horton	Defensive End	TCU	From Las Vegas
5	167	Henry To’oTo’o	Linebacker	Alabama	Compensatory pick
6	201	Jarrett Patterson	Center	Notre Dame	From Minnesota
6	205	Xavier Hutchinson	Wide Receiver	Iowa State	From Buffalo
7	248	Brandon Hill	Safety	Pittsburgh	From Philadelphia

✅ = player also had a reported visit with the Texans

Pre-Draft Needs & Draft Trends:

Heading into the 2023 draft, the Texans’ primary needs were clear: they needed a franchise quarterback, help along the defensive line, and added depth at wide receiver and the interior offensive line. With a new coaching staff under DeMeco Ryans and still recovering from a multi-year rebuild, the truth is the Texans had needs at almost every level of the roster.

Despite visiting a high number of defensive backs (15+) and wide receivers (7), the Texans only selected one DB (Brandon Hill) and two WRs (Tank Dell, Xavier Hutchinson) — none of whom were listed as formal visits. Instead, they used early picks to directly address their most pressing needs: drafting C.J. Stroud (QB) and Will Anderson Jr. (Edge) with back-to-back top-three picks, followed by additions at center (Scruggs, Patterson) and wide receiver (Dell, Hutchinson) later on.

Only two of their nine total picks had reported visits (Stroud and Anderson), and both came via Top 30 or Combine meetings, suggesting that priority players — especially at premium positions — tend to get the most direct contact.

It’s also worth noting that free agent signings made in mid to late March, such as safety Jimmie Ward, guard Shaq Mason, and tight end Dalton Schultz, likely helped shape the team’s draft board and may have shifted the direction of later visits. As roster needs evolved, so too did the focus of their scouting efforts.

2024 Texans Draft Visits (All Meeting Types Treated as Visits)

Name	Position	School	Visit Type
Braelon Allen	Running Back	Wisconsin	COM
Jaylon Allen	Defensive End	Memphis	LOC
Terrion Arnold	Cornerback	Alabama	COM
Javon Baker	Wide Receiver	Central Florida	COM, T30
Jaheim Bell	Tight End	Florida State	COM
Javon Bullard	Cornerback	Georgia	T30
Calen Bullock ✅	Safety	USC	T30
Keon Coleman	Wide Receiver	Florida State	COM
Edgerrin Cooper	Linebacker	Texas A&M	LOC
Jacob Cowing	Wide Receiver	Arizona	COM
Ray Davis	Running Back	Kentucky	T30
Jaylan Ford	Outside Linebacker	Texas	COM
Troy Franklin	Wide Receiver	Oregon	COM
Travis Glover	Offensive Tackle	Georgia State	T30
Tylan Grable	Offensive Tackle	Central Florida	T30
Isaac Guerendo	Running Back	Louisville	T30
Michael Hall Jr.	Defensive Tackle	Ohio State	T30
Cam Hart	Cornerback	Notre Dame	SR, COM
Jamal Hill	Safety	Oregon	T30, VIR
Jalyx Hunt	Defensive End	Houston Baptist	T30, LOC
Bucky Irving	Running Back	Oregon	COM
Adisa Isaac	Defensive End	Penn State	T30
Theo Johnson	Tight End	Penn State	COM
Mohamed Kamara	Defensive End	Colorado State	T30
Kalen King	Cornerback	Penn State	COM
Marshawn Kneeland	Defensive End	Western Michigan	T30
Trey Knox	Tight End	South Carolina	PRO
Kamari Lassiter ✅	Cornerback	Georgia	COM
Xavier Legette	Wide Receiver	South Carolina	T30
Christian Mahogany	Offensive Guard	Boston College	T30
Luke McCaffrey	Wide Receiver	Rice	LOC
Kool-Aid McKinstry	Cornerback	Alabama	COM
Quinyon Mitchell	Cornerback	Toledo	COM
Jordan Morgan	Offensive Tackle	Arizona	WOR
Malik Mustapha	Safety	Wake Forest	COM
Bo Nix	Quarterback	Oregon	COM
Pheldarius Payne	Defensive Tackle	Virginia Tech	VIR
Mark Perry	Safety	TCU	VIR
Andru Phillips	Cornerback	Kentucky	T30
Ennis Rakestraw Jr.	Cornerback	Missouri	COM, T30
Spencer Rattler	Quarterback	South Carolina	T30
Chop Robinson	Outside Linebacker	Penn State	COM
Layden Robinson	Offensive Guard	Texas A&M	LOC
Roger Rosengarten	Offensive Tackle	Washington	T30
Mike Sainristil	Cornerback	Michigan	COM
Will Shipley	Running Back	Clemson	COM
Jaylin Simpson	Safety	Auburn	T30
Ainias Smith	Wide Receiver	Texas A&M	PRO
Omar Speights	Linebacker	LSU	VIR
Cade Stover ✅	Tight End	Ohio State	COM
Kingsley Suamataia	Offensive Tackle	BYU	T30
Brian Thomas Jr.	Wide Receiver	LSU	COM
Xavier Thomas	Defensive End	Clemson	T30
Jamari Thrash	Wide Receiver	Louisville	COM
Jordan Whittington	Wide Receiver	Texas	COM
Nate Wiggins	Cornerback	Clemson	COM
Payton Wilson	Linebacker	NC State	T30
Xavier Worthy	Wide Receiver	Texas	COM

✅ = player drafted by the Texans in 2024All visit types — Combine, Top 30, Local, Pro Day, Virtual — are treated equally in this analysis.

Positional Breakdown:

In 2024, the Texans cast a wide net with 57 reported visits, covering nearly every position group. The most notable theme was the sheer volume of wide receivers (12) and cornerbacks (11) brought in — by far the highest across any position. That was followed by edge defenders (7), safeties (6), running backs (5), offensive tackles (5), and tight ends (4). Despite this, the Texans only ended up drafting three players from this visit list: Kamari Lassiter (CB), Calen Bullock (S), and Cade Stover (TE).

2024 Texans Draft Picks

Round	Pick	Player	Position	School	Notes
2	42	Kamari Lassiter ✅	Cornerback	Georgia	From CLE via Watson trade
2	59	Blake Fisher	Offensive Tackle	Notre Dame	Own pick
3	78	Calen Bullock ✅	Safety	USC	From MIN via pick swap
4	123	Cade Stover ✅	Tight End	Ohio State	From GB via multiple trades
6	188	Jamal Hill	Linebacker	Oregon	From NO via trade
6	205	Jawhar Jordan	Running Back	Louisville	Own pick
7	238	Solomon Byrd	EDGE	USC	From BUF via trade
7	247	Marcus Harris	Defensive Tackle	Auburn	Compensatory pick
7	249	LaDarius Henderson	Offensive Guard	Michigan	Own pick

✅ = player had a reported visit with the Texans

Pre-Draft Needs & Draft Trends:

Just like in 2023, there were early indicators of interest at premium spots — but free agency likely shifted the board. Mid-to-late March signings of Stefon Diggs (via trade), Joe Mixon, and Danielle Hunter dramatically altered the team’s needs, likely causing the Texans to deprioritize wide receiver and running back despite the high number of visits.

Of the three players selected from this list:

• 1 was a Top 30 visit (Bullock)

• 2 had Combine meetings (Lassiter, Stover)

• None were Local or Virtual

As for needs, cornerback was a glaring hole heading into the draft, and the Texans addressed it head-on with Kamari Lassiter. I also believed — and still do — that a true ball-hawking safety was a need, even if it wasn’t talked about as much publicly. We got exactly that in Calen Bullock. And in hindsight, a swing tackle was more of a need than many realized (myself included), given the injuries this team dealt with and how critical OL depth proved to be the year before. So while the visit list was broad, the draft strategy reflected a clear focus on filling targeted needs with long-term, high-character fits.

2025 Texans Draft Visits (All Meeting Types Treated as Visits)

Name	Position	School	Visit Type
Elijah Arroyo	Tight End	Miami	T30
Jaydon Blue	Running Back	Texas	LOC
Isaiah Bond	Wide Receiver	Texas	VIR
Tyler Booker	Offensive Guard	Alabama	COM
Dalevon Campbell	Wide Receiver	South Carolina	LOC
Josh Conerly Jr.	Offensive Tackle	Oregon	T30
Quinn Ewers	Quarterback	Texas	PRO
Matthew Golden	Wide Receiver	Texas	LOC
Charles Grant	Offensive Tackle	William & Mary	T30
Omarion Hampton	Running Back	North Carolina	COM
Jarquez Hunter	Running Back	Auburn	VIR
Kaleb Johnson	Running Back	Iowa	T30
Quinshon Judkins	Running Back	Ohio State	T30
Kyle Kennard	Defensive End	South Carolina	VIR
Chase Lundt	Offensive Tackle	Connecticut	T30
Easton Mascarenas-Arnold	Linebacker	USC	T30
B.J. Mayes	Cornerback	Texas A&M	PRO
Andrew Mukuba	Safety	Texas	COM
CJ Ogbonna	Quarterback	Buffalo	PRO
Oluwafemi Oladejo	Outside Linebacker	UCLA	T30
Shavon Revel	Cornerback	East Carolina	T30
T.J. Sanders	Defensive Tackle	South Carolina	T30
Nic Scourton	Defensive End	Texas A&M	LOC
Brashard Smith	Running Back	SMU	LOC
Shemar Stewart	Defensive End	Texas A&M	LOC
Kyle Williams	Wide Receiver	Washington State	T30
Grey Zabel	Offensive Tackle	North Dakota State	T30

Visit Trends & Positional Breakdown:

With 29 reported visits so far in 2025, the Texans have taken a balanced approach across the roster. Here’s how the positions stack up:

• Running Backs – 6

• Offensive Tackles – 5

• Wide Receivers – 4

• Defensive Ends/EDGE – 4

• Cornerbacks – 3

• Linebackers (Inside/Outside) – 3

• Quarterbacks – 2

• Offensive Guards – 2

• Tight Ends – 1

• Defensive Tackle – 1

• Safety – 1

  
  

Compared to prior years, 2025 has featured fewer total visits and a more evenly distributed focus across position groups.

Projecting the 2025 Draft Strategy

Over the last two drafts, we’ve seen the Texans gradually shift from rebuilding to contending — and the structure of their pre-draft visits reflects that transition.

Visit-to-Draft Hit Rate by Year

Year	Reported Visits	Draft Picks	Players Drafted from Visit List
2023	~41 (unofficial)	9	2 (Stroud, Anderson Jr.)
2024	57	9	3 (Lassiter, Bullock, Stover)
2025	29 (so far)	7 picks	TBD

On average, only 2–3 players per year from the visit list end up being drafted. Of course, these lists are incomplete — some visits go unreported, especially Local or Combine touches — and 2025’s data is still unfolding. But even with that in mind, the trends are telling.

Trends by Position Group Volume

There’s been a tendency to flood certain position groups with visits, which sometimes translates to picks — but not always:

• 2023: 15+ DBs visited → Only 1 drafted (Round 7)

• 2024: 12 WRs visited → 0 drafted after Diggs trade

• 2025: 6 RBs visited → no real RB need (yet) suggests these could be fallback or value picks

  
  

In short: a high number of visits doesn’t always equal a high draft priority — but it can signal due diligence in uncertain rooms.

Contextual Roster Moves That May Impact 2025 Draft Direction

Some recent moves could influence — or even explain — the direction of visits:

• OT additions: The Texans added Cam Robinson and Trent Brown, both low-cost, short-term vets. These came after some visits, so it's hard to tell if they were a response to evaluations or placeholders. Either way, their presence likely doesn't prevent drafting a top tackle early.

• TE Irv Smith Jr.: A late signing likely meant to be depth — but if the team is comfortable with the room (including Schultz, Stover, and Jordan), it could impact whether they target a TE early.

• LB E.J. Speed: A quality signing, but likely on a prove-it type deal. Still, it adds depth to a room that also includes Al-Shaair, Harris & To'oTo'o. The Texans likely view linebacker as more of a mid-to-late round target, if at all.

  
  

Draft Capital & Strategic Implications

Here are the Texans’ current picks:

Round	Overall Pick
1	25th
2	58th
3	79th (from WSH)
3	89th
5	166th (from BUF)
7	236th (via DEN)
7	241st

Given the state of the roster — fewer holes, fewer visits, and stronger overall depth — it’s reasonable to believe Caserio and company are operating with a smaller board this year. That could mean:

• A more aggressive approach early, targeting 2–3 plug-and-play contributors

• A willingness to package picks and move around to secure impact talent

• Less priority on late-round flyers or pure depth compared to years past

  
  

Caserio himself recently said, “It’s hard to make this team,” — and that’s not just coach-speak. It’s the kind of comment that supports the idea the Texans may not use all 7 picks. They could walk away with as few as 3 or 4 selections if it means landing players who contribute immediately.

Final Takeaways & What We Can Actually Predict

While pre-draft visit lists won’t ever give us a full blueprint of what Nick Caserio and DeMeco Ryans plan to do, they do offer patterns and clues — especially when viewed in context of the roster and offseason moves.

Here’s what we can reasonably draw from the data and trends:

• If a position group has a high number of visits and hasn’t been addressed by a mid-to-late free agency signing, it’s a strong indicator the Texans may target that group on draft weekend.

• Nearly every player the Texans have met with — and drafted — over the last three years comes from Power 5 programs. That trend holds firm again in 2025, suggesting a continued preference for players who’ve competed at the highest collegiate level.

• A potential surprise target to watch: running back. While it may not seem like a major need to some, the number of RB visits is too significant to ignore. With Joe Mixon on a short-term deal and a shallow depth chart behind him, it wouldn’t be shocking to see the Texans invest a Day 3 pick there.

• The shrinking number of total visits this year (and Nick Caserio’s recent comments about how hard it is to make this roster) suggest the Texans are operating with a much smaller board — one focused on quality over quantity.

  
  

Ultimately, this could be a draft where the Texans make just 3–4 picks, but aim for 2–3 of them to contribute immediately. In a win-now window, with a fortified roster and a franchise QB in place, the goal is no longer to build the foundation — it’s to stack the right pieces to go win playoff games.