Next week, the Houston Texans will sift through hundreds of free agent football players, trying to fortify the veteran core of their roster with however many they decide to sign (or re-sign, in the case of their own players from 2024). From there, we will be a little over a month away from the NFL Draft, and that’s where things get very exciting.
The Texans are, fortunately, at a different stage when it comes to the draft than they were just a couple years ago. Back in 2022 and 2023, the team was coming off back to back 13 loss seasons. They needed everything, including a franchise quarterback. Thankfully, the acute needs are far fewer and way more specific in 2025.
The Texans most acutely need interior offensive linemen, wide receivers, with interior defensive line a distant third. The likelihood of the team using its first round pick (currently, barring a trade, 25th overall) in one of those areas is reflected very well in Drew Dougherty’s latest Mock Draft Roundup, in which the two players most frequently selected by the 45 mock drafters complied therein are Alabama guard Tyler Booker and Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka.
Overall, the experts are heavily skewed on offensive linemen and wide receivers for the Houston Texans, but I think there are intriguing players at positions of what I’ll call “non-MAJOR need,” all of whom carry a first round grade.. Here they are, keep an eye on them:
Michigan TE COLSTON LOVELAND
Lovland is widely viewed as the second best tight end in this draft behind Penn State’s Tyler Warren. He is listed at 6-foot-5 and 248 pounds, runs like he’s under 200 pounds, he plays with the physicality of a 270 pounder. These are all things the Texans could use out of a disappointing tight end room in 2024. Loveland is a willing blocker, but not a great one, but his receiving skills are immense. This would be an intriguing weapon for C.J. Stroud, and a bail out from the Dalton Schultz contract after next season.
Georgia S MALAKI STARKS
After drafting Kamari Lassiter in 2024, how fun would it be to plunk another Georgia Bulldog down in the secondary in 2025? Starks can lineup anywhere in the secondary, which makes him a very intriguing piece to put out on the field with Jalen Pitre, who also shows great versatility from the safety and slot corner spots. On top of that. Starks’ football intellect is off the charts, which means there is no such thing as “too much on his plate.”
Boise State RB ASHTON JEANTY
The best thing that’s happened to Jeanty, aside from his other worldly, nearly Heisman winning performance for Boise State in 2024, is the ascension of former first round running backs like Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs becoming clear, difference making cogs in their teams’ offenses. Additionally, this is a very underwhelming class of free agent running backs, so the draft seems to be the spot to find impact. I don’t expect the Texans to go running back at 25th overall, but then again, I don’t expect Jeanty to be there at 25. What if he falls to that spot? How about THAT for a weapon for Stroud?
South Carolina S NICK EMMANWORI
HOLY FREAK, this is the kid who lit up the combine measurables and workouts over the weekend — 6-foot-3, 231 pounds, 32.5-inch arms, a 43-inch vertical jump and a 4.38-second 40-yard dash time. Emmanwori looks like he was put together by scientists. His play on tape matches this, where you’ll see good coverage skills, great ball skills, and a willingness to come up and pop ball carriers. Sign me up!
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