Texans NFL Draft Picks 2025 • Sportzino

Though the Houston Texans weren’t able to improve upon their electrifying 2023 season, their 2024 campaign, with a postseason win, can still be considered a success.

To maintain their status as the AFC South’s kingmakers, however, they need to hit on their pressing needs and further develop a young roster. They are, however, positioned to do just that. With the 25th pick in the first round, both of their day two selections, and six picks in total, the Texans will head into April’s draft with the necessary ammo to improve their team.

Read on for the 2025 NFL Draft outlook for the Houston Texans.

Houston Texans Needs & Draft Strategy

Fortunately for the Houston Texans, the three hardest boxes have already been checked off. The Texans have a strong, established infrastructure, with CJ Stroud at quarterback, Demeco Ryans as head coach, and Nick Caserio in the front office. However, they do have needs on both sides of the ball.

There is an obvious, glaring need at the top of Houston’s draft board, and that is at wide receiver. In Nico Collins, they have a bona fide number one receiver but have little else to count on behind him. Already worryingly reliant on Collins last season, that became worse after Tank Dell’s tragic knee injury in December.

With Dell, Stefon Diggs, and Robert Woods out of the picture in 2025, Houston’s vacating a staggering 118 catches, 1,366 yards, and six touchdowns. Regardless of Dell’s long-term health outlook- which looks bleak, adding a second viable starter is an absolute must. The Texans’ passing game finished 21st in yards and 21st in Expected Points Added in 2024, and that simply can’t be repeated with Stroud under center.

Overreliance remains the theme of the Texans’ second-biggest need. Although it began to look like regression had struck in his final season with the Cincinnati Bengals, Joe Mixon had a great first season in Houston, rushing for 1,016 yards and 11 touchdowns. However, Mixon is quickly approaching 30 and has dealt with his fair share of injuries.

Houston’s offense looked completely different in the games Mixon missed last year. Adding a second option, in the event Mixon misses more time and simply to spell the veteran, is a major need. While Mixon enjoyed a good individual year, the Texans’ rushing attack was woefully inefficient, ranking 24th in Expected Points Added.

Finally, headed to the other side of the ball, Houston’s third need is on the interior of its defensive line. Houston has an incredible pair of edge rushers, including Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter. The duo combined for 23 sacks and 33 tackles for loss last year, but a space-eating defensive tackle could take them to the next level – especially as Anderson continues to ascend toward an elite level.

Potential Houston Texans Draft Picks 2025

With their first pick in April’s draft, the Houston Texans should address wide receiver – and fortunately, there’s a good group of prospects to choose from outside of the top two of Tetairoa McMillan and Luther Burden III.

Any of Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka, Texas’s Matthew Golden, Tre Harris of Mississippi, or TCU’s Savion Williams could slide right in opposite of Nico Collins. While Tank Dell’s skill set isn’t exactly replicated near the top of the draft, outside of Burden III, either Egbuka or Golden could succeed in similar areas of the field.

After Stroud vouched for Dell in the 2023 NFL Draft, it’s safe to assume the Texans will value his input as they seek a new target for their franchise quarterback.

At running back, the prize of the class in Ashton Jeanty will go much higher than even pick 25, but several strong prospects remain. If the Texans want to try and replicate Mixon’s skill set with a long-term successor, UNC’s Omarion Hampton, Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson, or Ohio State’s Quinshon Judkins make sense.

Alternatively, if Houston seeks a more versatile player with explosive play ability, two players stand out: Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson, a ready made home run hitter, and Georgia’s Trevor Etienne.

With Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter on either side, the Texans don’t need a particularly disruptive defensive tackle, as they’ll benefit from lessened attention. Tim Settle, who played between Anderson and Hunter last year, enjoyed that same benefit and posted career highs in sacks (five) and tackles for loss (10) as a result.

On day two, with their second or third round pick, a few different players stand out as potential fits. Ty Robinson from Nebraska, Deone Walker from Kentucky, Mississippi’s JJ Pegues, and Tennessee’s Omari Thomas are all players who would bring great size and positional versatility to the defensive tackle position.