2025 NFL Draft offers tons of offensive and defensive line help
USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon breaks down the deepest part of the 2025 NFL Draft, offensive and defensive lineman.
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The Houston Texans started 5-1 in 2024 and appeared to be an AFC juggernaut, but they limped down the stretch partly due to injuries.
The AFC South is loaded with talented young quarterbacks and C.J. Stroud may be the best of the bunch. The Texans won the division back-to-back years since drafting Stroud second overall in 2023 and it feels as if their best football is still to come.
That said, there is some work that still needs to be done in the 2025 NFL Draft given Houston’s offseason.
Houston stunningly traded five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil to the Washington Commanders for a package of draft selections in the 2025 and 2026 NFL Drafts. Stroud was sacked 52 times last season and the team signed veterans Cam Robinson and Trent Brown, but there’s still work to be done to rebuild the trenches.
Wide receiver Stefon Diggs signed with the Patriots in free agency and Tank Dell is expected to miss most of the 2025 season recovering from a brutal knee injury.
As a result, Houston figures to focus on offense come the draft. The Texans must continue to build an offensive line for Stroud and surround him with quality receiving weapons outside of budding star Nico Collins.
The Texans transformation process of becoming a Super Bowl contender continues with the 2025 NFL Draft, where Houston has ten selections, it’s first coming with the second pick of Round 2 on Friday night after trading the 25th overall pick in the first round to the Giants.
Here’s a look at the Texans 2025 draft picks and grades from USA TODAY Sports and the USA TODAY Network for each of Houston’s selections.
This section will be updated when Houston makes its picks.
Round 2, Pick 34: Jayden Higgins, WR, Iowa State
Rounding out the receiving corps made sense for Houston given the departure of Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell’s uncertain status, and the Texans got ahead of a possible run on the position early on Day 2. Higgins has drawn comparisons to new teammate Nico Collins and should be a matchup problem on in-breaking routes and in contested-catch scenarios.
Houston uses its first pick of the night on a big-bodied pass catcher in Higgins. He ran a limited route tree with the Cyclones but has a great combination of speed and jump ball abilities. He could end up in the slot or outside for a receiver-needy Texans team.
Round 2, Pick 48: Aireontae Ersery, OL, Minnesota
Solving the protection problems for C.J. Stroud was bound to be a multipronged approach for Houston. The Texans take another stab at a solution with Ersery, an uneven but promising blocker who should be a good fit in offensive coordinator Nick Caley’s zone-blocking scheme. Bringing him along slowly behind Cam Robinson in his rookie year is probably the right move.
Houston trades up with the Raiders to get one of the best remaining offensive linemen on the board. Ersery is a roadgrader in the run game with the size to stick at tackle in the NFL even with his shorter arms. He may ultimately end up at guard if he can’t adjust his balance and hand usage in pass protection but would still be a great asset for the Texans’ line.
Round 3, Pick 79: Jaylin Noel, WR, Iowa State
Noel and second-round receiver Jayden Higgins will remain teammates with contrasting styles at their next stop. There’s certainly a redundancy question given Christian Kirk’s presence and the other figures in play here, but Noel is the kind of pass catcher who can further put C.J. Stroud at ease with his ability to uncover.
The Texans take both Iowa State receivers with Noel as the smaller, explosive after-catch threat. Like teammate Jayden Higgins, he ran a limited route tree at Iowa State but has the tools to be a difference-maker with time. Still, the Texans have needs elsewhere and could’ve used their resources accordingly.
Round 3, Pick 97: Jaylin Smith, CB, USC
Cornerback didn’t shape up as a particular area of concern for a secondary that already boasts Derek Stingley Jr., Kamari Lassiter and nickel Jalen Pitre. Smith might be pigeonholed to working inside and sticking underneath, but he can add depth.
Houston didn’t have a glaring need at defensive back after signing Derek Stingley Jr. and Jalen Pitre to long-term deals. Even if they did, Smith is likely a nickel-only cornerback due to his small stature (5-foot-10, 187 pounds). He’s fast but this is a huge reach for a team that could use resources elsewhere.
Round 4, Pick 116: Woody Marks, RB, USC
Houston dealt with a slew of injuries in the backfield last season so investing in the position in a deep class has merit, especially as starter Joe Mixon enters his age-29 season. Marks is a good but not great athlete but offers a lot as a receiver out of the backfield. He’s the oldest running back in the class, though.
Round 6, Pick 187: Jaylen Reed, S, Penn State
Reed is a fantastic fit for the Texans as an athletic, downhill safety who hits hard as a blitzer and in run defense. He offers good size at 6-foot and 212 pounds and has the tools to cover. He’ll need to improve his technique to become a starter at safety but should at least be a special teams ace for the Texans early on.
Round 6, Pick 197: Graham Mertz, QB, Florida
Houston gets a potential backup of the future in the mobile Mertz. The Florida starter has good size at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds with solid athleticism as well. He’s struggled with injuries but has an NFL-level arm and decent accuracy.
Round 7, Pick 256: Luke Lachey, TE, Iowa
Lachey is a fluid athlete at 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds with the commitment and power to be a good run blocker. He’s smooth out of his breaks and could become a solid TE2/3 for the Texans’ offense in time.
Round 2, Pick 34 (from Giants): Jayden Higgins, WR, Iowa StateRound 2, Pick 48 (from Raiders): Aireontae Ersery, OL, MinnesotaRound 3, Pick 79 (from Miami through Philadelphia and Washington): Jaylin Noel, WR, Iowa StateRound 3, Pick 97 (comp selection from MIN): Jaylin Smith, CB, USCRound 4, Pick 116: Woody Marks, RB, USCRound 6, Pick 187: Jaylen Reed, S, Penn StateRound 6, Pick 197: Graham Mertz, QB, FloridaRound 7, Pick 256: Luke Lachey, TE, Iowa