It’s a strange draft, and not just because they drafted four players named some form of Jayden, Jaylin, or Jaylen.

Houston pulled off a whopper of a haul in 2023 starting with CJ Stroud and Will Anderson, and then last year’s draft was just a whole lot of whatever.

This year? It’s somewhere between all of that, but again, it’s a tad odd.

The Texans didn’t have a glaring need at wide receiver, but two of their first three picks – they didn’t have a first rounder – were on receivers. From Iowa State.

Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel are both good picks, but Houston needed offensive linemen, and lots of them. It took one.

Minnesota’s Aireontae Ersery was a good offensive tackle get, and then for some reason the Texans grabbed USC corner Jaylin Smith later in the third round. Not only is cornerback not a glaring problem for them, but Smith might have been there in the sixth round, if not later. 

And then, just when it seemed like the wheels might be coming off … bam. Penn State safety Jaylen Reed – a late second-round, more like third, talent – was taken on pure value in the sixth.

Again, though, Houston didn’t really need a safety. It also didn’t really need a quarterback, and it took Florida’s Graham Mertz in one of the weirdest – but not that bad – drafts of 2025.

Houston Texans 2025 NFL DraftIowa State Cyclones wide receiver Jayden Higgins (9) celebrates after a touchdown against Baylor during the third quarter in the NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Ames, Iowa.© Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Jayden Higgins (9) celebrates after a touchdown against Baylor during the third quarter in the NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Ames, Iowa.© Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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Houston Texans 2025 Draft Class

2 (34) Jayden Higgins, WR Iowa State
2 (48) Aireontae Ersery, OT Minnesota
3 (79) Jaylin Noel, WR Iowa State
3 (97) Jaylin Smith, CB USC
4 (116) Woody Marks, RB USC
6 (187) Jaylen Reed, S Penn State
6 (197) Graham Mertz, QB Florida
7 (224 Kyonte Hamilton, DT Rutgers 
7 (255) Luke Lachey, TE Iowa 

What Went Right?
The Texans had a ton of picks, and it helped that a few good players fell into their lap. It started with Jaylen Reed inexplicably lasting until the sixth round. The two Iowa State receivers should be factors right away, and don’t be shocked if Iowa tight end Luke Lachey is a seventh-rounder who sticks.

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What Went Wrong?
The early Day 3 value is almost non-existent. Again, the Texans needed offensive linemen, and they didn’t take anyone for the interior and Ersey was the only tackle.

Best Value Pick: Jaylen Reed, S Penn State
Biggest Reach: Jaylin Smith, CB USC
Draft Grade: C+
2023 Ranking: 32 | 2024 Ranking: 1