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[Houston Texans]

The final results of the Stefon Diggs trade between Texans, Bills

Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Stefon Diggs trade wraps up at the 2025 NFL Draft. Here are the final results.

The Houston Texans already spent one of their 2025 NFL Draft picks heading into this April. During the 2024 offseason, they shipped a package of picks to the Bills in exchange for a group of assets from Buffalo that included former All-Pro receiver Stefon Diggs.

Now that we are at the draft, that trade will be finalized this weekend.

Original terms of the Stefon Diggs trade​

Texans receive: Stefon Diggs, 2024 sixth-round pick, 2025 fifth-round pick
Bills receive: 2025 second-round pick

Who did the Bills select with the picks from the Stefon Diggs trade?​

Buffalo received a second-round pick for the package they sent to the Texans. That turned out to be pick 56. It’s the first of two second-round picks for the Bills in 2025.

The Bills have yet to pick, but we will update with the player when the selection is made.

What did the Texans do with the picks from the Stefon Diggs trade?​

In 2024, the sixth-round pick from Buffalo was pick 189. Houston traded away the pick for picks 205 and 249.

The Lions took Mekhi Wingo, a defensive tackle from LSU who played in 11 games for Detroit, at pick 189. He has nine career tackles.

Houston selected RB Jawhar Jordan at 205 and guard LaDarius Henderson at 249. Jordan spent the 2024 season on Houston’s practice squad while Henderson spent the season on the NFI list with a foot injury.

The Texans also have pick 166 in the 2025 NFL Draft. We’ll update with the final piece once the player is picked.

How was Stefon Diggs performance for the Texans?​

After trading for Diggs, the Texans shortened his contract to just one year. He was hurt in Houston’s eighth game of the season, tearing his ACL and missing the rest of the games. He finished his career in Houston with 47 receptions, 496 yards, three touchdowns and a rushing TD.

In his lone game against Buffalo, Diggs had six catches for 82 yards and Houston won.

He signed with the New England Patriots this offseason.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/2025/...f-the-stefon-diggs-trade-between-texans-bills

 

[Houston Texans]

On the clock: When will the Texans make their first round pick?

Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images

We did some sciency stuff to figure out when we can reasonably expect the Texans to pick.

So here we are, T-minus roughly eight hours to the 2025 NFL Draft and the Houston Texans are set to pick 25th this year after going 10-7 and winning their customary Wild Card weekend game against the Los Angeles Chargers.

But when should Texans fans expect the TV to go to commercial—I mean when should we expect the Texans to make their first selection?

Well, we did some research into the matter; and by “research” I mean casually looked through old draft tweets from our official Twitter account (@BattleRedBlog for the uninitiated). As it turns out, we can roughly estimate our pick time based on 2019’s selection of the last offensive lineman drafted by the Texans in the first round: Tytus Howard.

He was selected with the 23rd pick instead of the 25th and that pick took place at about 10:07 pm CDT. But if we take the start of the draft and space out the picks at their maximum seven minutes allotted time (and nobody pulls a Minnesota Vikings and runs over time), we can reasonably expect the Texans to draft at about 9:58 pm CDT.

All of this, of course, presupposes that the Texans neither trade up or down over the course of the night, which, given our braintrust, is not exactly a given.

Current odds on which position the Texans take first from FanDuel are as follows:

Quick explanation on odds: a negative number means you have to bet the amount listed to win $100 (so a -250 means you have to bet $250 to win $100). a positive number means you have to bet $100 to win that amount (so a +250 means you bet $100 to win $250).

Offensive Lineman: -370

Wide Receiver: +350

Defensive Lineman/Edge: +550

Running Back: +2600

Cornerback: +5500

Linebacker: +5500

Tight End: +7000

Safety: +7000

Quarterback: +15000

Who will the Texans take? Well, if I told you that it’d spoil the surprise, now wouldn’t it?

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/2025/...n-will-the-texans-make-their-first-round-pick

 

[Houston Texans]

Houston Texans 2025 Draft Day Two Best Available

Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images

Day two fireworks are primed and ready

Well..... that didn’t go as planned. Houston’s top targets all went off the board by pick 25 and they decided to move back. Then, the remaining targets also were selected in quick succession. The Texans are in the toughest position they’ve been in the draft since 2021 when they were without a first or second round pick.

Fortunately, Houston has FIVE picks tomorrow. Here is what they have slated for rounds 2-7:

Round 2nd, No. 34

Round 2nd, No. 58

Round 3rd, No. 79

Round 3rd, No. 89

Round 3rd, No. 99

Round 6th, No. 179

Round 6th, No. 216

Round 7th, No. 236

Round 7th, No. 241

Round 7th, No. 255

Plus, they’ve amassed fantastic draft capital for 2026.

Current draft assets for Houston Texans pic.twitter.com/jBbZ680sws

— TexansCap (@TexansCap) April 25, 2025​

Here are the Top 10 Best Available remaining players heading into the second round according to my Houston Texans Needs Big Board.

1. TreVeyon Henderson, RB - Ohio State (Sr., 5-10, 202)
2. Jayden Higgins, WR - Iowa St. (Sr., 6-4, 215)
3. Luther Burden III, WR - Missouri (Jr., 6-0, 205)
4. Elijah Arroyo, TE - Miami (Fla.) (Jr., 6-5, 250)
5. Jonah Savaiinaea, OT/OG - Arizona (Jr., 6-4, 324)
6. Aireontae Ersery, OT - Minnesota (Sr., 6-6 330)
7. Darius Alexander, DT - Toledo (Sr., 6-4, 310)
8. Quinshon Judkins, RB - Ohio State (Jr., 6-0, 221)
9. Jack Bech, WR - TCU (Sr., 6-1, 214)
10. T.J. Sanders, DT South Carolina (Jr., 6-4, 297)

Other notable draft prospects include CB Will Johnson, DE Mike Green, S Nick Emmanwori, and DE Donovan Ezeiruaku. Unfortunately for Houston, none of these positions align with their current needs, and all four are expected to come off the board early tomorrow.

There’s virtually no chance the Texans use all ten of their remaining picks. It’s likely they’ll trade up in the second round to target either a wide receiver or an offensive tackle—whichever they don’t address at pick No. 34.

So far, GM Nick Caserio has backed the Texans into a tough corner with this draft. The question now is: can he maneuver his way out and secure the impact players this team desperately needs to contend now?

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/2025/4/25/24416339/houston-texans-2025-draft-day-two-best-available

 

[Houston Texans]

Houston Texans Draft CB Jaylin Smith 97th Overall

Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images

The Texans take a defensive back out of USC.

It looks like Nick Caserio is cooking tonight, he’s got another trade in the third round! The Texans are sending picks #102 and #142 to the Minnesota Vikings for picks #97 and #187:

Check that on the trade. #Eagles traded with the #Falcons at 96. Meanwhile, the #Texans trade 102, 142 to #Vikings for 97, 187.

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) April 26, 2025​

And with the 97th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Houston Texans select: CB Jaylin Smith, USC.

H-TOWN BOUNDDDD ️ pic.twitter.com/HLBSFatDIw

— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) April 26, 2025​

It looks like the Nick Caserio/DeMeco Ryans braintrust is starting to find its favorite places to shop for defensive backs! This is the second year in a row the Texans have used a day-two pick on an atheltic defensive back from USC, with last year’s being the rookie phenom S Calen Bullock. Although, Smith is not nearly the athlete Bullock is, he makes up for it with experience.

Smith is a multi-position, physical cornerback that has started at both outside and inside in his collegiate career. He’s a bit of a controversial prospect in this draft due to his size, or lack thereof, but his production in his three-years starting at USC cannot be denied.

IT’S UP pic.twitter.com/pyBTkc51yj

— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) April 26, 2025​

His 2024 Statistics at USC are:

• 10 Games
• 59 Tackles
• 4 Tackles for Loss
• 2 Interceptions
• 2 Pass Deflections
• 82.6 PFF (80.1 RDEF, 82.5 COV)

His Combine results are:

• Height: 5’ 10 ½”
• Weight: 187 lbs.
• Arm: 29 ⅞”
• Hand 9 ¼”
• 40-Yard Dash: 4.45s
• 10-Yard Split: 1.6s
• Vertical Jump: 32.5”

Here’s what Lance Zierlein of NFL.com had to say about Jaylin Smith

Three-year starter with measurables and ball production that could leave teams lukewarm on his NFL prospects. Smith plays with a narrow backpedal, glitchy transitions and sluggish closing burst from off-man coverage, but he is much clingier from press-man. He might not have the play strength, length or top-end speed to be reliable on an island outside, though. The 2024 tape was better and he does offer some inside/outside flexibility, but he might be fighting for a roster spot throughout his career.

Jaylin Smith has the instincts and the will to make big plays in open space. He routinely disrupted screens while at USC, and his 2024 season showed that he has some flexibility. In his final collegiate season, he started playing outside cornerback and even though it wasn’t pretty to start, he improved with time. He’s not tall, at all, and that size is a major demerit to his draft profile. But, if he can continue this impressive upward trajectory, he could be another talented back in Ryans’ crowded backfield. This pick can certainly be seen as a reach, but Smith’s impressive Senior Bowl performance gave him some extra attention. Only time will tell if this really was a reach.

USC CB Jaylin Smith is probably headed towards a future in the slot in the NFL but it's a role I think he will do quite well in given his physical play style. 2nd most run stops in the class and it shows up on tape. Also has a good amount of special teams experience over the last… pic.twitter.com/oqKp03odsi

— Steven Haglund (@StevenIHaglund) April 20, 2025​

What do you think? Was Jaylin Smith on your draft board, or did this catch you off guard? It definitely caught me off guard, but Caserio loves his cornerbacks, so I can’t say I wasn’t expecting one of these players to drafted eventually. Let us know what you think down in the comments below!

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/2025/4/25/24417380/houston-texans-draft-cb-jaylin-smith-97th-overall

 

[Houston Texans]

Texans Draft RB Woody Marks with 116th Overall Pick

Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images

The Texans trade up and get a steal at running back!

TRADE!!! The Houston Texans trade their 179th overall selection and a third round pick from 2026 to move up to the 116th overall.

#Dolphins get — 179, 2026 third #Texans get — 116, 224 https://t.co/5EJcdwm8zC

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) April 26, 2025​

With the 116th overall selection, the Houston Texans take: RB Woody Marks, USC

BREAKING: The #Texans have traded up and are selecting USC RB Woody Marks pic.twitter.com/Q0gVyBYYOk

— Nick Schwager (@NickSchwagerNFL) April 26, 2025​

Woody Marks was a multi-talented, extremely productive running back for USC after transferring there from Mississippi State in after the 2023 season. His 2024 statistics at USC were:

• 12 Games
• 198 Attmepts
• 1,133 Yards
• 5.7 Y/A
• 9 Rushing Touchdonw
• 47 Receptions
• 321 Receiving Yards
• 6.8 Y/R

His NFL Combine Results were:

• Height: 5’ 10”
• Weight: 207 lbs.
• Arm: 29 ⅛”
• Hand: 9”
• 40-Yard Dash: 4.54s
• 10-Yard Split: 1.57s
• Vertical Jump: 35”
• Bench Press: 18 Reps

Talk about a productive back on a productive offense! Woody Marks was often the spark that Lincoln Riley’s prolific USC offense needed in a more turbulent 2024 campaign. I actually did a write up for Woody Marks for my Top Five RB Targets for the Houston Texans last week! He was #5 on that list, and I wrote:

I’ve gone back and forth on giving Woody Marks the fifth spot on this list or awarding it to another scat back, Oregon’s Jordan James. After some consideration, I’ve given Marks the edge on here due to his (very) slightly larger size and because of the moves he made against good defenses like Penn State and Minnesota’s. Primarily a gap runner, Marks uses his strengths in vision and acceleration to blast through the hole and make big gains in a hurry. His 40-yard dash time of 4.54 seconds isn’t going to blow you away, but he’s got enough speed to make an impact.

He’s got the speed and the elusiveness to be just the scat-back that CJ Stroud needs, and with a mashed up offensive line, he might just what this offense needs. What a trade, and what a steal!

My thoughts on Woody Marks - so pumped pic.twitter.com/XOHWS3K1x3

— John Harris (@jharrisfootball) April 26, 2025​

Woody Marks is gonna be a problem in the NFL https://t.co/vLvaIx1Rks

— HALL of GOATS (@GOATS_hall) April 26, 2025​

What do you think, though? Do you think that was a great pick by general manager Nick Caserio, or was this not worth the trade? Let us know down in the comments below!

GO TEXANS!!!!

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/2025/4/26/24417889/texans-draft-rb-woody-marks-with-116th-overall-pick

 

[Houston Texans]

Texans add tight end Luke Lachey with the 255th pick

Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images

The Iowa tight end might be a more willing blocker

Mercifully the 2025 NFL draft is over. The Texans didn’t have Mr. Irrelevant, but they were pretty darn close. Hopes were high that the Texans would address their interior offensive line at some point in the draft proceedings, but apparently Nick Caserio and company felt they had bigger fish to fry. The Texans closed out their draft by selecting tight end Luke Lachey out of Iowa.

The senior tight end played five seasons at Iowa and added 28 receptions and 231 yards in 2024. Obviously, Iowa is not known as an offensive juggernaut so it is possible that he could be hiding some impressive skills, but clearly they were a running team and so he served more as sixth lineman in most circumstances.

Vitals​

Height: 6’6”

Weight: 251 pounds

Vertical: 35”

Prospect: 5.97 (Average backup or special teamer)

If the Texans lacked anything at the position it was size and willingness to block. That might give Lachey a chance to stick in spite of being a seventh round selection. Nick Caley is a former tight end coach, so maybe he will be able to work some magic with Lachey.

Lance Zierlein said he was capable of lining up on the line of scrimmage or succeeding on the move. That kind of flexibility will help and if he is a more willing blocker than Dalton Schultz then it could end up helping the protection for C.J. Stroud in a roundabout way. He was projected to go in the sixth or seventh round, so he might actually be a better prospect than the last couple of selections for the Texans. What do you think? Do you think he has a chance to make it?

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/2025/...add-tight-end-luke-lachey-with-the-255th-pick

 

[Houston Texans]

2025 NFL Draft (Sorta) - Undrafted Free Agency Tracker

Neither undrafted nor a free agent. | Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Just because the draft is over doesn’t mean the search for talent has ended.

The NFL Draft has ended, but that doesn’t mean you, or we, can rest easy just yet. There are a whole lot of players who did not get drafted and there are diamonds in the rough to be had.

I don’t think we have to remind y’all about the best UDFA find in franchise history, one Sir Arian Foster, to make that point. And while they can’t all be winners, the possibility is out there.

If you need a refresher, here’s who the Texans took in the draft just a little while ago.

Round 2(34) - Jayden Higgins, WR - Iowa State

Round 2(48) - Aireontae Ersery, OT - Minnesota

Round 3(79) - Jaylin Noel, WR - Iowa State

Round 3(97) - Jaylin Smith, CB - USC

Round 4(116) - Woody Marks, RB - USC

Round 6(187) - Jaylen Reed, CB - Penn State

Round 6(197) - Graham Mertz, QB - Florida

Round 7(224) - Kyonte Hamilton, DT - Rutgers

Round 7(255) - Luke Lachey, TE - Iowa

And throughout the course of the day (or until things start to settle down on social media), we’ll update this UDFA tracker with all the Texans’ wheelings and dealings as best we can.

• Texans sign undrafted free agent CB Alijah Huzzie FROM UNC:

Alijah Huzzie to #Texans on undrafted deal, per a league source

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) April 26, 2025​

• Minnesota WR Daniel Jackson was signed by the Texans

.@25DanielJackson @HoustonTexans #pROWGophers | #RTB pic.twitter.com/vyUqVJz7Jg

— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) April 26, 2025

• In case you were worried that we didn’t draft a long snapper, fear not. The Texans signed West Virginia’s Austin Brinkman.

Austin Brinkman has signed with the @HoustonTexans! pic.twitter.com/u3g6inwUto

— West Virginia Football (@WVUfootball) April 27, 2025

• LB KC Ossai has signed with the Texans.

Signed. Sealed. Delivered.

KC Ossai has signed with the @HoustonTexans! #cULture | #GeauxCajuns pic.twitter.com/DCnW6iRuGh

— Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns® Football (@RaginCajunsFB) April 27, 2025

• Per Aaron Wilson, Texans sign former Kentucky center Eli Cox

#Texans signed former Kentucky center Eli Cox

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) April 27, 2025

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/2025/4/26/24418210/2025-nfl-draft-sorta-undrafted-free-agency-tracker

 

[Houston Texans]

Poll: Which 2025 Houston Texans draft pick excites you the most?

Tork Mason / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Hint: It wasn’t a center or guard cause they didn't pick one...

For all the trading, shuffling up/down and other “excitement” out of the Houston Texans draft room, it’s hard to tell if they hit a home run in any of the rounds. Well, they definitely didn’t in the 1st, since general manager Nick Caserio traded back when the time came. However, lots of reasons exist to get excited about this draft class, even if none of them play interior offensive line.

NFL.com

Grade: A-

Round 2 (No. 34): WR Jayden Higgins, Iowa State

Round 2 (No. 48): OT Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota

Round 3 (No. 79): WR Jaylin Noel, Iowa State

Round 3 (No. 97): CB Jaylin Smith, USC

Round 4 (No. 116): RB Woody Marks, USC

Round 6 (No. 187): S Jaylen Reed, Penn State

Round 6 (No. 197): QB Graham Mertz, Florida

Round 7 (No. 224): DT Kyonte Hamilton, Rutgers

Round 7 (No. 255): TE Luke Lachey, Iowa

Analysis:

The Texans did well to add two more Iowa State Cyclones to their receivers room, with Higgins and Noel joining former teammate Xavier Hutchinson to support C.J. Stroud. I thought they might take Ersery in the first round, so the trade up for him in Round 2 made sense to me, as did the swap that led to the acquisition of the versatile and tough Smith in Round 3.

Marks is not just a strong runner but can be another target for Stroud as a receiver. We’ll see if patience would have been wiser than giving up a third-round pick next year to move into Round 4 for him. Mertz has some positive attributes but was inconsistent and suffered injuries in college. Hamilton meets a need for young depth at tackle. Lachey lost a step due to injury but could prove to have been a steal in the seventh.

The Texans had the strongest day 2.

Reuniting Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins on top of snagging a BEAST of a developmental OT in Aireontae Ersery.

There is a lot to be excited about in Houston… pic.twitter.com/It5DRLsJiS

— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) April 27, 2025​

Houston Texans draft Jayden Higgins​

CJ Stroud gets another STUD weapon in Jayden Higgins

Texans WR room is looking scary pic.twitter.com/7cD4EC6Umj

— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) April 25, 2025​

With the #34 overall pick, the Houston Texans selected Jayden Higgins, wide receiver from Iowa State. The 6’4” 214lbs receiver ran a 4.47 40 at the NFL combine. His 10-yard split, 1.53 seconds. 39” vertical jump, 10’ 8” broad jump. NFL.com’s Next Gen Stats had him as the 5th best receiver in the draft.

PFF.com gave Higgins a 90.3 overall grade in 2024. During his last season in the NCAA, he only had 2 drops, forced 12 missed tackles, had 8 deep catches, completed 14 contested catches, gained 229 yards on deep routes, 364 from the slot and 20 via screen pass.

PFF.com

Higgins was one of the few receivers at the top of this draft class with ideal ‘X’ receiver size at 6’4” and 215 pounds, and he added to that physical profile with strong testing across the board at the NFL Combine. He profiles as a reliable possession receiver who dropped just three of his 209 targets over the past two seasons at Iowa State.

Expect Higgins to land in the day 1 starting depth chart along with Nico Collins.

While that seems like Caserio hit on a need, providing more receiver options for C.J. Stroud, you could easily make the argument that offensive line was a far more pressing concern. And 1 the Texans didn’t really address much.

Houston Texans draft Aireontae Ersery​

With the #34 overall pick, the Houston Texans selected Aireontae Ersery, offensive tackle from Minnesota. By this point, the “flashy” tackle choices were off the board. NFL.com has Ersery rated as an eventual “average starter”. Guess that’s an upgrade from the below average play of the overall line in 2024. Others are far higher on this 6’6” mountain of a man.

Aireontae Ersery posted an INSANE 9.89 RAS, including a 5.01 40 at 6’6, 331lbs

But how’s the tape? Well…

POWERFUL hands
initial quickness
strong anchor
solid vertical pass sets
skilled combo blocker

Likely a 2nd round pick pic.twitter.com/nlmikC5Hb8

— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) March 14, 2025​

PFF is definitely more optimistic, too.

PFF.com

The Texans’ offensive line offseason overhaul continues here with the Ersery addition. Over the last two seasons, Ersery showcased an explosive first step and quick feet, allowing him to significantly impact zone-blocking schemes, where his 89.5 PFF grade charted in the 84th percentile.

His 2023 PFF grade was a very respectable 84.0, which backslid to a 77.5 in 2024. Ersery excelled against UCLA, Iowa and Maryland last season, but struggled mightily against Michigan, Wisconsin and North Carolina.

Hopefully Caserio has his eyes on another veteran tackle, as Ersery may not be a day one starter.

Houston Texans draft Jaylin Noel​

With the #79 overall pick, the Houston Texans selected Jaylin Noel, wide receiver from Iowa State. Noel ranked as the #7 overall receiver per Next Gen stats, only 2 behind former Iowa State teammate turned Texans draft pick Jayden Higgins. Noel, however, is an entirely different sort of pass catcher than the big possession man H-Town took with their 1st overall pick.

Noel ran a 4.39 40, 1.51 split, a 6.82 3-cone drill and a 4.17 20-yard shuttle. His 41.5” vertical and 11’2” broad jump rounded out his fleet-footed stats. Iowa State primarily used Noel from the slot, but he did enter the Arkansas State game as a right WR and the Houston game as a left WR, showing his versatility.

PFF.com

Noel brings strength and athleticism to the slot for the Texans. He earned an 81.7 PFF receiving grade with 2.62 yards per route run in 2024, showing good body control on off-target passes and looking explosive with the ball in his hands.

Jaylin Noel 2025 #ReceptionPerception Prospect Profile

Some highlights:
- 74.1% success rate vs. man coverage (84th percentile)
- 81.8% success rate vs. zone coverage
- 80% contested catch rate in the sample

Guy is a baller, and I can easily see how he's going to help an NFL… pic.twitter.com/An5TFWU53c

— Matt Harmon (@MattHarmon_BYB) April 9, 2025​

Beyond those 3, the Houston Texans draft was seemingly all about depth and special teams. USC cornerback Jaylin Smith will have a very tough time breaking into the starting lineup, but can make an impact on kickoff/return plays. Running back Woody Marks, also from USC, is more a scat back, but likely to see the field on kick/return plays as well.

And if Florida quarterback Graham Mertz sees the field on gameday we have bigger problems.

However, the fun of rookies is you don’t know til they show. Lots of draft analysts high on some, low on others and vice versa. Just remember, people didn’t expect much of anything from Arian Foster...

Which of these players got you most excited for the 2025 NFL season and beyond?

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/2025/...ouston-texans-draft-pick-excites-you-the-most

 

[Houston Texans]

Former Texan WR Woods Signs With Steelers

Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images

Robert Woods has officially moved on! What does that mean for the Texans?

Even though the 2025 NFL Draft has come and gone, free agency persists! Former Houston Texans, free agent wide Robert Woods has just signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers on a one-year $2 million deal, per Ian Rapoport:

Source: The #Steelers are signing veteran WR Robert Woods to a 1-year, $2M deal. A new target and big-time locker room presence for… whoever their QB ends up being. The former #Texans WR lands in a great spot. pic.twitter.com/19YldvwvsI

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 28, 2025​

Woods, once a star for the prolific Los Angeles Rams offenses of the early Sean McVay era, has now turned journeyman wide receiver. He spent the last two seasons with Houston on a two-year $15.25 million contract and largely in a reserve role. His career stats in Houston are:

• 29 Games (15 Starts)
• 60 Receptions on 105 Targets
• 57.1 Catch %
• 629 Yards (10.5 Y/R)
• 1 Touchdown

Woods had spent much of his career as a smooth route runner and speedster to many great offenses of the 2010s. But after his Super Bowl campaign with the Rams in 2021, “Bobby Trees” separated from Los Angeles and joined the Tennessee Titans for one, fairly forgettable 2022 tenure where he tallied 53 Receptions for 527 yards and two touchdowns. His production continued to go down in both years in Houston, garnering 426 yards in 2023 and then just 203 yards last year.

Woods is still a very fast player with exceptional skills in footwork, but he’s less effective than he was in the past. It made sense for general manager Nick Caserio to move on from Woods and make room for younger receivers, but…it’s still hard to see him go. Woods became known for being an exceptional locker room presence and “glue guy” for the teams he’s been on. And to me, personally, even though he was just a rotational receiver, Woods became one of the icons of the Texans resurgence in quarterback C.J. Stroud’s rookie and sophomore seasons. He was not flashy and was never expected to be a long-term player for the Texans, but Woods made big plays when needed and was a safety valve for a rookie quarterback. Now that he’s gone to Pittsburgh, more expectations will be placed on Xavier Hutchinson, John Metchie, or rookie wide receivers Jayden Higgins and Jalin Noel.

What do you think of this signing by the Steelers? Should the Texans have brought Woods back, or were they right to let him go? Let us know in the comments below!

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/2025/4/28/24419861/former-texan-wr-woods-signs-with-steelers

 

[Houston Texans]

The Day After the Day After (plus a few days): Coda for the Houston Texans and the NFL 2025 Draft

Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images

The 2025 Draft is over. One last revisit before we move forward in the NFL year.

The Day After the Day After...when the raw, immediate emotions from the aftermath of a game diminish into the realm of clarity and the proverbial (or literal) hangover no longer haunts the mind. With that, a review of the 2025 NFL Draft

Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images

The “Patriots Way” draft strategy, or massive Texans scrambling?: Seeing the Texans trade out of the 1st round doesn’t seem all that radical on the surface. Caserio effectively did that last year before the draft and when under the Kraft/Belichick regime, he saw a lot trading out of the 1st, especially given that the difference between a late 1st/early 2nd is negligible in draft value and the cap prefers the cheaper 2nd rounder. However, reports indicate that Houston eyed some 1st round talent. Key among them, OL Kelvin Banks. At one point, Caserio tried to trade up to the #12 slot, but Dallas didn’t bite. Just as well, as Banks went to the Saints at #9. Other interior prospects went well before Houston’s #25 slot. One could argue that WR Matthew Golden was the one, especially as Houston executed its trade with the Giants right after Green Bay snagged him. We may never know for sure.

Photo by David K Purdy/Getty Images

Iowa State, WR-U: When you think of “WR-U”, perhaps the Hairless Nuts of Ohio State come to mind. Maybe some of the other blue-chip programs, like Alabama, Georgia, Texas, etc...that take multi-star recruits and turn them into All-Pro prospects. Yet, you probably didn’t figure that Iowa State was up there. Perhaps that is not a commonly-held opinion, but Houston clearly saw something in the ISU receiving room. Of their four Day Two picks, two went to ISU receivers (Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel). Taken by themselves, they were not bad picks. Higgins was high on many team’s draft boards, as both the Titans and Raiders (right behind Houston in the 2nd round) traded out of their picks when he went off the board. Noel likely replaces Tank Dell, who is not assured of returning in 2025.

Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images

Stock Up: current IOLs, Stock Down: incumbent WRs: Going into the draft, the thought was that Houston would get as many O-lineman as possible. Yet, they did not use their 1st round pick on a lineman, and took only one OL prospect all draft. Perhaps Houston got pre-empted on certain players or their staff saw something that us outsiders didn’t, but the expected flood of new lineman never materialized. This indicates Houston thinks players like Scruggs and Patterson can still evolve, that Howard can lock down a guard spot and that Robinson and Fisher can hold down the tackle spots, and that their various depth signing in free agency, along with new coaching, will improve the offensive line.

Yet, the drafting of the ISU WR room indicates that Metchie and Hutchinson (another ISU alum) are on borrowed time. Most think well of Metchie the man, but he was a 2nd round pick, and he’s never lived up to that billing. Hutchinson didn’t have the same pressures as Metchie, but he also didn’t up his game when the chance presented itself. Likely one or both may start the 2025 regular season on different rosters.

Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images

The Salary Cap and 2026: While draft day dealing is a Caserio hallmark, one cannot discount a financial motivation for the trades this season. Houston’s salary cap got tight this offseason, and that doesn’t look to change much in the years ahead. The cap next year gets extremely complicated. Figure on anywhere between $80M and $100M of future annual cap space going towards the extensions for DE Will Anderson, Jr and QB CJ Stroud. Factor the extension for Stingley signed this past offseason, as well as other free agents and extensions for other evolving players, and Houston must depend on cheaper talent to fill out the roster. Enter the draft. Four picks between Day 1 and Day 2 in 2026 should yield some starting-caliber players. Future roster building for Houston depends on those draft picks.

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

FUN WITH NUMBERS:

6, 13, 14: Number of Trades/Picks Dealt/Picks Received by the Houston Texans in the 2025 Draft: If it seemed like Houston led off a lot of trade updates, well, it was because they did a lot of trading. These numbers don’t include the trade of Tunsil to the Commanders at the start of free agency. Still, Caserio’s tenue as Texans’ GM is defined by extensive draft day trades. More often than not, they’ve worked out fairly well for Houston. Still, you are only as good as your last draft. How 2025 pans out? TBD.

GAME BALLS:

ISU WR Coach Noah Pauley: With two WRs drafted in the 1st three rounds by Houston, imagine the recruiting pitch the WR staff can levy in their recruiting efforts? “We want you to play for us. You play for us, we can get you to the NFL. [KITTEN], we might get you all to go to the same team!” No doubt Matt Campbell and the Cyclone NIL collectives are just ecstatic about that. If those guys end up balling out...the Q-rating for Pauley will go through the roof.

West Columbia High School Football: Not too far from my hometown, West Columbia just got a major PR boost with the drafting of Cam Ward. Ok, he went to the vile BE-SFs, but still, he’s the #1 overall pick from little ol’ West Columbia, and that after playing his high school ball in a Wing-T Offense. Now, when Roughneck QBs complain about not throwing the ball, the coaches can say “Cam Ward”, invalidating all whining.

NBA Playoffs: Not only are the Rockets back in the playoffs for the first since 2020, but so are the Knicks. This is important, as it spared us wall-to-wall coverage of the smartest dumb[KITTEN] in sports, Stephen A. Smith, bloviating during the Draft coverage. ESPN has more than enough of that (see later).

Photo by Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty Images

SHOULD BE FORCED TO CLEAN UP ALL THE SPILLED BEER AND RANCID CHEESE REMAINS WHILE LISTENING TO A MIXED TAPE OF STEPHEN A. SMITH AND MEL KIPER, JR. ON AUTOREPEAT AFTER THE DRAFT:

The Sanders Empire: Not that Houston was going to draft him, but talk about a major kick-in-the-groin-egowise for Shedeur Sanders and the Sanders family? How bad did the interview process go for that young man? Teams always need QBs, but the intangibles must be among the worst in history to take what some thought might be a #1 overall pick to being skunked on the 1st two days of the draft, falling to the 5th round. Sure, you can point to the two best QBs in history and see that Johnny Unitas was a 9th rounder and Tom Brady was a 6th rounder. Still, this was a horrid outcome for the Sanders family.

Jax Ulbrich: Whatever you think of the Sanders family, that prank call…major foul…and the dumb[KITTEN] tweeted himself doing this?! Also, for his father, Jeff Ulbrich, aka the Defensive Coordinator for the Falcons, well, maybe he won’t face external discipline from the league, but will anyone ever trust him with sensitive information like a prospect’s private phone? Jax, the internet is forever. Good luck explaining that in all of your future job interviews.

Mel Kiper Jr.: Kiper’s salivating about Shedeur Sanders was so over the top that it drove many, like this commentator, away from ESPN for the entirety of the draft. Was the NFL Network perfect? No, but compared to ESPN…Sure, ESPN got their ratings, but the sooner Kiper disappears from the draft, the better.

Texans’ Fans Trying to Predict this Draft: So many Texans’ fans did their mock drafts, all with good analytic techniques and genuine hope and concern for the team, especially to reinforce the interior of the O-line. To that, the Houston Texans said: “[KITTEN] your mock drafts!” True, one cannot always listen to the fans, but you hope that the Texans’ brain trust proves more right than the fans.

With the draft concluded, we now all await the next big moment on the NFL calendar: The schedule release. Come May 14th, we’ll learn when Houston faces off against its foes in the quest to finally deliver a Super Bowl. See you then.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/2025/...for-the-houston-texans-and-the-nfl-2025-draft

 

[Houston Texans]

Mapping Every Houston Texans Trade in the 2025 NFL Draft

[Photo by Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images

Nick Caserio is a mad man. Just depends on if he’s a genius or not.

It’s mind-numbingly demoralizing to consider the eight mock drafts I posted on this site were essentially null-and-void from the get-go. After selecting three players correctly last year, I came home with only accurately picking Jayden Higgins to be a Houston Texan in my three-round mock draft in late January.

Every single pick in the Houston Texans 2025 NFL Draft was a result of a trade. The only non-draft day trade pick was Jaylin Noel as the Texans acquired the 79th pick from the Dolphins in the deal for Laremy Tunsil.

Tracking the chaos that was this past weekend’s seven trades takes clairvoyance only the Three Eyed Raven (Game of Thrones reference for the uneducated) possesses. Or, enough spare time on your hands to chart out how each move led to the nine selections Caserio did make in the draft... that’s what I have.

Here is a well-organized chart of every trade and how it led to each pick. It actually wraps up quite nicely.

Original Picks:​

Round 1, Pick 25

Round 2, Pick 58

Round 3, Pick 79 (originally from MIA in trade for Laremy Tunsil)

Round 3, Pick 89

Round 5, Pick 166

Round 7, Pick 236

ALL TRADES IN ORDER OF WHEN THEY OCCURRED:​

1. Texans trade down with the Browns in Round 5​

Browns receive: Picks 166, 2027 fifth-round pick

Texans receive: Picks 179 (traded), 216 (traded), 255 (Luke Lachey, TE - Iowa)

2. Texans trade down with the Giants in Round 1​

Giants receive: Pick 25

Texans receive: Picks 34 (Jayden Higgins, WR - Iowa State), 99 (traded), 2026 3rd round selection (traded)

3. Texans trade up with the Raiders in Round 2​

Texans receive: Pick 48 (Aireontae Ersely, OT - Minnesota)

Raiders receive: Picks 58, 99

4. Texans trade down with the Jaguars in Round 3​

Jaguars receive: Picks 89, 236

Texans receive: Picks 102 (traded), 142 (traded)

5. Texans trade up with the Vikings in Round 3​

Texans receive: Pick 97 (Jaylin Smith, CB - USC), 187 (Jaylen Reed, CB - Penn State)

Vikings receive: Pick 102, 142

6. Texans trade up with the Dolphins in Round 4​

Texans receive: Pick 116 (Woody Smith, RB - USC), 224 (Kyonte Hamilton, DT - Rutgers)

Dolphins receive: Pick 179, 2026 third-round pick

7. Texans trade up with the Broncos in Round 6​

Texans receive: Pick 197 (Graham Mertz, QB - Florida)

Broncos receive: Pick 216, 241

HOUSTON TEXANS DRAFT PICKS:​

Round 2, No. 34 - Jayden Higgins, WR - Iowa State

Round 2, No. 58 - Aireontae Ersely, OT - Minnesota

Round 3, No. 79 - Jaylin Noel, WR - Iowa State

Round 3, No. 97 - Jaylin Smith, CB - USC

Round 4, No. 116 - Woody Smith, RB - USC

Round 6, No. 187 - Jaylen Reed, CB - Penn State

Round 6, No. 197 - Graham Mertz, QB - Florida

Round 7, No. 224 - Kyonte Hamilton, DT - Rutgers

Round 7, No. 255 - Luke Lachey, TE - Iowa

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/2025/...ry-houston-texans-trade-in-the-2025-nfl-draft

 

[Houston Texans]

Houston Texans 2025 Draft: Grades For Each Pick

Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images

How did the Texans 2025 draft class grade out?

Like a flash, the 2025 NFL Draft has come and gone. Chock full of trades, charades, and busted parlays, this draft will go down as being one of the weirdest in recent history. Only two quarterbacks, Cam Ward and Jaxson Dart, were taken in the first round. Offensive and defensive linemen, the “hog mollies,” came off the board early, with five taken in the top ten picks and eleven taken in the top twenty. Late-round sleepers going went high, blue-chip players fell into the third round; you name it, it probably happened during the draft.

In similar fashion, the Houston Texans also had an extremely odd, unpredictable NFL Draft, packed with six trades and nine selections; each one zanier than the last. No draft manned by general manager Nick Caserio will ever be boring, that’s for sure! Now that all of us in the peanut gallery are left to sift through the rubble, I think it’s time to throw out some grades. Here’s my first impression, knee-jerk grades to all nine selections:

Round 2, Pick 34 Overall: WR Jayden Higgins, Iowa State​

Photo by Luke Lu/Diamond Images via Getty Images

• Height: 6’ 4”
• Weight: 214 lbs.
• Arm: 33 1/8”
• Hand: 9 1/8”
• Combine; 40-Yard Dash: 4.47s; 10-Yard Split: 1.53s; Vertical Jump: 39”; Broad Jump: 10’ 8”
• 2024 Statistics: 13 Games, 87 Receptions on 129 Targets (67.4 Rec%), 1,183 Yards (13.6 Y/R), 9 Receiving Touchdowns, 90.3 PFF

Iowa State’s most targeted receiver in 2024, Jayden Higgins was a big-body threat that had the speed to threaten at all levels of the opposing defense. He’s got an uncanny ability to track the ball and get his hands on it, even with cornerbacks draped all over him. Although, with as much speed as he has, he isn’t very creative with it and doesn’t gain much separation. But, with raw ability and production like this, you can’t blame Nick Caserio for taking a chance of Higgins.

You know, as I keep watching him, I start to understand why current Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins was such a parroted comparison. Just like Collins when he was coming out of Michigan in 2021, Higgins is an attractive professional prospect because of his height, speed, and ball skills. Just like Collins, he ran a bit on an incomplete route tree and didn’t use his speed as much as you would have liked to have seen. And, just like Collins, I predict Jayden Higgins will master his weaknesses, become a true X receiver, and eventually become a starter for the Houston Texans.

Jayden Higgins put up a MONSTER 9.87 RAS, including a 4.47 40 at 6’4, 214lbs with a 39” vertical ️

But how’s the tape? Well…

elite separator
3% drop rate
56% contested catch rate
career 3309 yards, 28 TDs
willing blocker

1st-rd talent. Comp is Nico Collins pic.twitter.com/Lbe2lrZHmn

— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) March 4, 2025​

Grade: A-​

Jayden Higgins is an incredibly smooth route runner at 6’4 215lbs with excellent hands, physicality, and contested catch ability.

Has a little Nico Collins to his game pic.twitter.com/jliz8K5H1r

— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) January 11, 2025​

Round 2, 48th Overall: OT Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota​

Photo by James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

• Height: 6’ 6”
• Weight: 331 lbs.
• Arm: 33 1/8”
• Hand: 9 1/2”
• Combine: 40-Yard Dash: 5.01s; 10-Yards Split: 1.75s; Vertical Jump: 29.5”; Broad Jump: 9’ 3”; Bench Press: 25 Reps
• 2024 Statistics: 691 Snaps at LT; 77.5 PFF (77.3 PBLK, 73.6 RBLK); 1 Sack; 1 Hit; 10 Hurries; 3 Penalties

Thank goodness they got an offensive lineman. During the draft itself, my live reaction to this was exaggerated relief after grumbling about the Jayden Higgins pick not being an offensive lineman. Now that time has passed, I’m pleased with Caserio’s decision making with these two second round selections; but I am admittedly uneasy about the variance in opinion on Ersery. Some draft analysts have Ersery rated as high as a first round pick, and others had him as low as a fourth rounder, so who’s to say what the Texans are getting?

Well, in my brief, extremely amateur review of him, I can say that we’re getting a massive, surprisingly athletic person fully capable of playing tackle at the NFL level. Ersery is strong against speed rushers (check out his Abdul Carter highlights), but his size doesn’t prevent him from being a quality blocker in space when clearing a path for the tailback. For being such a big lineman, he’s faster than expected, but he’s not as bendy as other NFL tackles, nor does he have that deadly first punch that so many top prospects do. That lack of elasticity could make him weak to NFL edge rushers with a bevy of counter moves, but since he was literally the Big Ten offensive lineman of the year, I’m willing to bet on his upside. I’m more of a glass half-full type of guy, anyways, so I think Aireontae Ersery will eventually be a starting tackle for the Houston Texans. Which side he’ll be on, that’ll remain to be seen.

Grade: A​

Aireontae Ersery STONEWALLED several of the top edge rushers at the Senior Bowl

His hand placement and power was evident in reps against Mike Green, Landon Jackson, David Walker, and others. Also a good mover at 6’5, 339lbs.

He made a strong case for OT1 in the 2025 Draft pic.twitter.com/idLDJWVDYX

— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) January 30, 2025​

Round 3, 79th Overall: WR Jaylin Noel, Iowa State​

Photo by Dustin Markland/Getty Images

• Height: 5’ 10”
• Weight: 194 lbs.
• Arm: 29 1/2”
• Hand: 8 3/4”
• Combine: 40-Yard Dash: 4.39s; 10-Yard Split: 1.51s; Vertical Jump: 41.5”; Broad Jump: 11’ 2”; Bench Press: 23 Reps
• 2024 Statistics: 14 Games; 80 Receptions on 119 Targets (67.2 Rec%); 1,194 Yards; 14.9 Y/R; 8 Touchdowns; 9 Rushing Attempts for 38 Rushing Yards; 80.5 PFF

Another receiver from Ames is coming to Houston! During the lead up to the 2025 NFL Draft, two Iowa State wide receivers stood out as some of the best pass-catchers this year: Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel. To most draft analysts, either of these players would be immediate contributors to an NFL offense. But now, Houston is getting both of them, reuniting one of the most prolific pass-catching duos in the Big 12.

Jaylin Noel is the speedy slot receiver that excels in using his footwork and ridiculous acceleration to get open. He ran an incredibly fast 4.39s 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, and his speed on tape looks even faster! He has explosive separation and is willing to use that speed to cut through the middle of the defense and invite big hits; hits that I’m worried could become destabilizing in the NFL. He’s ultimately only 5’ 10”, 194 lbs., and like many other undersized college slot receivers, Noel didn’t break many tackles at all. It will only get harder to compensate for this weakness against superior NFL defenders, and coupled with a dropping issue, the transition to the NFL could be rocky. Noel is such a gifted receiver, though, with performances like he had against Kansas or Miami, I can see why the comparison of him to current Texans’ slot receiver Christian Kirk was so common. He’s a third down conversion waiting to happen, which is great news for a Texans offense that was in third-and-long nearly every other drive in 2024.

Allocating two top-100 picks to the receiving corps reveals Nick Caserio’s top priority entering this draft: not just getting more offensive weapons for Stroud, but getting receivers that can plug right into the spaces current Texans Nico Collins and Christian Kirk occupy. Injuries have marred this position group both years Stroud has been the NFL, and it looks like Caserio had had just about enough of that by drafting clones of their current starters. This is a great pick, but missing this opportunity to nab a developmental or even starting-caliber guard with this third round pick could haunt the Texans in the future.

Grade: B+​

Jaylin Noel 2025 #ReceptionPerception Prospect Profile

Some highlights:
- 74.1% success rate vs. man coverage (84th percentile)
- 81.8% success rate vs. zone coverage
- 80% contested catch rate in the sample

Guy is a baller, and I can easily see how he's going to help an NFL… pic.twitter.com/An5TFWU53c

— Matt Harmon (@MattHarmon_BYB) April 9, 2025​

Round 3, 97th Overall: CB Jaylin Smith, USC​

Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

• Height: 5’ 10 1/2”
• Weight: 187 lbs.
• Arm: 29 7/8”
• Hand: 9 1/4”
• Combine: 40-Yard Dash: 4.45s; 10-Yard Split: 1.6s; Vertical Jump: 32.5”; Broad Jump: 10’ 2”; Bench Press: N/A
• 2024 Statistics: 10 Games; 59 Tackles, 4 Tackles for Loss; 2 Interceptions, 2 Pass Deflections; 82.5 PFF (80.1 RDEF, 71.2 TACK, 82.5 COV); 26 Receptions on 42 Targets (61.9 Rec%) 83 Yards after Catch, 62.5 Passer Rating Allowed

This was one of the stranger selections of Houston’s draft, where they elected to deepen their strength in the defensive backfield by drafting experienced cornerback/nickelback Jaylin Smith from USC. Smith spent time at both slot corner and outside while in college, and finished 2024 with third-team All-Big Ten honors, a big accolade considering he’s in the same conference as Will Johnson and Denzel Burke. In 2023 and 2022, he spent much of his time as a nickel cornerback, producing more tackles and tackles for loss but with worse coverage, overall. But, as a nickelback, he was a premier tackler, squaring up defenders large and small and dumping them when they stand. Check out some of his highlights from Colorado or San Jose State from back then and you’ll see how he just tears down opposing players with his physicality.

Then, in 2024, he added to his impressive utility belt of skills by becoming a significantly better coverage defender. Making the big move from nickelback to outside cornerback in his final year, Jaylin Smith somehow took it all in stride and became one of the stickiest man-coverage defenders in the Big Ten. I mean, his games against Michigan and Maryland were just eye candy; I can see why Nick Caserio wanted a skilled defender like this in the locker room. Regardless of where he was lining up on USC’s defense, he was still one of its most productive players.

Whether or not that production will translate in the NFL, however, has yet to be seen. Unfortunately, Jaylin Smith is a little undersized for the position in the NFL at 5’ 10 1/2” and 187 lbs. He’s also slow to react in zone-coverage, further limiting his potential production in the NFL. However, when in man coverage, Smith is sticky and disruptive, effective at mirroring his receiver and getting his hands in the way. In the box, Jaylin Smith has multiple years worth of beautiful tackling, with great instincts to boot. If he can improve his instincts and become a bit twitchier of an athlete, Houston has just found another quality defensive back. But, if not, Jaylin Smith will either be darling of the roster bubble/practice squad or potentially a superstar on special teams. Not a bad pick, but at this point, I was HURTING for a guard!

Grade: C+​

USC CB Jaylin Smith is probably headed towards a future in the slot in the NFL but it's a role I think he will do quite well in given his physical play style. 2nd most run stops in the class and it shows up on tape. Also has a good amount of special teams experience over the last… pic.twitter.com/oqKp03odsi

— Steven Haglund (@StevenIHaglund) April 20, 2025​

Round 4, 116th Overall: RB Woody Marks, USC​

• Height: 5’ 10”
• Weight: 207 lbs.
• 40-Yard Dash: 4.54s; 10-Yard Split: 1.57s; Vertical Jump: 35”
• 2024 Statistics: 12 Games, 198 Attempts for 1,133 Rushing Yards (5.7 YPA), 9 Rushing TDs, 47 Receptions for 321 Yards

This was one of my very favorite picks of the draft. Since Nick Caserio had dawned the cap of Houston Texans general manager in 2021, he’s done a nearly perfect job of retooling the entire offense around a new generation of players. He’s drafted starters at virtually every skill position on offense, except running back. Time is technically not quite up for 2022 draftee Dameon Pierce to break through, but Houston’s decision to bring in running back Joe Mixon in free agency has sidelined Pierce’s career as a Texan. Mixon became the starter in 2024, taking over starting duties from 2023 free agency signing Devin Singletary, who took lead-back duties from Pierce in the middle of that season. Suffice to say, Dameon Pierce has not quite lived up to his 2022 highs, and Caserio needs another win at RB in the draft. In 2025, he may have just his next star in Woody Marks.

Elusive and explosive are the defining characteristics of Woody Marks’ highlight reel. He finds the gap and blasts through it like few other tailbacks in this draft, but also contains the bendiness to make tacklers miss in space. He’s a danger in the receiving game, as well, making Marks a complete third-down scatback for the Texans’ updated offense. You throw Marks into the mix along with Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, and you’re bringing in a track meet of offensive skill-position players. This still isn’t the answer to the guard dilemma that I was personally looking for in the draft, but it is still a great pick at a position of need. Finally, the Texans have a third-down back! Although seeing as this was Houston’s last draft selection in the top half of the draft, this running back pick comes at the expense of finding a contributor at guard for the 2025 season. But, at this point, I’m ready to just throw my faith behind Nick Caserio and embrace the wave of skill-position players he’s chosen to draft instead.

Grade: B+​

New #Texans RB Woody Marks is the definition of versatility in the RB room.

This cut-up vs LSU & Michigan in 2024 shows his vision in the run game & awesome hands/quickness in the short passing game that made him a highly touted player for Houston.

Perfect fit next to Mixon. pic.twitter.com/Lq8eMyXuQN

— Jacob (@TexansJacob) April 27, 2025​

Round 6, 187th Overall: S Jaylen Reed, Penn State​

Photo by Steve Nurenberg/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

• Height: 6’ 0”
• Weight: 211 lbs.
• Arm: 30 3/8”
• Hand: 9”
• Combine: 40-Yard Dash: 4.49s; 10-Yard Split: 1.51s; Vertical Jump: 33.5”; Broad Jump: N/A; Bench Press: 19 Reps
• 2024 Statistics: 16 Games; 98 Tackles; 7 Tackles for Loss; 2.5 Sacks; 3 Interceptions; 1 Defensive Touchdown; 3 Pass Deflections; 1 Forced Fumble; 1 Fumble Recovery; 65.6 PFF (80.5 RDEF, 71.7 TACK, 90.9 PRSH, 51.2 COV)

Here’s a late-round sleeper! Jaylen Reed was an instinctive, aggressive, and extremely productive, primarily box safety that played all over the field for the Penn State Nittany Lions. Reed does a fantastic job of reading the quarterback, disguising his intentions on defense, and blasting through the line of scrimmage on blitz packages to make big tackles in the backfield. He’s only 6’0” 213 lbs., but with the violence he attacks opposing players and consistency he has at getting them on the ground, you’d think he’s 6’ 2” 230 lbs.

In his last year as a starting safety for Penn State, Reed was one of the most productive defenders on the team, flourishing under defensive coordinator Tom Allen’s “Lion” position, not unlike current Texans player Jalen Pitre’s “Star” position at Baylor in college. He was selected second-team All-Big Ten in 2024 and led the team in tackles, a tremendous feat considering Abdul Carter and Kobe King were on the field with him at the same time. But, even though those instincts led to some game-changing plays (like the pick six against Wisconsin), it also led to some terrible mistaken reads where he was caught red-handed shooting down the wrong gap or in blown coverage.

Here’s what Colin_Murphy of Black Shoe Diaries had to say about Reed:

While he was not overly flashy in his Penn State career, Reed is solid against the run and very physical. His pass coverage improved in his final year at Penn State. Reed’s adaptability in Penn State’s defensive schemes between the free safety and hybrid position (the “Lion”) highlighted his versatility against the run and the pass. His lack of any standout traits probably limits his ceiling as a Day 2 pick, but he is likely to develop into at least a serviceable NFL backup. He should be an immediate contributor on special teams for any NFL team. - Colin_Murphy, Black Shoe Diaries

In 2025, Jaylen Reed should make for a great insurance policy to current Texans starter Jalen Pitre. Add Jaylin Smith to that backfield, and you have a room full of talented Jalen/Jaylin/Jaylens ready to play nickel!

Grade: B+​

I like Jaylen Reed playing a robber/split safety role at the next level. Solid coverage instincts and can blitz from depth to make an impact pic.twitter.com/zwB12nUi4R

— Billy M (@BillyM_91) April 19, 2025​

Round 6, 197th Overall: QB Graham Mertz, Florida​

Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images

• Height: 6’ 3”
• Weight: 212 lbs.
• Arm: 31 1/4”
• Hand: 9 3/4”
• Combine: N/A
• 2024 Statistics: 5 Games; 72 Completions on 94 Attempts (76.6%); 791 Yards; 6 Touchdowns; 2 Interceptions; 8.73 AY/A; 73.7 PFF (Season cut short due to ACL tear)
• 2023 Statistics: 11 Games; 261 Completions on 358 Attempts (72.9%); 2,903 Yards; 20 Touchdowns; 3 Interceptions; 8.85 AY/A; 75.8 PFF

This might be the weirdest pick of Houston’s draft. Not a selection based on talent nor positional need, Caserio’s selection of Graham Mertz can only be described as a shot in the dark in hopes of landing a bullseye of a backup quarterback. Mertz is a prototypical NFL QB that has gradually improved in his career as a game manager, but never became the multi-faceted playmaker that his first team, Wisconsin, hoped he would become. After four largely disappointing years, he packed his bags and went down to Florida, where he would have his peak in 2023, followed by a 2024 season curtailed by a torn ACL.

In 2023, in his fifth year as a starting quarterback in college football, Mertz finally looked like he was putting it all together. Significantly more comfortable and decisive with the ball in 2023, Mertz completed 72.9% of his passes for 2,903 yards, 20 touchdowns, three interceptions and four rushing touchdowns. He’s got prototypical NFL size and moderate arm strength, but he’s not going to wow you with his athleticism. He improved his decision making with the Gators and became a much more trustworthy passer, but he can still be slow with his progression, letting defenders get back into a play. Problems like that could send him out of the league in a hurry, but his improvement when given a better supporting cast was intriguing enough for Caserio to pull the trigger, He would go on to say of Mertz:

“Got a lot of playing experience, had some success at Wisconsin, then kind of went through the coaching transition there a little bit, and he felt like the best opportunity for him was at Florida. Then he played there his first year, he got hurt a little bit, obviously, this year. But, good demeanor, good presence. Has good leadership, good size, throws a pretty good ball. So, the type of player the we felt had some traits and characteristics at that position that we wanted to work with….we had him here in the building, and he was as advertised.” - Nick Caserio

Overall, the decision to draft Mertz, an experienced college quarterback with standard NFL traits at the position, isn’t a bad one since it’ll give the Texans more freedom to pivot away from current backup Davis Mills. I even mentioned on the BRB writer group chat that I wouldn’t mind Houston taking a quarterback in the later rounds since Mills will enter the 2025 season on the last year of his contract. But, the drop off in quality even from the sixth to seventh rounds was noticeable, so I think Houston’s seventh round pick could have been better used on an offensive lineman or linebacker. If Caserio really thought Mertz was that good, he could have either waited to sign him as an undrafted free agent or grabbed an additional seventh round pick by trading some late-round selections in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Grade: C​

The #Texans traded up to No. 197 to draft former Wisconsin and Florida QB Graham Mertz — a player who won a lot of fans as coaches dug into his college tape.https://t.co/MYtjYNYveu pic.twitter.com/xZSGEavWst

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 26, 2025​

Round 7, 224th Overall: DT Kyonte Hamilton, Rutgers​

Photo by Ed Mulholland/Getty Images

• Height: 6’ 3”
• Weight: 300 lbs.
• Arm: 32.130
• Hand: 9.250
• Measurables: 40-Yard Dash: 5.02s; 20-Yard Split: 2.87s; 10-Yard Split: 1.70s; Vertical Jump: 29”
• 2024 Statistics: 13 Games; 36 Tackles; 5 Tackles for loss; 4.0 Sacks; 18 Hurries; 1 Forced Fumble; 649 Defensive Snaps (272 RDEF, 376 PRSH), 81.3 PFF (74.9 RDEF, 79.6 PRSH)

This is the one player Nick Caserio took in the 2025 NFL Draft I had never heard of before. All the other players I had at least heard of on a telecast or seen a stat line about them at some point, but Kyonte Hamilton evaded my drafting eye. So, since the draft, I’ve dug through as many highlight videos and draft-analysis articles I could find on Hamilton, and I’ve come out of the quick film session a bit more impressed with Caserio’s selection than I expected.

Hamilton has the prototypical size and weight to be an NFL defensive tackle, and contains a level of quickness in his step that makes him an intriguing player. A 3-star prospect out of District Heights, MD, Hamilton absorbed the attention of football scouts who were also impressed by his championship wrestling pedigree. He became a three-year starter on the defensive line for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, having a breakout career in 2024 and earning honorable All-Big Ten recognition. He lined up both at tackle and defensive end, getting production from both positions. He plays with impressive short-area burst, but lacks the skillset required to win consistently in the NFL. He’s a very, very raw prospect, one that may not be able to keep up with the rest of the roster, but I can’t help but root for him since he reminds me of one of Caserio’s last draft selections last year: Auburn DL Marcus Harris.

It was this time last year that I was pumping up the pro-potential of Harris, and now Kyonte Hamilton will occupy a similar sort of space as a long-shot candidate as we await training camp. While we never saw Marcus Harris in the regular season, that doesn’t necessarily mean that he was a bust. Some players may take time to develop, only reaching their high ceiling with years as a backup. Kyonte Hamilton may be the that kind of prospect, one that will never steal the headlines or play 500+ snaps, but will enjoy a multi-year career as a solid rotational player for the Texans. Maybe, just maybe, both Kyonte Hamilton and Marcus Harris will be starting games and taking names together in 2027! Or…maybe not, but you can’t blame Nick Caserio for taking a chance on an big, athletic wrestler in the seventh round.

Grade: B-​

Want a sleeper? Rutgers iDL Kyonte Hamilton has the goods.

Zero buzz for his game around the industry & a player scouts have tried to keep a secret. Former wrestler, outstanding twitch at his size (will play at 305) that flashes up-down a defensive front. pic.twitter.com/x67q1itrfS

— Ryan Fowler (@_RyanFowler_) February 6, 2025​

Kyonte Hamilton is a DT prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored a 9.28 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 146 out of 2022 DT from 1987 to 2025.https://t.co/hDrkbhPFRg pic.twitter.com/6rVGyrZTgl

— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 1, 2025​

Round 7, 255th Overall: TE Luke Lachey, Iowa​

Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images

• Height: 6’ 6”
• Weight: 251 lbs.
• Arm: 32 1/8”
• Hand: 10”
• Combine: Vertical Jump: 35”; Broad Jump: 10’; 3-Cone Drill: 7.18s; 20-Yard Shuttle: 4.47s
• 2024 Statistics: 12 Games, 28 Receptions for 231 Yards (8.3 Y/R), 530 Offense Snaps, 316 Blocking Snaps, 51.3 PFF Run Blocking, 50.1 PFF Pass Blocking, 95.2 EFF

An Iowa tight end falling this far was an surprise all unto its own, as Luke Lachey was seen as a late round sleeper by many. While in college, Lachey continued the Iowa tradition of inline tight end blocking, becoming an effective people mover for their outside-zone scheme. Additionally, he’s shown some position flexibility as an H-back and flashes of a better receiver than the chances he was given, but his lack of speed and physicality in that respect holds him back from being a real slam-dunk prospect. He’s a natural receiver with a good catch radius, but his lack of speed gives him a ceiling, with little room besides being a short yardage target underneath the passing game.

That ceiling can be seen in his blocking, as well. Though Lachey is strong, he doesn’t have quite the core strength to go one-on-one against all types of linebackers and edge rushers. The body size willingness to block is certainly there, but his production against bigger defenders isn’t great, at least not without some help. But, in an league where two-tight end sets are becoming increasingly more common, having another guy in the locker room that can block and catch can be invaluable to a Texans offense clearly trying to give its quarterback a diversity of options. As a guy with a chance to make the roster and contribute sparingly, he’s about as good of a pick you can ask for in the seventh round.

Grade: A-​

Absolutely loved the Luke Lachey pick at the end of the draft for the Texans! Great combo of hands and blocking abilities.

He should have a role for years to come in an offense where the OC was a TE coach last season. Does he have a shot to be the next great TE from Iowa… pic.twitter.com/o87Ro74ZNo

— big ounce (@_bigounce) April 28, 2025​

---

After all this picks and trades that kept Houston Texans fans’ heads on a swivel, head coach DeMeco Ryans ended up with these nine rookies - six on offense, three on defense. These picks addressed big needs at tackle, wide receiver, running back, and defensive tackle, but avoided the need for another guard or linebacker. Caserio did sign a linebacker in undrafted free agency - Louisiana’s KC Ossai - but it’s a heck of a stretch to say that one signing “addressed the need.”

Regardless, Caserio did a great job of finding value at all talent levels of the 2025 Draft, unearthing potential starters from the second round to the seventh. Both Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel should be immediate contributors, maybe even starters by the end of the year. Aireontae Ersery, although a controversial wad of clay, is a wad of clay that I’m going to embrace and predict as a starter for Houston either on the right or left side come 2026.

Jaylin Smith and Jaylen Reed probably won’t be starting on Houston’s defense anytime soon, but they’ll certainly be seeing playing time on multiple nickel and dime packages - Reed likely designed for plays against the runs, Smith designed for plays against the pass. Hamilton, on the other hand, won’t be playing much until he shocks the team in training camp, but that may not be a big surprise in a couple years! Overall, this draft class won’t knock your socks off, but it will function to deepen the Houston Texans roster from end to end. I’d say we’re looking at two to four starters in this class (Higgins, Ersery, Noel, & Marks), with the potential that all nine will be helping by the end of the year. No players are going to dramatically improve a weak spot on the Texans (except maybe Ersery), but some will prove their worth when injuries inevitably afflict the team, and some will eventually become starters as those snaps come rolling in.

HOUSTON TEXANS 2025 NFL DRAFT GRADE: B​

What do you think of this draft, though? Did the DeMeco Ryans/Nick Caserio brain trust blow you away, or were you bummed out by their draft picks? Are Houston’s draft classes getting better each subsequent year, or worse? Let us know what you think of the draft down the comments below!

Go Texans!

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/2025/4/30/24420344/houston-texans-2025-draft-grades-for-each-pick

 

[Houston Texans]

Texans Fail to Address Interior Offensive Line in NFL Draft

Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images

Battle Red Blog writers collectively frustrated but trusting in Caserio

It was a wild — yet typical — Nick Caserio NFL Draft weekend. Houston completed seven trades throughout the draft and added nine prospects to form the Texans’ 2025 draft class. None of which answered the Texans biggest positional need heading into the draft: center and guard. Houston “addressed” the position via free agency, but those players as mentioned by several of the writers below are debatably mediocre at best.

I asked the writers to air their frustration and provide their thoughts on why Nick Caserio didn’t address the position in the draft:

The Texans didn’t draft a single interior offensive lineman in the 2025 NFLDraft. How concerned are you about protecting Stroud this next season?​

VBallRetired:​

I’m in wait and see mode. I have to hope they know something we don’t. Either they like the internal options more than we do or didn’t like the options in the draft. Crying over it won’t do any good. My fear is that neglecting it will force a Laremy Tunsil type desperation move like in 2019. It’s definitely not a good look but they get paid to do this and I don’t.

l4blitzer:​

One might argue that even if Houston brought in 2-3 IOL prospects, the line might not be any more effective this year than last. That Houston only drafted ONE OL prospect period, and that an OT, indicates that Houston is likely okay with the various depth signings they made in free agency, as well as maintaining faith in incumbent Juice Scruggs and Jarrett Patterson to hold down the interior.

Likely they will keep Howard at guard (never mind he is better at Tackle, but Houston is [KITTEN]-bent on keeping him there) and they figure that Cam Robinson, Blake Fisher and maybe Aireontae Ersery can hold down the tackle spots. Maybe they hope that something emerges from the UDFA pool. If nothing else, hopefully Stroud was working on his running abilities like he said he would after the Division Round loss at Kansas City.

Kenneth L.

As I posted on Twitter/X, I thought Nick Caserio was going to address offensive line early and often, but instead drafted more QBs than guards or centers.

If you told me the Houston Texans would draft more quarterbacks than interior offensive lineman in the NFL Draft I'd tell you to see your local physician

— Kenneth Levy (@Texans_Kenneth) April 26, 2025​

Ersery is a true tackle who I doubt can transition to guard due to his 6’6 frame. I don’t trust Jarrett Patterson to develop into a starting center nor has Juice Scruggs shown anything close to his second round selection.

While “Best Player Available” is a fine strategy, Houston had two critical needs: protect C.J. Stroud and add weapons around C.J. Stroud. They added weapons, sure... but Stroud won’t have time to throw to them if he is running for his life.

If this season goes wrong and Stroud is the most sacked QB in the league, the only person you can point to is Caserio for not doing his job

FizzyJoe:​

Very confused by it. I can understand trading out of the first round, and I can understand taking receivers and a tackle in the second round, but to pass up on ALL of the options on day three? I know that there was a lot of controversy surrounding some of the guards and tackles available in day three, but I don’t understand refusing to take a chance on even one of them when your current starters are Laken Tomlinson and Juice Scruggs/Tytus Howard.

There is a possibility free agent signing Ed Ingram becomes the starting guard, but since he got benched in the middle of the season last year, I have my doubts. Moving Howard to guard will require Trent Brown/Blake Fisher/Aireontae Ersery to be starting-caliber at RT, which is a bet I’m honestly afraid to take.

I personally prefer trying to draft players at the position they’ve played most of their lives instead of bouncing tackled and centers around the line like musical chairs, but I’m no expert. Maybe Jaylin Smith will provide more value to the team than Marcus Mbow or Miles Frazier, but as of right now, I sincerely doubt it.

Patrick.H:​

Of course I’m concerned. If you aren’t at least a little concerned, I’d think you weren’t paying all that close attention to the Texans last year.

However, I try to take a Socratic approach to it. The only thing I know for sure is that I know nothing... at least as far as the Texans are concerned.

At the moment, there’s still a bit of goodwill built up - I think - between Texans fans and the DeMeco Ryans/Nick Caserio regime, so I’m way more willing to see where this goes. They know more about the team than I do, than pretty much anyone that isn’t directly employed by the team does. Maybe Nick Caley and Cole Popovich sees something in the Scruggs/Patterson/Howard combination that Slowik and Strausser missed last year. Lord knows it wouldn’t be a stretch of the imagination to think those two last year might not have gotten the full potential out of those players that they could have.

The thing I keep coming back to with Scruggs/Patterson is that you could see flashes of potential in their rookie years that would lead you to believe that they could be the answer that just weren’t there last year. So it if was just bad coaching (and at the moment we have every reason in the world to think that’s the case), then this line might be way better off than we might think.

Either that or Nick Caley subscribes to the Mike Martz school of offensive coordinating and they’re going to let Stroud get annihilated to run a new Greatest Show On Turf knock off, in which case everybody needs to be fired immediately. But again, all I know is I know nothing, but this will be the first test of the team’s newly re-established goodwill. They better know what they’re doing.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/2025/...-address-interior-offensive-line-in-nfl-draft

 

[Houston Texans]

Value of Things: Way too early Texans draft grades

Photo by Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

It’s actually three grades and not one

I made fun of people who do this and here I am doing it. I am grading the Houston Texans draft less than 48 hours after it was completed. I point this out because we must acknowledge the silliness of it all. At the end of the day, this is simply a way to get clicks in our business and this is no different. Maybe I could throw in some Shedeur Sanders commentary just to get a spike for the site.

However, I do promise to do things a little more thoughtfully than most. As the teaser indicates, the problem with draft grades is that there are really three grades we have to consider. The first is obviously the most important and the one we know the least about. How good are the football players that you brought in? We obviously won’t know for sure until two or three years down the road.

The second grade involves the needs that your team came into the draft with and whether those needs were addressed. This is also a perception issue. Executives, coaches, scouts, and pundits view needs differently because they view players differently. Nick Caserio and DeMeco Ryans obviously feel differently about certain players than we do. So, like any other grade, this grade is subjective, but it is separate from the quality of the players.

The final grade is how a team utilizes their assets. Teams move up and teams move down. Did the Texans win those trades? A large part of that discussion is not only the point value from the draft value chart, but also whether the team missed out excessively on players when they moved down or picked a player others were going to pick if they moved up. So, let’s tackle these one by one.

Test One: How good are these players?​

Again, I’d be nuts if I said I could answer this definitively. There are all kinds of scouting services that have varying track records of success. My stated goal coming into this draft was to get three eventual starters or heavy rotational players. For instance, last year’s draft produced Calen Bullock, Kamari Lassiter, and Blake Fisher. All three look like eventual starters. Cade Stover might or might not end up being a heavy rotation player depending on his development from year one to year two.

A similar impact from this draft would be welcome. We must remember that we can see some of this in their rookie year, but a lot of these grades say “eventual” before everything. For instance, Nico Collins played a lot in his first two years (when healthy) but was not an impact player until year three. Some of that was due to being on a bad football team and some of that might have been issues with the depth chart.

I personally think both wide receivers taken will be eventual starters or heavy rotation players. I think Jaylen Noel is waiting for Christian Kirk to move on before he fully takes over in the slot, so next year it might not look like an immediate dividend. Jayden Higgins is listed behind John Metchie on some depth charts, but I’d be very surprised if that ends up being the final result.

From there, Aireontae Ersery should be a starting tackle eventually. It likely will not come this year, but in 2026 it could very well be Ersery and Fisher on either end. Doing so would allow for the Texans to save some serious money for at least one season while they pay out the nose for C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson. If there is a fourth guy from this class it would be Woody Marks. He likely will be utilized as a third down back next season and could be the primary backup running back until Joe Mixon finally loses steam. That’s four guys from this draft that look like eventual starters or heavy rotation players. Grade: B+

Test Two: Did they address their needs?​

Let’s be completely fair here. The team had definite needs in the wide receiver room and they addressed that with two day two selections. So, they definitely addressed those needs. There was a definite need for a running back to backup Joe Mixon and they selected one in the fourth round. One of the things we have to keep in mind is that this question and the third question spill together some. Obviously, we won’t know if the players they got actually fill those needs until a few years down the road.

The bigger question is whether they used the assets they had to effectively address a need. Taking a defensive tackle late in the sixth round and a tight end in the seventh for instance casually addresses those needs, but it really isn’t all that effectual. Those are picks that rarely stick beyond one or two seasons. So, I don’t count those positions as being addressed.

The Texans did address the secondary with two selections. That included a third round pick. I’m not sure that the pundits would agree that the secondary was a pressing need. By contrast, the interior offensive line was seen as a HUGE hole on this team and they selected exactly ZERO interior offensive linemen. I actually liked the safety they picked late, so if they had drafted a center or guard in the third round instead of a jack of all trades defensive back this grade would have likely been far different. Grade: C-

Test Three: How did you use your assets?​

To be perfectly fair, Nick Caserio set up the 2026 draft to be pretty good. They now sit with two second round picks and two fourth round picks. That is in addition to the first rounder and third rounder they already had. They used one extra third rounder to move up in the fourth round to select Marks. That one trade is kind of a microcosm of this entire weekend.

According to the charts, Caserio did okay. He got more value to move out of the first round then the charts said he should. He probably overpaid a little to move back into the fourth round. The move up in the second round was probably about right and the move up in round three was more or less on par. So, overall, I did not have any particular problem with the price paid to move up or down.

Two potential offensive linemen were picked between 25 and 33 when they moved down. Obviously, they must not have liked either of those guys. Ersery was on most people’s radars and since they had missed out on linemen up to that point, that move made some sense. Every other move was a different story entirely.

Is Jaylin Smith a good football player? Maybe. Was anyone going to pick him before the end of the third round? Not likely. The same could be said for Marks as a number of pundits had other backs listed before him. Again, this is not about the player specifically, but the assets used to get him. If you could have gotten Smith without trading then you wasted a selection to move up to get him. If you could have gotten Marks without trading then you wasted a valuable 2026 asset to move up to get him. I suppose there is a point to paying a price to make sure you get the guy you want and their performance on the field will determine the final grade here. However, it felt like the Texans moved up a few times without needing to. Grade: D

Overall Thoughts​

The first test is the first test for a reason. It is really the only test that matters. The second test matters more than the third test. At the end of the day, no one gives a flip where you were picked once you put the pads on. Brock Purdy may have been Mr. Irrelevant, but that doesn’t matter in current contract negotiations. This draft will ultimately be about the guys they got and whether they are good and whether that interior offensive line holds up. The third test matters today because the draft is fresh in our minds, but as time moves on it will be less and less important.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/2025/4/28/24418666/value-of-things-way-too-early-texans-draft-grades

 

[Houston Texans]

Houston Texans wide receiver group is stacked!

Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Where have we heard that before?

This time last year, we all thought Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud had so many wide receivers to choose from it was insane. Then, as always seems to happen with the Texans, dominoes fell, players got hurt and highlight reel moments were few and far between.

Remember thinking J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney were going to devastate the opposition? How about Andre Johnson, DeAndre Hopkins and (insert revolving door of WR3s)?

The 2024 edition of that was Nico Collins, Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell.

Ugh.

Welcome to the Houston Texans 2025 offseason, where hope springs eternal!​

Barring any training camp and/or preseason injuries, the 2025 Texans wide receiver depth chart looks something like this:

Houston Texans wide receiver depth chart​

WR1 - Nico Collins

WR2 - Christian Kirk

WR3 - Tank Dell*

WR4 - Jayden Higgins (r)

WR5 - Jaylin Noel

Waiting in the wings are: John Metchie III, Xavier Hutchinson, Braxton Berrios, Justin Watson, Jared Wayne, Johnny Johnson III and Xavier Johnson.

Jayden Higgins is 6’4, 220lbs and moving like this…

This angle shows his INSANE movement ability pic.twitter.com/dfd6JKivUC

— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) January 30, 2025​

The odds of Houston carrying 12 receivers into the season are non-existent.

In shaving the list down, the 1st name to likely come off is Dell (*). The speedster is still recovering from a season-ending knee injury with no apparent timeline for his return.

Houston Texans head coach Demeco Ryans (via USA Today)

Tank is doing great. He’s in good spirits. He’s on the road to recovery. He’s doing really well on his rehab process. He’s in a really good spot, so excited to see how that continues to progress. He’ll be back when it’s time for Tank to be back. There’s nothing to rush. There’s no set timeline or we need him back by this certain date. We need Tank back when Tank is ready to be Tank, and that’s good enough for me. I want him to continue to get better, continue to attack each day of the rehab process the right way, like he’s been doing, with a great attitude.

Applause to Ryans for, well, being Ryans. Wouldn’t take much to anoint him greatest head coach in Texans history at this stage.

Beyond that, let’s say Dell is out for the time being.

Houston Texans wide receiver depth chart (edit 1)​

WR1 - Nico Collins

WR2 - Christian Kirk

WR3 - Jayden Higgins (r)

WR4 - Jaylin Noel

WR5 - Braxton Berrios

Waiting in the wings are: John Metchie III, Xavier Hutchinson, Justin Watson, Jared Wayne, Johnny Johnson III and Xavier Johnson.

In true “we’ve seen this before” H-Town style, hanging a helmet full of hopes on former Jacksonville Jaguar star receiver Christian Kirk doesn’t seem smart either. Headlines like “Jaguars are releasing WR Christian Kirk after two injury-filled seasons” and “Injuries Are A Big Topic For The Jaguars A Day After The Loss (of Christian Kirk)” tell the tale. Not unlike Diggs last year, Kirk will likely contribute some meaningful plays then exit to the injured reserve list.

Houston Texans wide receiver depth chart (edit 2)​

WR1 - Nico Collins

WR2 - Jayden Higgins (r)

WR3 - Jaylin Noel (r)

WR4 - Braxton Berrios

WR5 - John Metchie III

Waiting in the wings are: Xavier Hutchinson, Justin Watson, Jared Wayne, Johnny Johnson III and Xavier Johnson.

Jaylin Noel is one of my most DRAFTED Rookie Wide Receivers#htownmade Slot in the Dell Roll
Elite Short Area Quickness
Strenght & Speed Combo (4.39)
Elusive at the Top of Routes

Fully Expect similar to Dell 2023
47 rec 709 yards 7 TD pic.twitter.com/V5d0eTaCxp https://t.co/xuHKcrlpQ6

— Dynasty Dad (@DynastyDadFF) May 2, 2025​

What once was a loaded room, full of pass catching talent, is quickly getting thin.

In fact, if star receiver Nico Collins gets hurt (again), the national talking heads will likely start bashing Texans general manager Nick Caserio for not bringing in enough receiver talent this off-season.

Sure, 12 players sounds like all the depth you could need, but Metchie III, Hutchinson and the others have had more than enough opportunities to crack the starting lineup and failed to do so.

Suddenly, getting rookies Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel up to speed quickly is a serious task. How fast can these 2 NCAA teammates get on the same page as Stroud and the rest of the offense? Will both seamlessly make the jump to the NFL? Or will either or both have the standard rookie receiver transition blues? Let’s face it, Collins wasn’t exactly a juggernaut in his rookie year either. Granted, he didn’t have Stroud throwing him the ball.

Will all this to consider, the notion that Caserio needs to explore more wide receiver options is valid. Even though 12 players might seem like too many, modern NFL attrition will erode that number quickly.

Hopefully Dell heals quickly and completely. We already had Will Fuller and don’t need another.

But this is the Houston Texans 2025 offseason, where hope springs eternal!

Load up your Madden roster with these pass catching masters and see how quickly you can light the opposing defenses on fire!

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/2025/5/7/24425346/houston-texans-wide-receiver-group-is-stacked

 

[Houston Texans]

Texans Talk: Schedule Release

Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images

A look at the Houston Texans 2025 opponents.

The official NFL schedule release will take place next Wednesday, May 14th.

While the Houston Texans have their opponents set for the 2025 season, the order in which they will be played, remains to been seen.

HOME OPPONENTS:​

• INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
• JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
• TENNESSEE TITANS
• DENVER BRONCOS
• LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
• BUFFALO BILLS
• ARIZONA CARDINALS
• SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
• TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

Houston will have a few tough games at home, headlined by the Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Having those games at home, will be huge for the Texans, and fans will need to show up and show out.

A couple other underrated games will be against the Arizona Cardinals, who have gotten a lot better this offseason, along with the San Francisco 49ers, who have seemingly taken a step back, but still have talent on the roster.

ROAD OPPONENTS:​

• INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
• JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
• TENNESSEE TITANS
• KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
• LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
• BALTIMORE RAVENS
• LOS ANGELES RAMS
• SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

The Texans have several brutal road matchups in 2025, particularly against the Baltimore Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs, but with the improved roster, anything could happen, especially when you have C.J. Stroud at quarterback.

Houston played against the Ravens and Chiefs last season, and lost both of those games, which included the Chiefs in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. They will also have tough games against the Los Angeles Chargers, who Houston beat in the Wildcard Round of the playoffs, along with the Los Angeles Rams.

The trend in recent years has been the Texans playing a divisional rival in week one of the season, particularly the Indianapolis Colts, who have been their week one opponent in two out of the last three years.

A divisional matchup in week one would be great to potentially take an early lead, and start off on the right foot, but they will be ready for anyone.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/2025/5/7/24420626/texans-talk-schedule-release0-nfl

 

[Houston Texans]

Houston Texans Defensive Depth Chart - Post-Draft Analysis

Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Who knew the secondary was the priority in the draft?

Free agency? Done. NFL Draft? Done. Throughout the offseason, the Texans have added talent at every position. As for the draft and undrafted rookies, Houston added three draftees and two undrafted free agents. The Texans have 39 defensive players on the roster for approximately 25 spots available on the 53 man roster. While free-wheeling Nick Caserio is likely to add additional talent this offseason, the roster is fairly set heading into summer and training camp.

The eighth annual Rosterology post will be coming out next week and will predict which of these players will make the roster. For now, let’s analyze the talent the Texans posses.

If you want to view the Texans Pre-Draft Depth Chart Analysis, click here.

In bold are players the Texans drafted and in bolded italics are the undrafted rookies

Defensive Ends​

• Starters: Danielle Hunter, Will Anderson Jr.
• Backups: Derek Barnett, Darrell Taylor, Dylan Horton
• Depth: Kingsley Jonathan, Casey Toohill, Solomon Byrd

Analysis: Houston refrained from adding any defensive ends in the draft for the first time since 2021. This group was fortified via free agency and Danielle Hunter’s contract extension. The biggest battle will be if Dylan Horton in the last year of his contract can win a spot over second year Solomon Byrd and veteran pass rusher Darrell Taylor. Houston usually keeps five DEs on the roster.

Defensive Tackles​

• Starters: Tim Settle Jr., Sheldon Rankins
• Backups: Denico Autry, Mario Edwards Jr., Foley Fatukasi
• Depth: Tommy Togiai, Kurt Hinish, Jayden Peevy, Kyonte Hamilton

Analysis: This group got off leagues easier than most predicted. Defensive tackle was tabbed as the third biggest need behind offensive line and wide receiver. However, Houston didn’t address this position until the 224th pick with Kyonte Hamilton. Hamilton is a smaller, pass rush-oriented tackle. Houston tends to carry five DTs, but with five returning and the boomerang return of Sheldon Rankins, Hamilton will be hard pressed for a roster spot. Last year, Marcus Harris, a seventh-round pick from Auburn, had an excellent offseason and still didn’t make the team (he is now actually on the Patriots roster).PLUS, the recent addition of Fatukasi makes Hamilton’s road to the roster extremely tenuous.

Linebackers​

• Starters: Azeel Al-Shaair, Henry To’oTo’o
• Backups: Christian Harris, E.J. Speed
• Depth: Jake Hansen, Jamal Hill, Nick Neimann, K.C. Ossai, Jackson Woodard

Analysis: Another group untouched by the draft, Houston has depth and experience at the linebacker position. The addition of E.J. Speed brings elite depth to this position. Look for second year LB Jamal Hill to exceed expectations this year and join the rotation. The undrafted rookie K.C. Ossai is a Conroe, Texas native and made All-Sun Belt as a junior. His older brother is Joseph Ossai who plays for the Cincinnati Bengals. Woodard was added yesterday after not impressing in Seattle’s rookie minicamp - he was the Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year.

Cornerbacks​

• Starters: Kamari Lassiter, Derek Stingley Jr.
• Backups: Ronald Darby, Jaylin Smith, M.J. Stewart
• Depth: Tremon Smith, D’Angelo Ross, Alijah Huzzie, Gregory Junior

Analysis: While cornerback depth was a need, no one expected Houston to pick one in the third round. Houston traded up from pick 102 to select Jaylin Smith from USC. Smith is a versatile and developing secondary player who is best suited in zone coverage. He will immediately compete on special teams and rotate in as a nickel and dime defender. Houston also signed one of the most talented undrafted rookies in Huzzie, who is an elite nickel corner with finesse route mirroring skills. Huzzie’s ACL injury in the East-West Shrine Bowl practice took him off draft boards, but a season recovering on IR will have him ready to contribute in 2026.

Safeties​

• Starters: Jalen Pitre, Calen Bullock, C.J. Gardner-Johnson
• Backups: Jimmie Ward, Jaylen Reed
• Depth: Gregory Junior, Russ Yeast

Analysis: Jimmie Ward could be a roster casualty after Houston added Jaylen Reed in the sixth round. Ward is 34 and in the last year of his contract. While Ward is the better player, the long-term development of Reed outweighs keeping Ward and his $5.6M contract. Reed is a downhill safety who is better providing underneath coverage than being a deep safety. He fits well into former safety Eric Murray’s role on the defense. Reed struggled to play the deep ball and defend speedier receivers at Penn State, which could mitigate his role early on.

Defense Analysis: This defense is as deep and talented as it has ever been. The team may lack the superstars of the JJ Watt, Brian Cushing, Jadeveon Clowney era, but they have the tools to define the Will Anderson Jr., Danielle Hunter, Derek Stingley Jr. era. The continued development of last year’s stellar duo Kamari Lassiter and Calen Bullock along with the additions of Jaylen Reed and Jaylin Smith can turn this secondary into the league’s most elite unit. While the defensive line interior is subjectively the weakest unit, they have proven and known commodities there who can get the job done.

Source: https://www.battleredblog.com/2025/...ans-defensive-depth-chart-post-draft-analysis