We’re less than 24 hours out from the 2025 NFL Draft, so put the finishing touches on your big board and roll your final mock draft of the cycle. This incoming class of prospects is as wide open as any of the last few years, so Thursday’s festivities should be full of unforeseen twists and turns once teams are on the clock.
The Houston Texans hold the 25th pick of the first round but are known to take an aggressive approach over the last couple of seasons. What will general manager Nick Caserio and the team’s war room do on Thursday night? Read on through this Texans draft prediction for your last-minute research needs.
Team Needs
Offensive Line: C.J. Stroud took the second-most sacks of any quarterback last season, and the Texans absolutely cannot let that happen again. After trading away an All-Pro caliber LT in Laremy Tunsil, there’s huge shoes to fill on Stroud’s blind side. OG Kenyon Green was also traded away and the team brought in a slew of free agent offensive linemen to compete for starting spots. With a new position coach and a clear need in the trenches, an offensive line selection in the first round appears likely for Houston.
Wide Receiver: This position might be a luxury pick for the Texans, but playoff contenders can never have enough firepower on offense. Stroud experienced a sophomore slump in year two, but he didn’t have much starting-caliber talent to throw to while Nico Collins was hurt, or once Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell suffered season-ending injuries. Diggs is now a Patriot and there’s no telling when, or even if, Dell will recapture his rookie season form. While Houston traded for an underrated veteran WR in Christian Kirk, he’s a free agent next offseason and could always use another stud lining up across from Collins.
Wild Card: To be honest, there really aren’t many other true needs for the Texans outside of the two positions mentioned above. They’ve got a fantastic defense with loads of talent across the board and the production to show for it. Dalton Schultz and their depth tight ends are a perfectly fine position group, and Joe Mixon should be around for another year or two as the primary halfback (though they could use a backup/successor). Houston might just draft for best player available if their favorites are off the board.
Betting Odds on DraftKings Sportsbook
DraftKings Sportsbook favors the Texans to take an offensive lineman with their first-round pick at -400 odds. The next closest position is wide receiver, coming in at +250 odds. That’s a pretty large disparity in value, which emphasizes how important improvement in the trenches is for this team heading into 2025.
Defensive line/EDGE sits as the third-most likely selection at +900, while tight end falls fourth at a very long +3000. The former could happen depending on how the board shakes out, but the latter remains highly unlikely unless Tyler Warren or Colston Loveland make an improbable drop into the late first.
Potential Picks
Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State: Egbuka may not possess the burner speed of Matthew Golden or the contested-catch ability of Tet McMillan, but he remains one of the highest-upside players in this entire draft class. The former Ohio State Buckeye posted multiple thousand-plus yard seasons and broke the program record for career receptions. He brings solid size at 6-foot-1 and is a superb route-runner following a long line of successful Buckeye wideouts. As a bonus, he caught passes from Stroud at Ohio State — the chemistry could create an instant connection in Houston.
Tyler Booker, OG, Alabama: This big-bodied guard was a two-year starter at Alabama and was one of the nation’s top performers during that time. He earned an All-SEC and an All-American nod at LG and showed dependability and toughness when it mattered most. He’s a better run blocker than pass blocker, but could instantly slot in for the Texans at one of the guard spots and start from day one.
Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State: At 6-foot-5 and 317 pounds, Simmons’ frame is very similar to that of Laremy Tunsil. He started 19 games at LT for the Buckeyes over the last two seasons but his last campaign ended early due to a torn patellar tendon. As long as his health is clean, Simmons has the strength and quickness to hold his own at the NFL level and step in as the Texans’ next franchise left tackle.
