The 2025 NFL draft is in the books for the Houston Texans, and they have welcomed nine new rookies to their AFC South championship roster.
After moving back from No. 25, the Texans had five picks on Day 2, though one was used to move up in the second to secure a hopeful franchise left tackle. Iowa State receiver Jayden Higgins became the first player selected at No. 34 while fellow Cyclones star Jaylin Noel joined the crew at No. 79. Minnesota All-Big Ten offensive tackle Aireontae Ersery joined the crew after Houston gave up pick No. 99 to move up to No. 48 in a deal with the Raiders. Houston also moved up from Round to No. 97 to select USC defensive Jaylin Smith.
They also added some high upside rookies in USC running back Woody Marks, Penn State defensive back Jaylin Reed and Iowa tight end Luke Lachey on Day 3.
With third-year head coach DeMeco Ryans in place, it’s easy to see the vision on offense and upgrades to the personnel ahead of a critical year for C.J. Stroud. There’s also several defensive backs to help transform Houston into a top-three unit in the sport.
Take a look at the Texans’ complete 2025 draft class:
Round 2, Pick 34 (Via NYG): Jayden Higgins, WR, Iowa State
Pick: Second round, 34th overall
Breakdown: Rounding out the receiving corps made sense for Houston, given the departure of Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell’s uncertain status, and the Texans got ahead of a possible run on the position early on Day 2. Higgins has drawn comparisons to new teammate Nico Collins and should be a matchup problem on in-breaking routes and in contested-catch scenarios. – Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz
Fit: Higgins has the opportunity to thrive in Nick Caley’s offense as part of a 1-2 punch with Pro Bowl receiver Nico Collins on the outside. He’s a mismatch nightmare and consistent force on the outside when asked to play in man coverage. While his route tree is limited, Higgins possess a great combination of speed and jump ball abilities to pair with his exceptional route-running skills. There might have been one other target worth touching at No. 34, so it’s hard to complain about the pick.
Grade: A-
Round 2, Pick 48 (from LV): Aireontae Ersery, OT, Minnesota
Pick: Second round, 48th overall
Breakdown: Solving the protection problems for C.J. Stroud was bound to be a multipronged approach for Houston. The Texans take another stab at a solution with Ersery, an uneven but promising blocker who should be a good fit in offensive coordinator Nick Caley’s zone-blocking scheme. Bringing him along slowly behind Cam Robinson in his rookie year is probably the right move. – Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz
Fit: The Texans considered drafting the three-year starter at No. 34. That would have been a reach, especially with other needs still on the board. At No. 48, Ersery can easily transition from the college game to the pros without feeling rushed to take over as the heir apparent to Laremy Tunsil in due time. Scouts love the fit in Caley’s system and think he can become a Pro Bowl-type tackle in due time.
Grade: A-
Round 3, Pick 79 (from MIA): Jaylin Noel, WR, Iowa State
Pick: Third round, 79th overall
Breakdown: Noel and second-round receiver Jayden Higgins will remain teammates with contrasting styles at their next stop. There’s certainly a redundancy question given Christian Kirk’s presence and the other figures in play here, but Noel is the kind of pass catcher who can further put C.J. Stroud at ease with his ability to uncover.- Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz
Fit: This might be the best pick of the draft. Not of the Texans’ draft, but the entirety of all 257 picks. Noel is a small-framed but eplosive route-runner that wins with exceptional footwork and the ability to create separation in small spaces. He’s also a willing blocker that won’t allow his small frame to make him a non-factor in the run game. From a perception standpoint, personality role and fit, Caserio deserves a ton of credit for doubling down on Cyclones and realizing this was the best player on the board.
Grade: A+
Round 3, Pick 97 (from MIN): Jaylin Smith, DB, USC
Pick: Third round, 97th overall
Breakdown: Cornerback didn’t shape up as a particular area of concern for a secondary that already boasts Derek Stingley Jr., Kamari Lassiter and nickel Jalen Pitre. Smith might be pigeonhole to working inside and sticking underneath, but he can add depth.- Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz
Fit: Smith’s frame likely makes him a corner instead of a safety and more than likely a nickel defender only. That’s not a problem since Houston could use depth following the departure of Myles Bryant, but a Day 2 pick should be used on a player who likely competes for starting reps. With still a need on the offensive line and multiple players still on the board, this is more so a miss when looking at what it cost to move up in the top 100. Wouldn’t Smith have been there in Round 4? Most think so.
Grade: C+
Round 4, Pick 116 (from MIA): Woody Marks, RB, USC
Pick: Fourth round, 116th overall
Breakdown: Houston dealt with a slew of injuries in the backfield last season, so investing in the position in a deep class has merit, especially as starter Joe Mixon enters his age-29 season. Marks is a good but not great athlete but offers a lot as a receiver out of the backfield. He’s the oldest running back in the class, though. – Ayrton Ostly
Fit: From a scheme standpoint, this is a great fit. Marks’ receiving skills should make him the easy No. 2 option in Caley’s system behind Mixon and can be a nice change-of-pace runner. He lacks breakaway speed in the open field but makes up for it by using a lower center of gravity to push ahead to play through contact. He’ll be a nice complementary back capable of finding yardage and value on third downs. The only reason why its underwhelming is the asking price. Giving up a top 100 picks is always costly.
Grade: B-
Round 6, Pick 187: Jaylen Reed, S, Penn State
Pick: Sixth round, 187th overall
Breakdown: Reed is a fantastic fit for the Texans as an athletic, downhill safety who hits hard as a blitzer and in run defense. He offers good size at 6-foot and 212 pounds and has the tools to cover. He’ll need to improve his technique to become a starter at safety but should at least be a special teams ace for the Texans early on.- Ayrton Ostly
Fit: From a scheme fit, it’s great. Reed said he models his game after Gardner-Johnson, which is a good thing since he’ll likely serve as his backup this fall. Better in coverage than in space, he’ll need to improve as a tackle and play with a more balanced approach, but he screams “DeMeco Ryans’ type.” By the sixth round, if a player can add special-teams value, it’s a solid selection.
Grade: B+
Round 6, Pick 197: Graham Mertz, QB, Florida
Pick: Sixth round, 197th overall
Breakdown: Houston gets a potential backup of the future in the mobile Mertz. The Florida starter has good size at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds with solid athleticism as well. He’s struggled with injuries but has an NFL-level arm and decent accuracy.- Ayrton Ostly
Fit: Mertz improved in all areas following his slump in Wisconsin. He’s coming off a torn ACL, but is expected to be cleared by the time training camp rolls around. Accuracy will keep him on the roster as a QB3. Think of him like the Cooper Rush of Houston.
Grade: D
Round 7, Pick 244: Kyonte Hamilton, DL, Rutgers
Pick: Sixth round, 197th overall
Breakdown: What makes the 300-pound Kyonte Hamilton so intriguing is his wrestling background. Coaches love former wrestlers, because they understand leverage, hand placement and torque. Hamilton should give the Texans a bit of what the roster still needed.– Brent Solbeski
Fit: It’s a solid, big-framed defensive tackle who should fill gaps on third down. He’s not expected to start. It’s a fit for a player who should see roughly 15 reps a game.
Grade: B
Round 7, Pick 256: Luke Lachey, TE, Iowa
Pick: Seventh round, 255th overall
Breakdown: Lachey is a fluid athlete at 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds with the commitment and power to be a good run blocker. He’s smooth out of his breaks and could become a solid TE2/3 for the Texans’ offense in time. – Ayrton Ostly
Fit: The Texans needed a blocking tight end with upside in the passing game. That’s Lachey, who might make the roster simply because of his blocking skills.
Grade: A-
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Introducing the Houston Texans 2025 draft class
The 2025 NFL draft is in the books for the Houston Texans, and they have welcomed nine new rookies to their AFC South championship roster.
After moving back from No. 25, the Texans had five picks on Day 2, though one was used to move up in the second to secure a hopeful franchise left tackle. Iowa State receiver Jayden Higgins became the first player selected at No. 34 while fellow Cyclones star Jaylin Noel joined the crew at No. 79. Minnesota All-Big Ten offensive tackle Aireontae Ersery joined the crew after Houston gave up pick No. 99 to move up to No. 48 in a deal with the Raiders. Houston also moved up from Round to No. 97 to select USC defensive Jaylin Smith.
They also added some high upside rookies in USC running back Woody Marks, Penn State defensive back Jaylin Reed and Iowa tight end Luke Lachey on Day 3.
With third-year head coach DeMeco Ryans in place, it’s easy to see the vision on offense and upgrades to the personnel ahead of a critical year for C.J. Stroud. There’s also several defensive backs to help transform Houston into a top-three unit in the sport.
Take a look at the Texans’ complete 2025 draft class:
Round 2, Pick 34 (Via NYG): Jayden Higgins, WR, Iowa State
Pick: Second round, 34th overall
Breakdown: Rounding out the receiving corps made sense for Houston, given the departure of Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell’s uncertain status, and the Texans got ahead of a possible run on the position early on Day 2. Higgins has drawn comparisons to new teammate Nico Collins and should be a matchup problem on in-breaking routes and in contested-catch scenarios. – Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz
Fit: Higgins has the opportunity to thrive in Nick Caley’s offense as part of a 1-2 punch with Pro Bowl receiver Nico Collins on the outside. He’s a mismatch nightmare and consistent force on the outside when asked to play in man coverage. While his route tree is limited, Higgins possess a great combination of speed and jump ball abilities to pair with his exceptional route-running skills. There might have been one other target worth touching at No. 34, so it’s hard to complain about the pick.
Grade: A-
Round 2, Pick 48 (from LV): Aireontae Ersery, OT, Minnesota
Pick: Second round, 48th overall
Breakdown: Solving the protection problems for C.J. Stroud was bound to be a multipronged approach for Houston. The Texans take another stab at a solution with Ersery, an uneven but promising blocker who should be a good fit in offensive coordinator Nick Caley’s zone-blocking scheme. Bringing him along slowly behind Cam Robinson in his rookie year is probably the right move. – Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz
Fit: The Texans considered drafting the three-year starter at No. 34. That would have been a reach, especially with other needs still on the board. At No. 48, Ersery can easily transition from the college game to the pros without feeling rushed to take over as the heir apparent to Laremy Tunsil in due time. Scouts love the fit in Caley’s system and think he can become a Pro Bowl-type tackle in due time.
Grade: A-
Round 3, Pick 79 (from MIA): Jaylin Noel, WR, Iowa State
Pick: Third round, 79th overall
Breakdown: Noel and second-round receiver Jayden Higgins will remain teammates with contrasting styles at their next stop. There’s certainly a redundancy question given Christian Kirk’s presence and the other figures in play here, but Noel is the kind of pass catcher who can further put C.J. Stroud at ease with his ability to uncover.- Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz
Fit: This might be the best pick of the draft. Not of the Texans’ draft, but the entirety of all 257 picks. Noel is a small-framed but eplosive route-runner that wins with exceptional footwork and the ability to create separation in small spaces. He’s also a willing blocker that won’t allow his small frame to make him a non-factor in the run game. From a perception standpoint, personality role and fit, Caserio deserves a ton of credit for doubling down on Cyclones and realizing this was the best player on the board.
Grade: A+
Round 3, Pick 97 (from MIN): Jaylin Smith, DB, USC
Pick: Third round, 97th overall
Breakdown: Cornerback didn’t shape up as a particular area of concern for a secondary that already boasts Derek Stingley Jr., Kamari Lassiter and nickel Jalen Pitre. Smith might be pigeonhole to working inside and sticking underneath, but he can add depth.- Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz
Fit: Smith’s frame likely makes him a corner instead of a safety and more than likely a nickel defender only. That’s not a problem since Houston could use depth following the departure of Myles Bryant, but a Day 2 pick should be used on a player who likely competes for starting reps. With still a need on the offensive line and multiple players still on the board, this is more so a miss when looking at what it cost to move up in the top 100. Wouldn’t Smith have been there in Round 4? Most think so.
Grade: C+
Round 4, Pick 116 (from MIA): Woody Marks, RB, USC
Pick: Fourth round, 116th overall
Breakdown: Houston dealt with a slew of injuries in the backfield last season, so investing in the position in a deep class has merit, especially as starter Joe Mixon enters his age-29 season. Marks is a good but not great athlete but offers a lot as a receiver out of the backfield. He’s the oldest running back in the class, though. – Ayrton Ostly
Fit: From a scheme standpoint, this is a great fit. Marks’ receiving skills should make him the easy No. 2 option in Caley’s system behind Mixon and can be a nice change-of-pace runner. He lacks breakaway speed in the open field but makes up for it by using a lower center of gravity to push ahead to play through contact. He’ll be a nice complementary back capable of finding yardage and value on third downs. The only reason why its underwhelming is the asking price. Giving up a top 100 picks is always costly.
Grade: B-
Round 6, Pick 187: Jaylen Reed, S, Penn State
Pick: Sixth round, 187th overall
Breakdown: Reed is a fantastic fit for the Texans as an athletic, downhill safety who hits hard as a blitzer and in run defense. He offers good size at 6-foot and 212 pounds and has the tools to cover. He’ll need to improve his technique to become a starter at safety but should at least be a special teams ace for the Texans early on.- Ayrton Ostly
Fit: From a scheme fit, it’s great. Reed said he models his game after Gardner-Johnson, which is a good thing since he’ll likely serve as his backup this fall. Better in coverage than in space, he’ll need to improve as a tackle and play with a more balanced approach, but he screams “DeMeco Ryans’ type.” By the sixth round, if a player can add special-teams value, it’s a solid selection.
Grade: B+
Round 6, Pick 197: Graham Mertz, QB, Florida
Pick: Sixth round, 197th overall
Breakdown: Houston gets a potential backup of the future in the mobile Mertz. The Florida starter has good size at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds with solid athleticism as well. He’s struggled with injuries but has an NFL-level arm and decent accuracy.- Ayrton Ostly
Fit: Mertz improved in all areas following his slump in Wisconsin. He’s coming off a torn ACL, but is expected to be cleared by the time training camp rolls around. Accuracy will keep him on the roster as a QB3. Think of him like the Cooper Rush of Houston.
Grade: D
Round 7, Pick 244: Kyonte Hamilton, DL, Rutgers
Pick: Sixth round, 197th overall
Breakdown: What makes the 300-pound Kyonte Hamilton so intriguing is his wrestling background. Coaches love former wrestlers, because they understand leverage, hand placement and torque. Hamilton should give the Texans a bit of what the roster still needed.– Brent Solbeski
Fit: It’s a solid, big-framed defensive tackle who should fill gaps on third down. He’s not expected to start. It’s a fit for a player who should see roughly 15 reps a game.
Grade: B
Round 7, Pick 256: Luke Lachey, TE, Iowa
Pick: Seventh round, 255th overall
Breakdown: Lachey is a fluid athlete at 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds with the commitment and power to be a good run blocker. He’s smooth out of his breaks and could become a solid TE2/3 for the Texans’ offense in time. – Ayrton Ostly
Fit: The Texans needed a blocking tight end with upside in the passing game. That’s Lachey, who might make the roster simply because of his blocking skills.
Grade: A-
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Introducing the Houston Texans 2025 draft class
