If the Texans Trade on Day One What Direction Should They Be Headed?
A move up makes little sense but there are some players of interest
With the first round of the NFL Draft just a day away, the rumor mill is firing up. Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio has often referred to the pre-draft stretch as “silly season,” and this year, he might be right.
It feels like many teams want to move down, a few teams want to move up, and nobody wants to pay market value to move around. Various reports have linked the Arizona Cardinals (3rd overall), the Tennessee Titans (4th overall), and the Cleveland Browns (6th and 24th overall) as teams that would like to move back. The New York Giants (5th and 10th overall), Kansas City Chiefs (9th and 29th overall), and Los Angeles Rams (13th overall) might want to move up. You want silly? The Dallas Cowboys are rumored to want to move up from 12th overall and down from 20th overall!
The chaos might present a spot where the Texans could take advantage.
Trading up would be tedious, but it shouldn’t be out of the question. The Texans enter this year’s draft with additional draft capital via the Laremy Tunsil trade. Their own selection in the third round was traded a year ago, but they have New York’s selection from last year's trade-back. Houston has no additional draft picks in 2027 and has already dealt their fifth-round selection in next year’s draft.
Who is worthy of chasing in a deal to move up in the first round?
There aren’t many players that should interest Houston in a trade-up, but let’s start with the best player at his position.
Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq should be a target if the Texans intend to trade up. He’s the top tight end in this class. There were high expectations for Sadiq in 2025. He fulfilled those expectations. Among tight ends, Sadiq finished eighth in receiving yards and led the position with eight touchdown catches. He’s an excellent athlete. Despite his less-than-ideal size for the position, he doesn’t shy away from blocking.
It shouldn’t be a big move up, but Sadiq could help the tight end situation in Houston right away.
What about a player who could be the best at his position? Utah offensive lineman Spencer Fano is another player who should be on Houston’s radar if he starts to slip. Fano was a monster in college. He’s an excellent athlete with good size. He played right tackle over the past two seasons and can lock down that position. Many believe he could play guard. Houston should be interested in him as an interior player.
Fano surprised everyone at the NFL Scouting Combine when he decided to participate in drills at center. It’s not a position he has played, nor is guard, but Fano’s skills and size would easily make him the most intriguing center in the draft. If that experiment didn’t work out, the Texans would still have a useful guard or eventual starter at right tackle on their hands. He’d require a trade into the mid-teens. It would be a substantial investment in the offensive line.
That should be about it when it comes to moving up for the Texans. Sure, a small move of a couple of spots for a defensive lineman they love would make sense. That’s a cheaper move than going up the order to get Sadiq or Fano.
Trading back is a far more attractive option.
Caserio did it last year, and if the draft falls a particular way, he should have the chance to do it this year. The New York Jets (33rd overall) and Cardinals (34th overall) sit at the top of the second round. Both could draft Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson. The Jets seem less likely, but maybe they’d like to come up for a position they ignored with their first two selections. The Cardinals and Texans have done business before. Houston traded with Arizona to select Will Anderson. Arizona’s general manager, Monti Ossenfort, also worked with Caserio in New England.
While it is hard to find the team, dropping back even further would work as well. The Texans could add draft picks in 2027 if they were moving far enough. Having the 38th overall selection eases the pain of waiting for your selection to show up. Houston’s recent success on day two should excite fans if Caserio can add more selections for Friday.
Texans Draft Facts
The Texans have selected nine players in four consecutive drafts
Nick Caserio has selected one player who did not attend a Power 5 (Now Power 4) school. That player is Tank Dell, and the University of Houston is now in the Big 12.
The Texans have never selected a player at 28th overall in franchise history. DeAndre Hopkins was selected 27th overall in 2013. Jason Babin was the 27th overall selection by the Texans in 2004. Whitney Mercilus was the 26th overall selection in 2012. Duane Brown was the 26th overall selection in 2008.
The entire 2025 draft class was selected by a pick acquired via trade.
The Texans have never drafted a running back or a tight end in the first round. They have used one selection on each position in the second round. Running back Ben Tate was drafted in 2010. Tight end Bennie Joppru was drafted in 2003.
The Texans have never drafted a punter.
2020 was the last time a player was drafted 28th overall who made the Pro Bowl. The Baltimore Ravens selected Patrick Queen that year.
Two years ago, the Texans selected Blake Fisher with the 59th overall pick. They currently possess the 59th overall pick.
Tank Dell was the 69th overall pick in 2023. The Texans currently possess the 69th overall pick.
Henry To’oTo’o was the 167th overall pick in 2023. The Texans currently possess the 167th overall pick.
Nick Caserio has made 18 draft-day trades during the past three drafts. Five of those trades have been with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Nick Caserio has drafted four players from Alabama and four players from USC. That is tied for the most from one school in his tenure.
The Texans have made 22 selections in the first round. The most recent one was Will Anderson Jr. in 2023.
The Texans have drafted more players in the sixth round, 36 total, than any other round.