Trade Back Sets Texans Up to Own Day Two of the Draft
Where should the Texans use their picks?
The Houston Texans tried and failed to move up in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft yesterday.
The pivot worked out better than expected.
The Texans traded with the New York Giants, acquiring the 34th overall and 99th overall picks in this year’s draft and a third-round selection next year. Houston is scheduled to pick five times in two rounds tonight.
It was the right move.
As player after player who might have fit what the Texans needed or wanted came off the board, Nick Caserio kept calling. His work to go up turned into work to go down the board.
“I don't want to say we talked to the whole league,” he said after the conclusion of the first round, “but probably talked to the whole league on every different level. There are some players we identified; some were out of reach.”
Texas offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. never made it out of the top ten. Tyler Booker, a long-connected Texans target, surprisingly went 12th to the Dallas Cowboys. Grey Zabel was picked at 18. Emeka Egbuka was picked at 19. The Green Bay Packers bucked a 20-year trend and took a wide receiver. Surprisingly, the last worthwhile investment for the 25th pick went at 24 when the Minnesota Vikings opted to pick instead of trade back. They selected Ohio State’s Donovan Jackson.
Caserio revealed they believed a trade back was possible in the late teens. He started to work the phones.
The Texans didn’t see anyone worth the 25th pick. I didn’t either.
Ohio State tackle Josh Simmons was a popular name attached to Houston. He is coming off a serious knee injury. The whispers about character issues from Simmons haven’t been quiet. Josh Conerly Jr. is a fine tackle prospect. He is teammates now with former Texans tackle Laremy Tunsil on the Commanders. Conerly isn’t better than either likely starting offensive tackle for the Texans. He also can’t play guard.
Houston hasn’t made a pick. All their needs are unaddressed. Plenty of options remain.
The 34th overall selection is a fascinating one. It sets the tone for the rest of the round. Drafting the fourth wideout in this draft wouldn’t be a bad choice. Nor would the third running back. The offensive line, I’m sure, is on the wishlist of many. I’d be floored to see Houston stay put with all these picks and make them as they’re currently slated.
Caserio might be talking to the entire NFL again today.
Houston Texans Remaining Picks
(2) 34th Overall
(2) 58th Overall
(3) 79th Overall
(3) 89th Overall
(3) 99th Overall
(6) 179th Overall
(6) 216th Overall
(7) 236th Overall
(7) 241st Overall
(7) 255th Overall
The Texans also have an additional selection in the second, third, and fourth rounds of next year’s draft. Nick Caserio has moved up 13 times in the previous four drafts. I would expect that number to creep closer to 15 by the end of tonight.