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The Houston Texans are less than 24 hours away from being on the clock with the 2025 NFL draft, where they're going to have to wait and see how the board falls before selecting 25th overall.
What's the plan for general manager Nick Caserio? Is it to move up and draft an offensive tackle? Is it staying put and securing a wide receiver at No. 25?
"We've never drafted for need around here. Never going to. We're going to pick the best player we feel fits our program regardless of the position," Caserio said last week at his pre-draft press conference. "I would say other than quarterback pretty much any position is on the table, like it always is. Try to stay true to the board. That's the reason we created the players. We put the players on the board, we grade them accordingly to what we think the role is going to be, then we take them off the board as we see fit. That's not going to change.”
In the latest round of NFL mock drafts, there's one player emerging as a favorite to land with the Texans: Ohio State offensive tackle Josh Simmons -- be it at No. 25 or through trading back. Simmons was a popular selection for Houston after is was reported that Texas All-American tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. was expected to be a top 15 selection. While Simmons is coming off a major injury, he's someone who scouts believe could be the best offensive lineman in the class.
Will that concern Houston? If so, where do the back-to-back AFC South champions turn when on the clock? While the team firmed up the offensive line in a big way during free agency, things opened up to include more skill players, including receiver Emeka Egbuka and offensive guard Tyler Booker (who did make it on this roundup).
With the NFL draft just a day away, we rounded up the latest mock drafts, where experts make their final picks for the Texans with the 25th overall selection:
From USA Today's Nate Davis: "The 6-6, 312-pound Senior Bowl standout can play every position on the offensive line – so the Texans can just pick his best spot after taking a sledgehammer to theirs this offseason."
From Dane Brugler: "Another true wild card in this draft class, Nolen could be snatched up in the top 15 by a team such as the 49ers or Cowboys … or he could fall to the mid-20s, where the Texans would be ready to bet on his high-impact upside as an interior disruptor."
From Mike Jones: "Houston signed veteran Cam Robinson to a one-year deal, and he could serve as a bridge if Simmons isn’t ready to start on day one after suffering a knee injury midway through his final season at Ohio State. Once healthy, Simmons has the potential to shine. Had it not been for the injury, and with a stronger interview process, he could have wound up as the first offensive tackle selected in this draft."
NFL.com's Bucky Brooks: "The 300-plus-pound bully is a tone-setter at the point of attack. Booker mauls defenders as a heavy-handed blocker with a violent approach."
From Matt Miller: "Simmons' draft range is among the widest on the board, according to scouts. Some said he could come off the board as early as No. 11, while others said he could slip out of Round 1 because of concerns about interviews and his patella tendon tear sustained in October. Per one scout, the Texans are desperate to fix their offensive line. Guard Tyler Booker (Alabama) has also been mentioned as a target here."
From Peter Scharger: The Texans could look to their offensive line and add a guard who has the potential to kick outside to tackle. They're rebuilding their protection in front of quarterback C.J. Stroud. This isn't an attention-grabbing pick, but it's a sensible one in this draft.
From D.J. Bien-Aime: "The Texans need wideout help after the loss of Stefon Diggs in free agency along with Tank Dell's uncertainty (knee). Going into quarterback C.J. Stroud's Year 3, adding his former teammate that had 2,868 receiving yards in his four-year career at Ohio State could lead to a dynamic Texans receiving core. A trio of Nico Collins, Christian Kirk and Egbuka could elevate Stroud in a pivotal year to help create a more explosive Texans offense."
From Cole Thompson: "Houston needs receiver help and Egbuka is someone who thrived when hauling in passes from C.J. Stroud in Columbus. Two years later, he put up another 1,000-yard season as a No. 2 weapon in a passing-centric offense. That’s what the Texans are looking to accomplish with Nick Caley as the new OC. Caserio can go offensive line the rest of the draft, but adding Egbuka essentially does help out Stroud, so consider the mission accomplished."
From Cody Benjamin: "Jordan Dajani adds fresh grit and versatility to the Texans' remade offensive line."
From Jordan Reid: "The Texans remodeled their offensive line this offseason after struggling to protect quarterback C.J. Stroud in 2024. Laremy Tunsil, Kenyon Green and Shaq Mason are all gone, while the team added Cam Robinson, Laken Tomlinson and Ed Ingram. But guard is still a major weakness. Booker is a tone-setting interior blocker who allowed only one sack across 970 pass-blocking snaps in college. His physical play and quickness help him win in short areas. Booker has the potential to be a plug-and-play starter at either guard spot."
From Nate Tice: "I wouldn’t be surprised if Conerly ended up going higher on draft night, but he’s here for the Texans to snatch up. Conerly rapidly improved during his final season and has all the makings of a true blindside protector in the NFL. Even with the free-agent additions the Texans have made this offseason, none of them preclude Houston from adding more talent up front. Especially with a potential long-term starter at left tackle sitting there."
PFF's Gordon McGuinness: "The Texans added Cam Robinson as a replacement for Laremy Tunsil at left tackle, but that shouldn’t stop them from securing a long-term solution in the draft. Simmons could be the best left tackle to come out of this class if he checks out injury-wise, as he didn’t allow a single sack or hit from 158 pass-blocking snaps last year."
From Henry McKenna: "The Browns need a quarterback right now. And Sanders is one of the few QBs available who can lead an NFL franchise right now. So coach Kevin Stefanski bangs the table for the Browns to move up (and ensure that the Rams don't draft and groom Sanders). The Stefanski system is going to be great for Sanders, who should enjoy throwing to David Njoku and Jerry Jeudy, particularly on play-action. Best of all, Sanders will reunite with his Colorado teammate Hunter. Think of what Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase have done in Cincinnati. It’s that all over again."
From Connor Orr: "I debated whether to go with Josh Simmons here, but MMQB Podcast co-host Albert Breer changed my mind when he relayed a story about Booker from this season, where Booker said that any teammate insisting on not playing in the bowl game had to explain it to him first. The Texans are seeking a character makeover and, boy, would that seem to fit the bill. You can listen to the entire episode where we live mock the first round (no trades) here."
From Danny Kelly: "The Texans did some major reshuffling of their offensive line this offseason, trading away starters from last year such as Laremy Tunsil, Kenyon Green, and Shaq Mason. They grab a long-term starter at the blindside spot in Conerly, who has the athletic traits and frame to play at guard early on if that’s where he fits best. Protecting C.J. Stroud is priority no. 1, and Conerly should help there."
For The Win's Christian D'Andrea: "Simmons was a Day 1 starter both as a freshman at San Diego State and a transfer with the Buckeyes the last two seasons. He’s long armed and powerful with the low center of gravity that should help him recover from rookie mistakes. He slides here after not working out at the combine, but that could make him 2025’s biggest draft bargain."
From Eric Edholm: "I didn't imagine Banks falling this far, and I contemplated a receiver such as Emeka Egbuka here, but Houston can find a home for this Texas product right away, either at guard or tackle. He grew up just down the road from the Texans' facility."
From Chad Reuter: "Signing Cam Robinson stabilized the left tackle spot after the Texans traded starter Laremy Tunsil to the Commanders. Still, Robinson's deal is only for one year, and he's struggled to stay on the field at times. Simmons is a solid pass protector and strong run blocker on either side of the line; he'll be a first-round pick if teams receive positive medical reports on the knee injury that sidelined him for much of 2024.
From Jonathan Jones: "This is usually around the time a center gets taken in the draft, but the Texans could use Zabel as a center or guard moving forward. Houston's offseason plan has been to add a couple linemen in the draft, and they start early with the versatile interior lineman."
From Ian Valentino: "Donovan Jackson was a great guard for the Buckeyes, but his move out to left tackle in 2024 redefined his upside. He could be the team's left tackle of the future."
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: NFL mock draft round-up: Experts make Texans' final picks at No. 25
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What's the plan for general manager Nick Caserio? Is it to move up and draft an offensive tackle? Is it staying put and securing a wide receiver at No. 25?
"We've never drafted for need around here. Never going to. We're going to pick the best player we feel fits our program regardless of the position," Caserio said last week at his pre-draft press conference. "I would say other than quarterback pretty much any position is on the table, like it always is. Try to stay true to the board. That's the reason we created the players. We put the players on the board, we grade them accordingly to what we think the role is going to be, then we take them off the board as we see fit. That's not going to change.”
In the latest round of NFL mock drafts, there's one player emerging as a favorite to land with the Texans: Ohio State offensive tackle Josh Simmons -- be it at No. 25 or through trading back. Simmons was a popular selection for Houston after is was reported that Texas All-American tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. was expected to be a top 15 selection. While Simmons is coming off a major injury, he's someone who scouts believe could be the best offensive lineman in the class.
Will that concern Houston? If so, where do the back-to-back AFC South champions turn when on the clock? While the team firmed up the offensive line in a big way during free agency, things opened up to include more skill players, including receiver Emeka Egbuka and offensive guard Tyler Booker (who did make it on this roundup).
With the NFL draft just a day away, we rounded up the latest mock drafts, where experts make their final picks for the Texans with the 25th overall selection:
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USA Today: Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota State
From USA Today's Nate Davis: "The 6-6, 312-pound Senior Bowl standout can play every position on the offensive line – so the Texans can just pick his best spot after taking a sledgehammer to theirs this offseason."
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The Athletic: Walter Nolen, DL, Ole Miss
From Dane Brugler: "Another true wild card in this draft class, Nolen could be snatched up in the top 15 by a team such as the 49ers or Cowboys … or he could fall to the mid-20s, where the Texans would be ready to bet on his high-impact upside as an interior disruptor."
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The Athletic: Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
From Mike Jones: "Houston signed veteran Cam Robinson to a one-year deal, and he could serve as a bridge if Simmons isn’t ready to start on day one after suffering a knee injury midway through his final season at Ohio State. Once healthy, Simmons has the potential to shine. Had it not been for the injury, and with a stronger interview process, he could have wound up as the first offensive tackle selected in this draft."
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NFL.com: Tyler Booker, OL, Alabama
NFL.com's Bucky Brooks: "The 300-plus-pound bully is a tone-setter at the point of attack. Booker mauls defenders as a heavy-handed blocker with a violent approach."
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ESPN: Josh Simmons, OT Ohio State
From Matt Miller: "Simmons' draft range is among the widest on the board, according to scouts. Some said he could come off the board as early as No. 11, while others said he could slip out of Round 1 because of concerns about interviews and his patella tendon tear sustained in October. Per one scout, the Texans are desperate to fix their offensive line. Guard Tyler Booker (Alabama) has also been mentioned as a target here."
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ESPN: Donovan Jackson, OL, Ohio State
From Peter Scharger: The Texans could look to their offensive line and add a guard who has the potential to kick outside to tackle. They're rebuilding their protection in front of quarterback C.J. Stroud. This isn't an attention-grabbing pick, but it's a sensible one in this draft.
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ESPN: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
From D.J. Bien-Aime: "The Texans need wideout help after the loss of Stefon Diggs in free agency along with Tank Dell's uncertainty (knee). Going into quarterback C.J. Stroud's Year 3, adding his former teammate that had 2,868 receiving yards in his four-year career at Ohio State could lead to a dynamic Texans receiving core. A trio of Nico Collins, Christian Kirk and Egbuka could elevate Stroud in a pivotal year to help create a more explosive Texans offense."
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Texans Wire: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
From Cole Thompson: "Houston needs receiver help and Egbuka is someone who thrived when hauling in passes from C.J. Stroud in Columbus. Two years later, he put up another 1,000-yard season as a No. 2 weapon in a passing-centric offense. That’s what the Texans are looking to accomplish with Nick Caley as the new OC. Caserio can go offensive line the rest of the draft, but adding Egbuka essentially does help out Stroud, so consider the mission accomplished."
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CBS Sports: Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota State
From Cody Benjamin: "Jordan Dajani adds fresh grit and versatility to the Texans' remade offensive line."
ESPN: Tyler Booker, OL, Alabama
From Jordan Reid: "The Texans remodeled their offensive line this offseason after struggling to protect quarterback C.J. Stroud in 2024. Laremy Tunsil, Kenyon Green and Shaq Mason are all gone, while the team added Cam Robinson, Laken Tomlinson and Ed Ingram. But guard is still a major weakness. Booker is a tone-setting interior blocker who allowed only one sack across 970 pass-blocking snaps in college. His physical play and quickness help him win in short areas. Booker has the potential to be a plug-and-play starter at either guard spot."
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Yahoo! Sports: Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon
From Nate Tice: "I wouldn’t be surprised if Conerly ended up going higher on draft night, but he’s here for the Texans to snatch up. Conerly rapidly improved during his final season and has all the makings of a true blindside protector in the NFL. Even with the free-agent additions the Texans have made this offseason, none of them preclude Houston from adding more talent up front. Especially with a potential long-term starter at left tackle sitting there."
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Pro Football Focus: Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
PFF's Gordon McGuinness: "The Texans added Cam Robinson as a replacement for Laremy Tunsil at left tackle, but that shouldn’t stop them from securing a long-term solution in the draft. Simmons could be the best left tackle to come out of this class if he checks out injury-wise, as he didn’t allow a single sack or hit from 158 pass-blocking snaps last year."
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FOX Sports: TRADE!
From Henry McKenna: "The Browns need a quarterback right now. And Sanders is one of the few QBs available who can lead an NFL franchise right now. So coach Kevin Stefanski bangs the table for the Browns to move up (and ensure that the Rams don't draft and groom Sanders). The Stefanski system is going to be great for Sanders, who should enjoy throwing to David Njoku and Jerry Jeudy, particularly on play-action. Best of all, Sanders will reunite with his Colorado teammate Hunter. Think of what Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase have done in Cincinnati. It’s that all over again."
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Sports Illustrated: Tyler Booker, OL, Alabama
From Connor Orr: "I debated whether to go with Josh Simmons here, but MMQB Podcast co-host Albert Breer changed my mind when he relayed a story about Booker from this season, where Booker said that any teammate insisting on not playing in the bowl game had to explain it to him first. The Texans are seeking a character makeover and, boy, would that seem to fit the bill. You can listen to the entire episode where we live mock the first round (no trades) here."
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The Ringer: Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon
From Danny Kelly: "The Texans did some major reshuffling of their offensive line this offseason, trading away starters from last year such as Laremy Tunsil, Kenyon Green, and Shaq Mason. They grab a long-term starter at the blindside spot in Conerly, who has the athletic traits and frame to play at guard early on if that’s where he fits best. Protecting C.J. Stroud is priority no. 1, and Conerly should help there."
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For The Win: Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
For The Win's Christian D'Andrea: "Simmons was a Day 1 starter both as a freshman at San Diego State and a transfer with the Buckeyes the last two seasons. He’s long armed and powerful with the low center of gravity that should help him recover from rookie mistakes. He slides here after not working out at the combine, but that could make him 2025’s biggest draft bargain."
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NFL Media: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas
From Eric Edholm: "I didn't imagine Banks falling this far, and I contemplated a receiver such as Emeka Egbuka here, but Houston can find a home for this Texas product right away, either at guard or tackle. He grew up just down the road from the Texans' facility."
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NFL Media: Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
From Chad Reuter: "Signing Cam Robinson stabilized the left tackle spot after the Texans traded starter Laremy Tunsil to the Commanders. Still, Robinson's deal is only for one year, and he's struggled to stay on the field at times. Simmons is a solid pass protector and strong run blocker on either side of the line; he'll be a first-round pick if teams receive positive medical reports on the knee injury that sidelined him for much of 2024.
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CBS Sports: Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota State
From Jonathan Jones: "This is usually around the time a center gets taken in the draft, but the Texans could use Zabel as a center or guard moving forward. Houston's offseason plan has been to add a couple linemen in the draft, and they start early with the versatile interior lineman."
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The 33rd Team
From Ian Valentino: "Donovan Jackson was a great guard for the Buckeyes, but his move out to left tackle in 2024 redefined his upside. He could be the team's left tackle of the future."
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: NFL mock draft round-up: Experts make Texans' final picks at No. 25
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