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The Houston Texans are gearing up for the 2025 NFL Draft, where they remain in position to add an impact player with the 25th overall pick.
There's been plenty of discussion about which direction Houston could go, but most believe it's down to three positions. After shoring up needs in the offensive and defensive trenches, the Texans have flexibility on the back end of Round 1 to land either a No. 2 receiver, offensive lineman and defensive tackle.
But what happens if their top guys -- presumably Matthew Golden, Kelvin Banks -- are already off the board?
In a new mock draft from Athlon Sports' Luke Easterling, the Texans lose out on the two Texas products, but have their pick of the crop to secure the offense with four options. With Banks being the presumed favorite to land in Houston, the Texans stick with adding a long-term heir for Laremy Tunsil and select Ohio State's Josh Simmons.
By now, most people realize that Simmons' lone downfall from being a top 15 pick is the injury. He started over 40 games during his four-year college career at San Diego State and Ohio State. A right tackle by trade, Simmons started the first five games for the Buckeyes on the left side in 2024 before the patella injury sidelined him for the remainder of the 2024 season.
Even in a small sample size, Simmons proved he was a physically imposing, loose, powerful run blocker with upside in pass protection. He showed dramatic improvements as a pass protector, showing off his ability to make first meaningful contact with sticky hands while pushing pass rushers away from the backfield.
Easterling wasn't done helping protect C.J. Stroud. In Round 2, he has the Texans bolstering the interior line with the selection of Georgia's Tate Ratledge. Huge, athletic and powerful with a ton of experience against the best defensive trench talent the college, the veteran Bulldog should be a plug-and-play starter at right guard who can make an immediate impact in pass protection.
The Texans have seven picks in this year's draft, including four in the top 100.
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This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans stand pat, land Ohio State's Josh Simmons in new NFL mock draft
Continue reading...
There's been plenty of discussion about which direction Houston could go, but most believe it's down to three positions. After shoring up needs in the offensive and defensive trenches, the Texans have flexibility on the back end of Round 1 to land either a No. 2 receiver, offensive lineman and defensive tackle.
But what happens if their top guys -- presumably Matthew Golden, Kelvin Banks -- are already off the board?
In a new mock draft from Athlon Sports' Luke Easterling, the Texans lose out on the two Texas products, but have their pick of the crop to secure the offense with four options. With Banks being the presumed favorite to land in Houston, the Texans stick with adding a long-term heir for Laremy Tunsil and select Ohio State's Josh Simmons.
By now, most people realize that Simmons' lone downfall from being a top 15 pick is the injury. He started over 40 games during his four-year college career at San Diego State and Ohio State. A right tackle by trade, Simmons started the first five games for the Buckeyes on the left side in 2024 before the patella injury sidelined him for the remainder of the 2024 season.
Even in a small sample size, Simmons proved he was a physically imposing, loose, powerful run blocker with upside in pass protection. He showed dramatic improvements as a pass protector, showing off his ability to make first meaningful contact with sticky hands while pushing pass rushers away from the backfield.
Easterling wasn't done helping protect C.J. Stroud. In Round 2, he has the Texans bolstering the interior line with the selection of Georgia's Tate Ratledge. Huge, athletic and powerful with a ton of experience against the best defensive trench talent the college, the veteran Bulldog should be a plug-and-play starter at right guard who can make an immediate impact in pass protection.
The Texans have seven picks in this year's draft, including four in the top 100.
Follow Texans Wire on Twitter and Facebook
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans stand pat, land Ohio State's Josh Simmons in new NFL mock draft
Continue reading...
