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Houston Texans NFL draft picks 2025: Full list of team's round-by-round selections

Nick Brinkerhoff   Paste BN
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Note: This story has been updated following the Texans' trade with the Browns and Giants on Thursday evening.

The Houston Texans are having one funky offseason.

A team in desperate need of help along the offensive line decided to trade its best, and most important piece. A team that needs receiver depth has added one proven starter, but still needs another. A team that wasn't good enough in 2024 can't truly say they'll be better in 2025.

In other words, Houston has its work cut out for them at the draft this year.

C.J. Stroud had a fairly miserable sophomore season with a weakened supporting cast. However, there's a new offensive coordinator in the fold to avoid duplicating those struggles.

2025 NFL mock draft tracker: See the trends in expert forecasts for every team

Like many who have moved out of California to Texas, the Texans will hope that Nick Caley can bring a piece of the Los Angeles with him and that it comes in the form of the Rams' offensive philosophy.

That's a story for the fall though.

For now, it's about improving the team on paper in the hopes that it takes root on the field. That all starts with these three days in late April. Here's what to know about the Texans' picks in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Texans 2025 NFL draft picks

The Texans come into draft night with nine picks to work with after swinging a trade with the Cleveland Browns for a pair of additional Day 3 picks. They are set to make an additional pick in the third and seventh rounds thanks to the Laremy Tunsil trade that sent the left tackle to Washington.

Here's the complete list:

  • Round 2, Pick 34 (from Giants): Jayden Higgins, WR, Iowa State

Analysis from Paste BN Sports' Nate Davis: A large man (6-4, 214), he nevertheless ran a sub-4.5 40 at the combine. He was also highly productive for the Cyclones with 87 grabs for 1,183 yards and nine TDs in 2024. He, Nico Collins (a similar player to Higgins) and Christian Kirk should give third-year QB C.J. Stroud quite an arsenal in 2025.

  • Round 2, Pick 48 (from Raiders): Aireontae Ersery, OL, Minnesota

Analysis from Paste BN Sports' Nate Davis: A 6-6, 331-pounder joins the Texans' overhauled offensive line. A three-year starter at left tackle for the Golden Gophers, that could be the job Ersery is headed for in Houston with Laremy Tunsil gone and Cam Robinson currently a one-year stopgap.

  • Round 3, Pick 79 (from Miami through Philadelphia and Washington): Jaylin Noel, WR, Iowa State

Analysis from Paste BN Sports' Nate Davis: He’s not huge (5-10, 194) but features sub-4.4 speed and very sticky hands that hauled in 80 passes for 1,194 yards in 2024. Houston’s receiver room is quickly filling up.

  • Round 3, Pick 97 (comp selection from MIN): Jaylin Smith, CB, USC
    • He seemed to thrive after moving outside last season, when he didn’t allow a TD pass. Smith was roasted in the slot the previous two years.
  • Round 4, Pick 116: Woody Marks, RB, USC
  • Round 6, Pick 187: Jaylen Reed, S, Penn State
  • Round 6, Pick 197: Graham Mertz, QB, Florida

Analysis from Paste BN Sports' Jacob Camenker: Mertz played six college seasons at Wisconsin at Florida and completed 73.7% of his passes across two seasons with the Gators. He enjoyed a quality 2023 season, throwing for 2,903 yards, 20 touchdowns and three interceptions but played just five games before suffering a torn ACL in October. Mertz will now look to battle for a spot behind C.J. Stroud on Houston's quarterback depth chart, unless the Texans give him a redshirt year to heal his knee.

NFL draft order 2025: Where every team picks over seven rounds, 257 picks

Texans 2025 NFL Draft needs

Offensive line

Houston's offense is in desperate need of help this offseason. They can't afford for Stroud to take as many hits next season, or face a similar amount of pressure. This is priority No. 1 in Houston. Without an offensive line to protect Stroud, nothing else matters.

Wide receiver

The Texans added Christian Kirk, yet they still have some work to do with Tank Dell likely lost for the season. Nico Collins is a solid player, but last year proved he can't do it alone. The modern NFL requires multiple pass-catchers and we aren't talking about just two.

Tight end

Tyler Higbee thrived in the postseason for the Rams and now Caley might want to dive into a solid tight end class in this draft. Dalton Schultz is a fine player, but Houston notably lacks depth in a lot of areas. This is a spot than can, and should, be improved before the draft is over.

Texans 2025 NFL mock draft

Here's what the Texans could do come draft night, according to Paste BN Sports' Ayrton Ostly:

  • Round 1, Pick 25: WR Luther Burden III, Missouri
    • With Stefon Diggs out and Tank Dell recovering from a serious injury, the Texans need more pass-catchers in 2025. Burden's a different skillset alongside Christian Kirk and Nico Collins. He's built like a running back and offers impressive after-the-catch ability.
  • Round 2, Pick 58: IOL Wyatt Milum, West Virginia
    • The Texans signed plenty of veterans for the interior in 2025 but could use some home-grown talent. Milum played tackle in college but projects well at guard in the NFL.
  • Round 3, Pick 79: DT Shemar Turner, Texas A&M
  • Round 3, Pick 89: LB Chris Paul Jr., Ole Miss
  • Round 5, Pick 166: OT Chase Lundt, UConn
  • Round 7, Pick 236: RB LeQuint Allen, Syracuse
  • Round 7, Pick 241: S Akili Arnold, USC

2025 NFL Draft: Every team's picks

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