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Houston Texans 2025 Draft Class

vupac2.0 said:
Did they come out and say they had Ersery rated higher than Conerly Jr or is that just your deductive reasoning?

I could absolutely see them valuing Ersery+extra picks more than Conerly at 25, but curious how they compare the 2 in a vacuum.
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I don’t know that they necessarily had Ersery graded higher, but it’s possible Ersery was on their list of players they’d like to add to the team & Conerly wasn’t.

We tend to look at past production & measurables as if nothing else matters. Like there’s no reason for the interview process or talking to coaches & things like that.

We don’t have enough information to understand it but it is entirely possible they wanted Higgins/Ersery + future pick more than they wanted Conerly.
 
SnakeEyes said:
A few good videos on YouTube explaining why the Giants Visit cost him! And it's 2 reasons 1) He isn't amazing just good 2) Nobody wanted to deal with Prime who in the videos is seen " running the show" so to speak. He even says when asked what if Sanders lasts till #9 and the Saints take him. He says "no way that happens" later, as he starts dropping and the Saints are on the clock he says "I always liked black and gold"
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My hot take: If Shedeur respectfully declines having his number retired at CU, he would have been drafted on day 2
 
vupac2.0 said:
Did they come out and say they had Ersery rated higher than Conerly Jr or is that just your deductive reasoning?

I could absolutely see them valuing Ersery+extra picks more than Conerly at 25, but curious how they compare the 2 in a vacuum.
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I believe that Caserio was hell bent on not having a WR corps of Collins Metchie/Hutch come playoff time next yr. He probably had a grouping of Jackson/Booker/Conerly/Ersery as late 1st rd guys so he traded up for the last guy on his board in that grouping. This is just my opinion.
 
steelbtexan said:
I believe that Caserio was hell bent on not having a WR corps of Collins Metchie/Hutch come playoff time next yr. He probably had a grouping of Jackson/Booker/Conerly/Ersery as late 1st rd guys so he traded up for the last guy on his board in that grouping. This is just my opinion.
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The only quibble I have is that it seems like they had Booker in their top 15 at the very least if they were trying to go up to 12 for him. Curious what the offer was to Dallas. And what they would've done after to target a wr.
 
calishung7717 said:
The only quibble I have is that it seems like they had Booker in their top 15 at the very least if they were trying to go up to 12 for him. Curious what the offer was to Dallas. And what they would've done after to target a wr.
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steelbtexan said:
I believe that Caserio was hell bent on not having a WR corps of Collins Metchie/Hutch come playoff time next yr. He probably had a grouping of Jackson/Booker/Conerly/Ersery as late 1st rd guys so he traded up for the last guy on his board in that grouping. This is just my opinion.
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Given how the draft played out and reports they were interested in trading up until the late teens i’d assume they had one grouping of:

Banks/Booker/Zabel/maybe Egbuka

then another similar to Steel said: Jackson/maybe Golden/Conerly/Higgins

I would put Ersery in their next tier which was probably an extremely short list given they traded up for him indicating they didn’t want to miss out on him in the next 10 picks and Jonah from Zona was the only OL off the board between the Higgins/Ersery picks.
 
steelbtexan said:
They didn't say anything. Obviously they Valued Higgins and Ersery over just Conerly.
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and thank goodness. Conerly was the guy I wanted to avoid. He may end up being really good, but I am skeptical until proven otherwise. Burden and Tet at WR's were also on my avoid list.
 
vupac2.0 said:
My hot take: If Shedeur respectfully declines having his number retired at CU, he would have been drafted on day 2
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No, he screwed around on Instagram, X and took FaceTime calls in meetings. As well as flat out questioning some teams saying things like "So why have you not been playing better the past few years?" Dabol called him out on it. And that is not a guy you want around.

Please note, Browns drafted Gabriel (QB)from Oregon before Sanders. So, they go to camp with 2 rookies and I think Gabriel will beat out Sanders. And then, like his brother...he will fire his dad
 
vupac2.0 said:
My hot take: If Shedeur respectfully declines having his number retired at CU, he would have been drafted on day 2
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His daddy is the main reason why he dropped so far. He also played a roll in it too with his cockiness as well terrible interviews. If those rumors are true.


He didn’t request to have his number retired, the school did that themselves:

The decision to retire numbers is based on the discretion of the Colorado athletic administration and the current head coach.


Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders are both great Buffs and exceptional talents who have been tremendous representatives of our program and of our university and led our team back to national prominence," said athletic director Rick George, who was the assistant athletic director for football operations when the program won its only national title. "Recognizing the accomplishments of a Heisman Trophy winner and record-setting quarterback who ushered in this new era of CU football now does not detract from accomplishments of the past. Rather, it adds to the rich legacy of CU football that has been passed down over the years by everyone who has worn a CU uniform."


www.espn.com

Coach Prime responds to jersey retirement critics

Deion Sanders responded to criticism from former Colorado players Thursday who claim the retirement of jersey numbers for Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders is too soon.
www.espn.com www.espn.com
 
thunderkyss said:
I don’t know that they necessarily had Ersery graded higher, but it’s possible Ersery was on their list of players they’d like to add to the team & Conerly wasn’t.

We tend to look at past production & measurables as if nothing else matters. Like there’s no reason for the interview process or talking to coaches & things like that.

We don’t have enough information to understand it but it is entirely possible they wanted Higgins/Ersery + future pick more than they wanted Conerly.
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Unless you have the last name Sanders and make a joke of your interviews. Then it matters. All jokes aside, interviews do help a lot. Why? Most teams do a few things during the interview. Talk and try to judge the character of the player (most probably are somewhat reciting a script). Get an idea of football IQ by give plays and asking questions about what they do and such. And check memory by giving either a single play or a series of words. At the end of the interview they ask for it.

Edit: Just saw this article. Not too shaby.
texanswire.usatoday.com

3 Texans picks ranked among ESPN's 100 best selections of 2025 NFL Draft

ESPN's Matt Miller really loves three picks for the Houston Texans among the 250-plus selections made in last week's draft.
texanswire.usatoday.com
 
SnakeEyes said:
Unless you have the last name Sanders and make a joke of your interviews. Then it matters. All jokes aside, interviews do help a lot. Why? Most teams do a few things during the interview. Talk and try to judge the character of the player (most probably are somewhat reciting a script). Get an idea of football IQ by give plays and asking questions about what they do and such. And check memory by giving either a single play or a series of words. At the end of the interview they ask for it.

Edit: Just saw this article. Not too shaby.
texanswire.usatoday.com

3 Texans picks ranked among ESPN's 100 best selections of 2025 NFL Draft

ESPN's Matt Miller really loves three picks for the Houston Texans among the 250-plus selections made in last week's draft.
texanswire.usatoday.com
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The biggest surprise? Jayden Higgins, Houston's first pick, wasn't among the ranks.

Iowa State wide receiver Jaylin Noel was the highest ranked at No. 30. After posting back-to-back 60-plus catch seasons while totaling over 800 receiving yards, Noel's value as a third-round pick might make him a steal in the AFC South.
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Second-round pick Aireontae Ersery appeared at No. 91 despite being considered a value selection on Day 2. A three-year starter at Minnesota and the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year recipient, Ersery isn't expected to start Day 1 for Houston, but he'll be first in line to serve as the heir to Laremy Tunsil long-term.
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Sixth-round pick Jaylen Reed also made the cut at No. 96 for his fit in DeMeco Ryans' system. During his post-draft interview, Reed compared his play style to newly acquired C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Miller sees him serving as the hard-hitting safety's insurance policy for 2025 while contributing on special teams.
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NFL.com Editor Gennaro Filice with his grades on the entire 2025 draft.

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Here's his take on the Texans.

Rank 15
Houston Texans
Round 2 (No. 34): WR Jayden Higgins, Iowa State
Round 2 (No. 48): OT Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota
Round 3 (No. 79): WR Jaylin Noel, Iowa State
Round 3 (No. 97): CB Jaylin Smith, USC
Round 4 (No. 116): RB Woody Marks, USC
Round 6 (No. 187): S Jaylen Reed, Penn State
Round 6 (No. 197): QB Graham Mertz, Florida
Round 7 (No. 224): DT Kyonte Hamilton, Rutgers
Round 7 (No. 255): TE Luke Lachey, Iowa

GRADE: B

I’m nervous about the offensive line overhaul. Aireontae Ersery was quietly one of the more polarizing prospects of this draft cycle. Just ask my colleagues. Eric Edholm had him as the No. 49 player in the class, while Daniel Jeremiah ranked him 83rd. Ersery's backers tout his monstrous size (6-6, 331), while his detractors naturally question the big man’s knee bend. I don’t have strong takes one way or another, but I’d generally like to see more certainty around C.J. Stroud. The Texans did spend two of their top three picks on wideouts for the quarterback. And in the fourth round, they snagged the most productive pass-catching back in this class: Woody Marks, who corralled an astounding 261 passes in his college career. So C.J.’s clearly on the mind. But let’s keep him off the turf.

FAVORITE PICKS
Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, wide receiver. Some people liked Higgins over Noel. Some people liked Noel over Higgins. Houston liked ... BOTH. The Texans ordered two flavors of Iowa State receiver at the prospect store: the big-bodied X (Higgins) and the speedy slot machine (Noel). Each eclipsed 1,100 yards receiving for the Cyclones in 2024.

SLEEPER
Jaylen Reed, safety. DeMeco Ryans just keeps collecting versatile defensive backs, which makes perfect sense, given how the game is played today. Reed filled up the stat sheet on Penn State’s talented defense last season, leading the team with 98 tackles while adding three picks and 2.5 sacks.
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Seems fair.
 
Lucky said:
NFL.com Editor Gennaro Filice with his grades on the entire 2025 draft.



Here's his take on the Texans.



Seems fair.
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Yep, and because it's perceived that J. Smith was picked too high people are discounting him. From what I've seen and with Ryans/Caserio's track record when it comes to drafting DB's, I would bet that both J. Smith and Reed hit. Put them with the 1st three picks and my sleeper Lachey and I think this draft is much better than the 15th best draft. That doesn't even mention the best pass catching RB in the draft (Marks) and Ryans track record for developing DT's (Hamilton)
 
A B is very fair. Time will always tell. The 3 picks I’m not fond of…

I liked other RB’s more but what really bugs me is using a 2026 3rd for a guy that in a best case is a 3rd down player. It’s not Mark’s fault of course…but from a big picture perspective he’s going to need to be a difference maker to justify the 3rd and 4th.

I also question J Smith in the 3rd…again after an unnecessary trade-up. but I keep going back to the Texans recent success at drafting secondary players so there is some benefit of the doubt.

And Metz feels like a long shot but in the 6th, I’m not pounding the table either way. Meh until I see what he has got, but I do note his injury history.

The online got a good tackle prospect but the perceived weakest area is inside.the o-line is a problem…until it’s not.

The other picks are all B or better. Noel is great value in the 3rd. Also like the safety in the 6th. This was a very good ….not quite great draft on paper. Let’s see how it plays out. Can’t wait to get things rolling later in the summer.
 
thunderkyss said:
I just don't get it. Most 3rd & 4th rounders are career backups at best. Why is Woody held to a much higher standars?
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If the Texans used the Giants’ 2026 3rd rounder to move up in the 4th for Marks this year, you could argue that pick might’ve been more valuable next year either on its own or bundled to go after a higher-rated player. But it’s all speculative at this point, Marks is a Texan.
 
KoolAid Sipper said:
If the Texans used the Giants’ 2026 3rd rounder to move up in the 4th for Marks this year, you could argue that pick might’ve been more valuable next year either on its own or bundled to go after a higher-rated player. But it’s all speculative at this point, Marks is a Texan.
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The Texans still have the Giants 3rd rounder in 2026. They traded their own 3rd round pick next year for Marks.

This year’s 3rd rounder was pick 89. The Texans selected Marks at pick 116 in the 4th rounder. It was a fair trade, especially if you assume that the Texans will be as good or better this season. And all NFL teams will assume they will do that, because that’s their job.
 
TheRealJoker V2 said:
The Texans still have the Giants 3rd rounder in 2026. They traded their own 3rd round pick next year for Marks.

This year’s 3rd rounder was pick 89. The Texans selected Marks at pick 116 in the 4th rounder. It was a fair trade, especially if you assume that the Texans will be as good or better this season. And all NFL teams will assume they will do that, because that’s their job.
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That’s why I said IF it were the Giants’ pick. But honestly, I’d still rather have the two 3rd rounders next year. That additional kind of draft capital adds quite a bit of flexibility. It's done and Nick got his guy so he must see something special there, we'll see if hope it pays off.
 
KoolAid Sipper said:
That’s why I said IF it were the Giants’ pick. But honestly, I’d still rather have the two 3rd rounders next year. That additional kind of draft capital adds quite a bit of flexibility. It's done and Nick got his guy so he must see something special there, we'll see if hope it pays off.
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Still...

I can see arguing the value of the pick, which many have. "Why use the 3rd pick in the 4th round to pick a player we could have got with the 31st pick in the 6th round." (just using the picks as an example to illustrate the point). That's a valid argument. You'd have to prove the player would be there at the 31st pick of the 6th round... but whatever.

To argue that a 4th round pick "better be a difference maker" whether it's the 3rd pick in the 4th round, the last pick in the 4th round, doesn't matter. A 4th round pick is a 4th round pick.

Had Caserio used next year's 2nd to move up in the 4th, that would be a "he better be a difference maker argument." But giving up the value of a 4th round pick to move up in the 4th round to get a greater value pick... it's basic math. Nothing to argue about.
 
thunderkyss said:
Still...

I can see arguing the value of the pick, which many have. "Why use the 3rd pick in the 4th round to pick a player we could have got with the 31st pick in the 6th round." (just using the picks as an example to illustrate the point). That's a valid argument. You'd have to prove the player would be there at the 31st pick of the 6th round... but whatever.

To argue that a 4th round pick "better be a difference maker" whether it's the 3rd pick in the 4th round, the last pick in the 4th round, doesn't matter. A 4th round pick is a 4th round pick.

Had Caserio used next year's 2nd to move up in the 4th, that would be a "he better be a difference maker argument." But giving up the value of a 4th round pick to move up in the 4th round to get a greater value pick... it's basic math. Nothing to argue about.
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:wacko:
 
thunderkyss said:
Still...

I can see arguing the value of the pick, which many have. "Why use the 3rd pick in the 4th round to pick a player we could have got with the 31st pick in the 6th round." (just using the picks as an example to illustrate the point). That's a valid argument. You'd have to prove the player would be there at the 31st pick of the 6th round... but whatever.

To argue that a 4th round pick "better be a difference maker" whether it's the 3rd pick in the 4th round, the last pick in the 4th round, doesn't matter. A 4th round pick is a 4th round pick.

Had Caserio used next year's 2nd to move up in the 4th, that would be a "he better be a difference maker argument." But giving up the value of a 4th round pick to move up in the 4th round to get a greater value pick... it's basic math. Nothing to argue about.
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Yep, and this is a much better RB class than next yrs IMHO. A 4th rd RB will probably be better than any 3rd rd RB you could draft in 2026.
 
A 3rd and early 4th to me is a second when combined. This was a deep RB class. Marks may be the best pass catcher in this class, but he does not reek of 3 down bell cow. I feel they could have waited and held their powder and made a deal later in the round or in The 5th and still got Marks. And if not..,Brashard and others were available. Don’t fall in love with a prospect. There’s more where he came from. But that’s just me. And I like the pick in a vacuum. I think he can help add some juice on 3rd downs. It’s just a little rich for me for a 3rd down specialist.
 
Porky said:
A 3rd and early 4th to me is a second when combined. This was a deep RB class. Marks may be the best pass catcher in this class, but he does not reek of 3 down bell cow. I feel they could have waited and held their powder and made a deal later in the round or in The 5th and still got Marks. And if not..,Brashard and others were available. Don’t fall in love with a prospect. There’s more where he came from. But that’s just me. And I like the pick in a vacuum. I think he can help add some juice on 3rd downs. It’s just a little rich for me for a 3rd down specialist.
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Marks was in the slot yesterday...
 
Porky said:
A 3rd and early 4th to me is a second when combined. This was a deep RB class. Marks may be the best pass catcher in this class, but he does not reek of 3 down bell cow. I feel they could have waited and held their powder and made a deal later in the round or in The 5th and still got Marks. And if not..,Brashard and others were available. Don’t fall in love with a prospect. There’s more where he came from. But that’s just me. And I like the pick in a vacuum. I think he can help add some juice on 3rd downs. It’s just a little rich for me for a 3rd down specialist.
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Look up the actual trade. They did not trade a 3rd and 4th… They traded fair value to acquire a 4th round pick THIS year.
 
thunderkyss said:
Still...

I can see arguing the value of the pick, which many have. "Why use the 3rd pick in the 4th round to pick a player we could have got with the 31st pick in the 6th round." (just using the picks as an example to illustrate the point). That's a valid argument. You'd have to prove the player would be there at the 31st pick of the 6th round... but whatever.

To argue that a 4th round pick "better be a difference maker" whether it's the 3rd pick in the 4th round, the last pick in the 4th round, doesn't matter. A 4th round pick is a 4th round pick.

Had Caserio used next year's 2nd to move up in the 4th, that would be a "he better be a difference maker argument." But giving up the value of a 4th round pick to move up in the 4th round to get a greater value pick... it's basic math. Nothing to argue about.
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Yeah.. but it is.. 😵‍💫 math
 
Porky said:
A 3rd and early 4th to me is a second when combined. This was a deep RB class. Marks may be the best pass catcher in this class, but he does not reek of 3 down bell cow. I feel they could have waited and held their powder and made a deal later in the round or in The 5th and still got Marks. And if not..,Brashard and others were available. Don’t fall in love with a prospect. There’s more where he came from. But that’s just me. And I like the pick in a vacuum. I think he can help add some juice on 3rd downs. It’s just a little rich for me for a 3rd down specialist.
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Perhaps they do not expect Marks to be a bell cow but perhaps a quarter horse. Great vision and understanding of what opponents are going to do; good stop and starts. There is room to operate between every down player and '3rd down specialist' only.
 
Don’t know if this has been posted elsewhere but the Texans revealed their rookies numbers. Can’t remember them all but I know Higgins is 81, Noel is 82, and Ersery is 79.
 
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