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2025 Draft Prospects

The only issue I have with Donovan Jackson is we still have to go get a left tackle in 2026. Yes I followed him last season but he is not the answer long run in my opinion. He would be a great left guard but we have Howard filling that. As I said recently, Nick's plan may be to trade Howard after June the 1st and if that's plan, I could see him drafting Jackson. I would still prefer to get a left tackle for our future who could play left guard now. I do not want to get somebody and then move them all over the board in chess match.
I'm wondering how Howard's restructure effects the odds of being able to trade him. With the money moved to later years, it might make it difficult to move him.

My feel of the situation is they will stick with the tackles they have this year and maybe pick a developmental guy like Grant or Rivers in the 3rd round.
 
I'm wondering how Howard's restructure effects the odds of being able to trade him. With the money moved to later years, it might make it difficult to move him.

My feel of the situation is they will stick with the tackles they have this year and maybe pick a developmental guy like Grant or Rivers in the 3rd round.
From yesterday..
Good question, however I do not see Howard solidifying our line even if he is better. He is 29 years of age with only the year 2026 under contract and at approximately 28 million I think cap hit.

If Nick's plan is to move Howard sometime during the season, that eliminates getting draft picks this year but perhaps in 2026. That also leads to having to spend a draft pick now to get his replacement. I could also seeing a trade for a vet that another team wants to move. Reminds me of the Kenyon green trade for a safety.
My thoughts.
 
Booker didn’t win the underwear olympics, surely he will be a bust. Not.

I’d take Booker in a heartbeat. Swarm for miles, great intangibles, tough and nasty. Ya I’ll take 53 of those underwear losers.
 
The only issue I have with Donovan Jackson is we still have to go get a left tackle in 2026. Yes I followed him last season but he is not the answer long run in my opinion. He would be a great left guard but we have Howard filling that. As I said recently, Nick's plan may be to trade Howard after June the 1st and if that's plan, I could see him drafting Jackson. I would still prefer to get a left tackle for our future who could play left guard now. I do not want to get somebody and then move them all over the board in chess match.
Howard's status wouldn't keep me from drafting either Banks or Jackson.
 
I'm just going to say this 1 time as I have seen 3 mocks showing it. Golden is not a 1st round WR. We should NOT take him at 25. In his draft profile it flat out says he has a big issue with concentration drops. We can get a slightly slower WR, say 4.4's in the 40 who hold onto the ball and catch it.

As a 2nd round pick...maybe. The only reason he's rated as he is is his 40 time.
 
I'm just going to say this 1 time as I have seen 3 mocks showing it. Golden is not a 1st round WR. We should NOT take him at 25. In his draft profile it flat out says he has a big issue with concentration drops. We can get a slightly slower WR, say 4.4's in the 40 who hold onto the ball and catch it.

As a 2nd round pick...maybe. The only reason he's rated as he is is his 40 time.
Will Fuller type prospect. That speed is a special trait that will get him drafted first round. Separators get a bump when drafting.
 
I'm just going to say this 1 time as I have seen 3 mocks showing it. Golden is not a 1st round WR. We should NOT take him at 25. In his draft profile it flat out says he has a big issue with concentration drops. We can get a slightly slower WR, say 4.4's in the 40 who hold onto the ball and catch it.

As a 2nd round pick...maybe. The only reason he's rated as he is is his 40 time.
There was a bit more information given in his draft profile concerning those drops. Did you not want to add that? How did he do in the championship game in 2024 and then in the Peach bowl?

Did the three mocks you got your information from say that his drop rate from 2023 went from over 13% to just over 6% a drop of 50%? Did they also say that during that same time period his contested catch rate doubled?

Todd McShay, Daniel Jeremiah and 33rd Teams Kyle Crabb have him graded/ranked over Tet McMillan?
I think there are more having him round one than not.
Actually, I am hoping your sources are correct and not mine. I would love to be able to trade up and get him round 2.

😄
 
Intangibles isn't going to help Booker get out on a screen or pick up a twist. He's a phone booth lineman. Doesn't mean Booker can't find a role in the NFL. But he's not a 1st round caliber prospect.

I've got him in the 30-45 area but I wouldn't cry if he were picked at 25. I am definitely higher on him than you are.
 
There was a bit more information given in his draft profile concerning those drops. Did you not want to add that? How did he do in the championship game in 2024 and then in the Peach bowl?

Did the three mocks you got your information from say that his drop rate from 2023 went from over 13% to just over 6% a drop of 50%? Did they also say that during that same time period his contested catch rate doubled?

Todd McShay, Daniel Jeremiah and 33rd Teams Kyle Crabb have him graded/ranked over Tet McMillan?
I think there are more having him round one than not.
Actually, I am hoping your sources are correct and not mine. I would love to be able to trade up and get him round 2.

😄

I happily would draft a different WR. He only has 1 thing on a few others I would take at 25 or in the 2nd. And most run in the 4.4s which is fast enough and are 6' 2 or more. Paired with another 6' 3 WR with speed (Nico) and both with jump ball win % in the very high percentage.

Or someone like this who needs a little bit of polish. But, day 1 provides a vertical threat with his speed and is a jump ball master. Dude bends in crazy ways in the air to snag a pass. And probably will be around in the 3rd. Runs a 4.41....more than fast enough to separate. He is thin, but could easily add 10+ lbs even before OTAs.

 
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I happily would draft a different WR. He only has 1 thing on a few others I would take at 25 or in the 2nd. And most run in the 4.4s which is fast enough and are 6' 2 or more. Paired with another 6' 3 WR with speed (Nico) and both with jump ball win % in the very high percentage.

Or someone like this who needs a little bit of polish. But, day 1 provides a vertical threat with his speed and is a jump ball master. Dude bends in crazy ways in the air to snag a pass. And probably will be around in the 3rd. Runs a 4.41....more than fast enough to separate. He is thin, but could easily add 10+ lbs even before OTAs.

Had a "devastating" knee injury in October last year.
 
There was a bit more information given in his draft profile concerning those drops. Did you not want to add that? How did he do in the championship game in 2024 and then in the Peach bowl?

Did the three mocks you got your information from say that his drop rate from 2023 went from over 13% to just over 6% a drop of 50%? Did they also say that during that same time period his contested catch rate doubled?

Todd McShay, Daniel Jeremiah and 33rd Teams Kyle Crabb have him graded/ranked over Tet McMillan?
I think there are more having him round one than not.
Actually, I am hoping your sources are correct and not mine. I would love to be able to trade up and get him round 2.

😄
The only issue I have with Golden is he's a body catcher. Other than that, he's ultra competitive and would've had a bigger year. if he didn't have to wait for the ball.
 
Further information re. the warrant has not been released at this time.

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Report: Isaiah Bond turned himself in on an outstanding warrant for sexual assault
By Charean Williams
Published April 10, 2025 05:10 PM

University of Texas wide receiver Isaiah Bond turned himself into Frisco, Texas, police this morning on an outstanding warrant for sexual assault, NFL Media reports.

Bond posted bond and was released.

The draft prospect has top-30 visits with the Browns, Packers, Chiefs, Bills and Titans. He also is scheduled to attend the Falcons’ local prospect day.

The Bills worked out Bond privately on Friday after having dinner with him the previous night. His visit to Buffalo is scheduled for Tuesday.

Bond ran a 4.39 in the 40-yard dash at the Scouting Combine and posted times of 4.34 and 4.35 at Texas’ Pro Day.

He caught 34 passes for 540 yards and five touchdowns last season for the Longhorns. In 41 career college games at Alabama and Texas, Bond had 99 receptions for 1,428 yards and 10 touchdowns.
 
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Further information re. the warrant has not been released at this time.

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Report: Isaiah Bond turned himself in on an outstanding warrant for sexual assault
By Charean Williams
Published April 10, 2025 05:10 PM

University of Texas wide receiver Isaiah Bond turned himself into Frisco, Texas, police this morning on an outstanding warrant for sexual assault, NFL Media reports.

Bond posted bond and was released.

The draft prospect has top-30 visits with the Browns, Packers, Chiefs, Bills and Titans. He also is scheduled to attend the Falcons’ local prospect day.

The Bills worked out Bond privately on Friday after having dinner with him the previous night. His visit to Buffalo is scheduled for Tuesday.

Bond ran a 4.39 in the 40-yard dash at the Scouting Combine and posted times of 4.34 and 4.35 at Texas’ Pro Day.

He caught 34 passes for 540 yards and five touchdowns last season for the Longhorns. In 41 career college games at Alabama and Texas, Bond had 99 receptions for 1,428 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Well then... I heard some about sexual misconduct by a draft prospect on 610 a couple days back. Didn't know who or that it was him
 
Should be able to get one of these guys at 2-58.

How about Savion Williams? I know TCU WRs have been blah in the NFL. But, this kid really seems to have it together. And can get better with a good staff.
 
Further information re. the warrant has not been released at this time.

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Report: Isaiah Bond turned himself in on an outstanding warrant for sexual assault
By Charean Williams
Published April 10, 2025 05:10 PM

University of Texas wide receiver Isaiah Bond turned himself into Frisco, Texas, police this morning on an outstanding warrant for sexual assault, NFL Media reports.

Bond posted bond and was released.

The draft prospect has top-30 visits with the Browns, Packers, Chiefs, Bills and Titans. He also is scheduled to attend the Falcons’ local prospect day.

The Bills worked out Bond privately on Friday after having dinner with him the previous night. His visit to Buffalo is scheduled for Tuesday.

Bond ran a 4.39 in the 40-yard dash at the Scouting Combine and posted times of 4.34 and 4.35 at Texas’ Pro Day.

He caught 34 passes for 540 yards and five touchdowns last season for the Longhorns. In 41 career college games at Alabama and Texas, Bond had 99 receptions for 1,428 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Oooooo...I thought he would have some good potential in our offense, but we don't need those kinds of issues
 
How about Savion Williams? I know TCU WRs have been blah in the NFL. But, this kid really seems to have it together. And can get better with a good staff.
I made a thread about this guy.

He's a lot like Nico in that he's a big physical WR that's hard to get on the ground after he catches the ball. He does have some drop issues, but that can be fixed after working with McDaniels. Unfortunately he's pretty dumb and may struggle to learn an NFL offense according to things I've read. Cordarrell Paterson is who he's been compared too. There's value in that and if Caserio/Ryans/Caley dont go WR in rds1-2 then Williams would be in play in rd 3 if I was in Caserio's shoes.
 
From her description, sounds like Bond sodomized her?

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More details emerge regarding allegation against Isaiah Bond
Published April 11, 2025 07:26 PM

More details have emerged regarding the sexual assault allegation against former Texas receiver and 2025 draft prospect Isaiah Bond.

Ben Sawyers of WFAA.com has obtained an affidavit from the alleged victim. She claims that Bond sent her a direct message on Instagram. She said they began texting. Per the report, “The affidavit says their text conversations then turned to mutual discussions of having sex and engaging in one act in particular, which the victim said she would consider.”

She said they met on February 4 and began a consensual sexual encounter. Bond allegedly “brought up the notion of the act they’d previously discussed in their text exchanges.” She allegedly said she “was not comfortable trying it.” Per the affidavit, she claims that Bond “began engaging in that act anyway.”

From the report, “The document says that the woman asked that Bond stop while physically pushing him away from her and telling him she was in pain, but that Bond continued the act while using his body weight against her and covering her mouth.”

After the encounter ended, Bond allegedly said, “Alcohol makes me do things.” He also asked her to sign a non-disclosure agreement. She refused.

She claims he later offered payment, via text message.

The initial police meeting on February 6 resulted in the alleged victim engaging in a “pretextual interview” with Bond, during which she asked him for an apology via text. During the text exchange, he did.
Bond has denied the allegations, calling them “patently false.”

The impact of the situation on Bond’s draft status remains to be seen. His more immediate problem isn’t the threat to his employment but the threat to his liberty.
 
From her description, sounds like Bond sodomized her?

***********

More details emerge regarding allegation against Isaiah Bond
Published April 11, 2025 07:26 PM

More details have emerged regarding the sexual assault allegation against former Texas receiver and 2025 draft prospect Isaiah Bond.

Ben Sawyers of WFAA.com has obtained an affidavit from the alleged victim. She claims that Bond sent her a direct message on Instagram. She said they began texting. Per the report, “The affidavit says their text conversations then turned to mutual discussions of having sex and engaging in one act in particular, which the victim said she would consider.”

She said they met on February 4 and began a consensual sexual encounter. Bond allegedly “brought up the notion of the act they’d previously discussed in their text exchanges.” She allegedly said she “was not comfortable trying it.” Per the affidavit, she claims that Bond “began engaging in that act anyway.”

From the report, “The document says that the woman asked that Bond stop while physically pushing him away from her and telling him she was in pain, but that Bond continued the act while using his body weight against her and covering her mouth.”

After the encounter ended, Bond allegedly said, “Alcohol makes me do things.” He also asked her to sign a non-disclosure agreement. She refused.

She claims he later offered payment, via text message.

The initial police meeting on February 6 resulted in the alleged victim engaging in a “pretextual interview” with Bond, during which she asked him for an apology via text. During the text exchange, he did.
Bond has denied the allegations, calling them “patently false.”

The impact of the situation on Bond’s draft status remains to be seen. His more immediate problem isn’t the threat to his employment but the threat to his liberty.
If she has texting proof of apology and payment offer, he could be charged and convicted.

I don’t think he’ll be on the Texans board.
 
Circling back to the Tyler Booker enigma. Intangibles he has it. Compared to Will Anderson as a leader and captain for Alabama. That tells me DeMeco is automatically pounding the table for him.

So that made me do a deep dive and find a similar prospect that is still playing and success in the modern NFL. Has there been a highly touted OL prospect that posted such awful workout numbers at the combine?

And I found the outlier: Orlando Brown Jr. A consensus first rounder in the 2018 draft who fell to the Ravens and their 3rd round pick that year. He is a 4 time pro bowler.


Not the most reliable source but per this reddit link a poster broke down RAS scores and pro bowlers by position:


Main takeaways from that post:

Since 2010 2 pro bowl OTs out of 19 had a RAS score lower than a 6. Media RAS score 9.37 for pro bowl OTs.

3 pro bowl OGs out of 22 had a RAS score lower than a 6. Median RAS score 8.80 for OGs.

TLDR: Outliers exist. But how often are you comfortable taking a swing on outliers? I would take a swing on Booker if he fell to that Orlando Brown range. Stranger things have happened but I don’t expect him to fall out of the 1st round.
 
TLDR: Outliers exist. But how often are you comfortable taking a swing on outliers? I would take a swing on Booker if he fell to that Orlando Brown range. Stranger things have happened but I don’t expect him to fall out of the 1st round.
And to Brown's credit, he did get in better shape once he was with the Ravens. The question with Booker is, can he become a better athlete or is this just what he is?
 
SMDH....................stuff like this should have been expected with NIL..............

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Tennessee Vols QB Nico Iamaleava skips practice in an NFL-style NIL holdout
By Michael David Smith
Published April 12, 2025 06:50 AM

When NFL players want more money, they often exercise their leverage by skipping offseason practices. Now that tactic is coming to college football.

Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Nico Iamaleava skipped spring practice on Friday without his coaches’ knowledge or permission as he seeks a pay raise, according to ESPN. Iamaleava is scheduled to make $2.4 million from Tennessee’s NIL collective this year and his representatives wanted to renegotiate to pay him in the $4 million range.

The obvious next step, if Tennessee isn’t willing to pay Iamaleava what he’s asking for, would be to look into transferring to a team that will. Carson Beck reportedly got a guarantee of more than $4 million when he transferred from Georgia to Miami in January, so Iamaleava’s request is not out of line with what a starting quarterback can make in college football in 2025.

The 6-foot-6, 215-pound Iamaleava led Tennessee to the College Football Playoff last season, and if his presence can make another team a College Football Playoff contender, then his presence is worth a lot more than $4 million. Which means this holdout is likely to pay off for Iamaleava, either because Tennessee pays him what he’s asking for or because some other team does. Traditionalists may not like it, but the NIL holdout era has arrived in college football.
 
SMDH....................stuff like this should have been expected with NIL..............

**************************

Tennessee Vols QB Nico Iamaleava skips practice in an NFL-style NIL holdout
By Michael David Smith
Published April 12, 2025 06:50 AM

When NFL players want more money, they often exercise their leverage by skipping offseason practices. Now that tactic is coming to college football.

Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Nico Iamaleava skipped spring practice on Friday without his coaches’ knowledge or permission as he seeks a pay raise, according to ESPN. Iamaleava is scheduled to make $2.4 million from Tennessee’s NIL collective this year and his representatives wanted to renegotiate to pay him in the $4 million range.

The obvious next step, if Tennessee isn’t willing to pay Iamaleava what he’s asking for, would be to look into transferring to a team that will. Carson Beck reportedly got a guarantee of more than $4 million when he transferred from Georgia to Miami in January, so Iamaleava’s request is not out of line with what a starting quarterback can make in college football in 2025.

The 6-foot-6, 215-pound Iamaleava led Tennessee to the College Football Playoff last season, and if his presence can make another team a College Football Playoff contender, then his presence is worth a lot more than $4 million. Which means this holdout is likely to pay off for Iamaleava, either because Tennessee pays him what he’s asking for or because some other team does. Traditionalists may not like it, but the NIL holdout era has arrived in college football.
 
Iamaleava missed meetings and practice on Friday, which was the driver of this decision.

College PR departments need to get better at lying in these days of NIL. An extra $2 million for Nico was the driver of this decision.
 
Circling back to the Tyler Booker enigma. Intangibles he has it. Compared to Will Anderson as a leader and captain for Alabama. That tells me DeMeco is automatically pounding the table for him.

So that made me do a deep dive and find a similar prospect that is still playing and success in the modern NFL. Has there been a highly touted OL prospect that posted such awful workout numbers at the combine?

And I found the outlier: Orlando Brown Jr. A consensus first rounder in the 2018 draft who fell to the Ravens and their 3rd round pick that year. He is a 4 time pro bowler.


Not the most reliable source but per this reddit link a poster broke down RAS scores and pro bowlers by position:


Main takeaways from that post:

Since 2010 2 pro bowl OTs out of 19 had a RAS score lower than a 6. Media RAS score 9.37 for pro bowl OTs.

3 pro bowl OGs out of 22 had a RAS score lower than a 6. Median RAS score 8.80 for OGs.

TLDR: Outliers exist. But how often are you comfortable taking a swing on outliers? I would take a swing on Booker if he fell to that Orlando Brown range. Stranger things have happened but I don’t expect him to fall out of the 1st round.
When you draft exceptions high, your team will become full of exceptions. Once Brown started falling, I thought the Texans should've drafted him. Drafting Booker because he sounds good is not a good idea. I see him as a liability in pass pro and that's an issue.
 
When you draft exceptions high, your team will become full of exceptions. Once Brown started falling, I thought the Texans should've drafted him. Drafting Booker because he sounds good is not a good idea. I see him as a liability in pass pro and that's an issue.
Agreed, that’s why i’ll take a higher floor prospect round 1 over a higher ceiling prospect more often than not. Just because a guy has a high floor doesn’t mean he has a low ceiling.

EX: Egbuka over Higgins round 1 and for me Jackson over Savaiinaea (I know it’s a hot take but I think Jonah Savaiinaea is the highest ceiling interior OL in the draft).

Then of course there are the height/length/general athleticism thresholds I agree with…. happy to be wrong about an exception. Trust the process.
 
Agreed, that’s why i’ll take a higher floor prospect round 1 over a higher ceiling prospect more often than not. Just because a guy has a high floor doesn’t mean he has a low ceiling.

EX: Egbuka over Higgins round 1 and for me Jackson over Savaiinaea (I know it’s a hot take but I think Jonah Savaiinaea is the highest ceiling interior OL in the draft).

Then of course there are the height/length/general athleticism thresholds I agree with…. happy to be wrong about an exception. Trust the process.
I like Jonah as an option as well, but he doesn’t seem to be getting a lot of buzz
 
I like Jonah as an option as well, but he doesn’t seem to be getting a lot of buzz
Every draft season there are narratives being pushed and leave us fans wondering why guys were taken higher or lower than expected.

Part of the fun of draft season is planting your flag on certain players and “pounding the table” for them! Since I don’t get paid for this and I suffer no consequences (other than shame and ridicule from fellow Texans Talk members who remember years down the road) I will proudly pound the table for my guy the Samoan underclassman at Arizona!
 
Loveland is the guy I'm pounding the table for even if it means trading future picks to trade up 5-6 spots for. Guys a difference maker.
 
While I really like Loveland, I’d prefer to go OL or WR in round 1. I know he’s a difference maker, but I think both he and Warren will go top 15. That’s too much for me to do a trade up.
Yeah I wouldn't trade up past 1-18 for Loveland. If I could do that and pick Kyle Williams at 2-58 I would be very happy with the start of this draft. I'm betting that Caserio can find a starting OG at 3-79. Dylan Fairchild/Ratlege/The LSU guys/Anthony Belton and maybe even drafting Hollin Peirce and playing him at LG.
 
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If we traded up to 18, I’d prefer to go OL in round 2. I wouldn’t want to risking missing out by waiting.
Weapons like these 2 guys would make it worth the risk for me. I'm comfortable in thinking Caserio can find a starting OG in the 3rd. Another couple of guys you should checkout who are good OL are Logan Brown and Jack Nelson. Really like these guys and think they could easily be day 1 starters at LG although they played LT in college. Interesting note Brown played with Nelson at Wisconsin. Imagine drafting both of them in the 3rd rd.
 
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