HOUSTON -- The 2025 NFL draft began Thursday in Green Bay, Wisconsin, but the Houston Texans traded out of the first round. They started Day 2 with the second pick on the day. Here are the picks and analysis:
Analysis of every pick | Updated depth chart
Round 2, No. 34 Overall: Jayden Higgins, WR, Iowa State
My take: Higgins is a big body receiver (6-foot-4) who has good top end speed having run 4.47 40-yard dash at the combine. The Texans have receiver needs after losing Stefon Diggs in free agency and with Tank Dell's uncertainty after suffering a major knee injury in 2024. Higgins had 1,183 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in his last season at Iowa State. So the hope is he can be another playmaker for Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud as he joins a receiver room with Nico Collins and Christian Kirk.
Will he start as a rookie? He will most likely start as rookie, but the question mark will be how much of an impact he can have in Year 1. There will be competition for targets after Collins, who's the clear-cut No. 1 wideout, but if he can nudge out Kirk for the second-most targets, that'll mean he's progressed. Also what does this mean for Dell's availability in 2024? Making a wideout the first pick for the Texans could mean they aren't confident Dell will be available for most of 2025.
Round 2, No. 48: Aireontae Ersery, OT, Minnesota
My take: Drafting Ersery is part of the overhaul this offseason for the trenches on the offensive side of the ball for Houston. It was necessary after the 2024 season when the group allowed Stroud to be sacked 52 times (second most in the NFL) and pressured on 38.6% of his dropbacks (second most), according to Next Gen Stats. Bringing in Ersery allows for more competition at left tackle to compete with free agent signing Cam Robinson.
Is this pick for depth or does it fill a hole? The answer is both. The unit needed an infusion of talent after getting rid of left tackle Laremy Tunsil, left guard Kenyon Green and right guard Shaq Mason, who all accounted for 41 starts combined. The Texans are adding depth to boost competition for a struggling unit. Robinson is the perceived starter, but the Minnesota standout will have a chance to push him.
Round 3, No. 79: Jaylin Noel, WR, Iowa State
My take: Noel is a burner who went for 1,194 receiving yards last season and ran a 4.39 in the 40-yard dash. The Texans wanted to add more playmaking depth for Stroud after last season's passing attack was hampered by injuries to Diggs and Dell and with backups Xavier Hutchinson and John Metchie III failing to step up. So the Texans added Noel after drafting his teammate, Higgins, a round earlier to make sure there's always talented wideouts rotating in.
When will he be expected to get regular playing time? He'll be fighting with Kirk, Higgins and Metchie for playing time, so don't expect him to start early. But he'll push for playing time from Week 1.
Round 3, No. 97: Jaylin Smith, CB, USC
My take: The Texans don't have any needs for starters at cornerback, but they could use some depth on rookie contracts. The starters are Derek Stingley Jr., Kamari Lassiter and Jalen Pitre in the nickel. But behind them are veterans who've bounced around the NFL like Ronald Darby while Tremon Smith and D'Angelo Ross are special team guys. Smith gives them some youth at the corner spot.
Ties to the team to know: Smith adds to the USC ties in Houston. He played with Texans ball hawk safety Calen Bullock, who was a third round-pick for Houston last year, for three seasons. Bullock went on to have five interceptions as a rookie. Smith called Bullock a "brother" and said that "was one of my best friends coming into college." He also played with Texans 2024 seventh-round pick Solomon Byrd (defensive end) for two seasons.
Round 4, No. 116: Woody Marks, RB, USC
My take: The Texans are adding another playmaker for their offense, as Marks rushed for 1,133 yards last year. He is also a dual threat, having added 261 catches in his career. In 2021, he had 83 catches for 502 receiving yards for Mississippi State. The Texans now have a solid back-up for Joe Mixon whenever their starter needs a break.
Round 6, No. 187: Jaylen Reed, S, Penn State
My take: Reid has forced turnovers at Penn State as he netted five interceptions in his career with a pick-six. He'll be a development piece behind safeties Jimmie Ward and C.J. Gardner-Johnson. With Ward turning 34 in July, he only has a few more seasons left so this could be an opportunity for Reid to learn from two veterans before possibly becoming a starter down the line.
Round 6, No. 197: Graham Mertz, QB, Florida
My take: Backup quarterback Davis Mills is a free agent in 2026 so the Texans need inexpensive options who can develop into an effective backup behind Stroud. Mertz threw 64 touchdowns in his college career with a season-high of 20 in 2023 for the Gators after transferring from Wisconsin. Mertz is the first quarterback the Texans have drafted since Stroud in 2023.
Round 7 No. 224: Kyonte Hamilton, DT, Rutgers
My take: Hamilton is projected to be a rotation or practice squad player as the Texans develop him throughout his rookie contract. He played in 51 games throughout his college career and totaled 110 tackles, including 11 for loss with six sacks.
Round 7, No. 255: Luke Lachey, TE, Iowa
My take: Lachey adds more development depth for the position. The Texans already have Dalton Schultz, Brevin Jordan, Cade Stover and Irv Smith Jr.