NFL Draft countdown: Deal with Texans’ first-round choose at No. 25
The Texans have No. 1 receiver Nico Collins beneath contract for 3 extra seasons, however Trapasso believes Houston will look to reload at large receiver this 12 months. Stefon Diggs is now not with the crew after signing a three-year, $69M contract with the Patriots, and No. 2 receiver Tank Dell might miss your entire 2025 season after tearing his ACL in December.
Contemplating Collins, Dell and Diggs mixed to overlook 17 video games for the Texans in 2024, including Egbuka to the combo definitely wouldn’t damage the NFL’s Twenty second-ranked offense in 2025.
OT Kelvin Banks Jr. | Texas
In earlier mock drafts, NFL Community’s Daniel Jeremiah had Houston taking Egbuka as properly however thinks the offensive line needs to be the crew’s high precedence after buying and selling Professional Bowl LT Laremy Tunsil to Washington.
Even with Tunsil on board, the Texans nonetheless allowed 54 sacks final 12 months, 52 to second-year QB C.J. Stroud, who had little to no time to throw for a lot of the season. Solely Bears’ QB Caleb Williams took extra sacks (68) in 2024.
Banks was named a unanimous All-American and gained the Outland Trophy as school soccer’s greatest inside lineman in 2024. He missed the SEC championship recreation with an ankle damage however managed a powerful 42 begins in his school profession.
At 6-foot-4 and 320 kilos, Banks has the scale to play sort out within the NFL, however most imagine he’s higher suited to play guard. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein believes the first-team All-American will likely be an early starter with run-blocking expertise unusual for a rookie lineman.
TE Colston Loveland | Michigan
Perhaps Stroud wouldn’t take so many sacks if he had a dependable outlet just like the 6-foot-5, 245-pound former Wolverine. At the least, that’s what Josh Liskiewitz appears to assume in his newest draft for Professional Soccer Focus.
Per Liskiewitz, Loveland averaged 2.69 yards per route run in 2024, greater than any of the 5 receivers not named Tetairoa McMillan ranked within the high 50 on PFF’s Huge Board. Loveland led Michigan with 56 catches for 582 yards in 2024 and had 117 receptions for 1,446 yards with 11 touchdowns in three years with the crew.
In fact, Loveland could possibly be thought of a luxurious, given the state of the Texans’ offensive line. Like many analysts, Liskiewitz doubts he has the density wanted to play as an inline tight finish, one thing he’ll have to do as a member of the Texans.
