Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio made seven trades throughout the draft. Ahead of the draft, Caserio had a reputation as a frequent trader on draft night, and he lived up to it.
Caserio's seven draft trades bring his total to 25 draft-day trades during his tenure as the Texans' general manager.
Houston's biggest move came when they traded out of the first round on Day 1 of the draft. The Texans sent the 25th pick to the New York Giants for the 34th and 99th picks as well as a 2026 third-round pick.
They used the 34th pick to draft wide receiver Jayden Higgins from Iowa State. Higgins had a great 2024 season, catching 87 passes for 1,183 yards and nine touchdowns.
Houston then made a trade up, sending the 58th and 99th picks to the Las Vegas Raiders for the 48th pick, which they used to select offensive tackle Aireontae Ersery.
The Texans added weapons and protection for C.J. Stroud ahead of the 2025 campaign. Houston's draft was very active, and with Caserio under the helm, it will likely remain that way moving forward.
With their new additions, the Texans will look to make a deep playoff run in the 2025 season.
Houston Texans 2025 NFL Draft Grades
The Houston Texans and the other 31 teams have officially made all their picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, which means it’s time to grade their selections. After another busy three days of moving up and down the board, Houston ultimately took nine players as the team looks to capitalize on the window of opportunity provided by C.J. Stroud’s rookie window.
Second Round (34th Overall) – Jayden Higgins, WR
The Houston Texans could use another wide receiver with Stefon Diggs gone and Tank Dell unlikely to play, but Jayden Higgins was an interesting choice. The Iowa State product has a remarkably similar play style to Nico Collins, which means the two probably can’t stay on the field simultaneously without one playing to their weaknesses. Still, he’s a promising playmaker, and the best way to compensate for a weak offensive line is to add receivers who can get open before defenders can reach the quarterback.
Jayden Higgins NFL Draft Profile
Texans Draft Grade: B-
Second Round (48th Overall) – Aireontae Ersery, OT
This is exactly what the doctor ordered. Houston entered the NFL Draft with arguably the worst offensive line in football, and Ersery’s presence will go a long way in giving C.J. Stroud something resembling competent blocking. The best part is that this selection wasn’t a reach – Ersery is a mid-second-round talent and should start right away. Even if he never matches Laremy Tunsil’s level of dominance, he might be Houston’s best offensive lineman in 2025.
Aireontae Ersery NFL Draft Profile
Texans Draft Grade: A+
Third Round (79th Overall) – Jaylin Noel, WR
Jayden Higgins is to Nico Collins as Jaylin Noel is to Christian Kirk. Noel and Kirk have similar playing styles, but this selection is much easier to swallow since Kirk is slowing down and may not have anything left in his tank. In a best-case scenario, Noel can spend the 2025 season learning behind Kirk before taking the starting job in 2026. However, if Kirk is at the end of the road, Noel could start, and Houston won’t need to dramatically change their playbook.
Texans Draft Grade: A-
Third Round (97th Overall) – Jaylin Smith, CB
This one feels like a reach. The Texans could use another cornerback, but Jaylin Smith is not a third-round talent. While he is a versatile player who can play at multiple spots in the secondary, he’s not good enough to start at any of them. He’s a jack of all trades, master of none, who would’ve been a better pick late in the fourth round or early in the fifth.
Texans Draft Grade: D
Fourth Round (116th Overall) – Woody Marks, RB
The 2025 NFL Draft class was overflowing with running back talent, so it makes sense for Houston to invest a Day 3 pick in the position. Woody Marks is an ideal candidate to sit behind the aging Joe Mixon in 2025 and potentially take over as a starter in 2026. You can split hairs about whether the team would be better off with someone like Dylan Sampson or Ollie Gordon, but he should see rotational work in 2025 and will have the opportunity to turn that role into a starting job.
Texans Draft Grade: B+
Sixth Round (187th Overall) – Jaylen Reed, S
As you’d expect from a sixth-round pick, Jaylen Reed probably won’t ever become an NFL starter. However, that doesn’t mean he can’t find a home in the league. The Penn State product is at his best when he can sit in a zone, identify routes, and break on the ball. Basically, he should find a home as a nickel defender who can contribute on special teams. In the sixth round, it’s hard to ask for more than that.
Texans Draft Grade: B+
Sixth Round (197th Overall) – Graham Mertz, QB
Someone will have to go horribly wrong for Graham Mertz to play any meaningful snaps for the Houston Texans. However, that doesn’t mean he can’t help the team. Mertz is a ‘pitching machine’ type of quarterback who relies on his pre-snap abilities to compensate for his physical shortcomings. These types of players can be incredibly helpful on the scout team, and the right offensive coordinator could use him to keep the ship afloat if Stroud misses a week or two to injury.
Texans Draft Grade: B
Seventh Round (224th Overall) – Kyonte Hamilton, DT
Houston has one of the best defensive lines in football, so Kyonte Hamilton faces an uphill battle to make the 53-man roster. While he’s a little rough around the edges, his background in wrestling shows he’s not afraid to play hard, physical football. More than anyone else in this class, he’d benefit from a year on the practice squad to refine his technique and compete for a depth role in 2026.
Texans Draft Grade: C+
Seventh Round (255th Overall) – Luke Lachey, TE
The Houston Texans wrapped up their draft with Luke Lachey out of Iowa. The rookie won’t challenge Dalton Schultz for the starting job, but he can do a little bit of everything at an ok level. He’s not good enough to be a starter, but you can throw him in the lineup in a pinch without having to worry about him single-handedly ruining the play.
Texans Draft Grade: B-
