The Houston Texans’ free agency has made their 2025 NFL Draft strategy about as painfully obvious as you can imagine
The Houston Texans have been a volatile conversation the last couple of years. Following a bit of a breakout season in 2023, many were super excited about what head coach DeMeco Ryans was building with the organization. For the second straight season, the Texans made a playoff run last season, although injuries and slight offensive […]
The Houston Texans have been a volatile conversation the last couple of years. Following a bit of a breakout season in 2023, many were super excited about what head coach DeMeco Ryans was building with the organization. For the second straight season, the Texans made a playoff run last season, although injuries and slight offensive regression took some of the luster off.
This team, however, still has a bright future on paper, Ryans is still one of the best young head coaches in the NFL, and they have their franchise quarterback in place with CJ Stroud. Anytime you have a very good head coach your your signal caller, you are in very good shape. That baseline brings a lot of optimism.
After three days of NFL free agency, it has sent some mixed feelings about the trajectory of the organization. In theory, protecting your franchise quarterback should always be the top priority for a team. For whatever reason, that hasn't felt like the perspective so far this offseason. The Texans have proceeded to trade away left tackle Laremy Tunsil to the Washington Commanders, and right guard Kenyon Green to the Philadelphia Eagles respectively.
Tunsil is one of the very best blindside protectors in the entire league. While Green hasn't been nearly as good and often injured, you are still saying goodbye to two starting offensive linemen off of a unit that already had major issues. It doesn't feel like the best process.
With left tackle and right guard now vacated, and have yet to sign a single offensive lineman in free agency. That means we should get a heavy dose of the big uglies once the 2025 NFL Draft kicks off in April. That has to be the top priority for this offense.
The Texans currently hold the No. 25 overall selection in the first round. It can't be ignored that this team may be in a situation to trade up and find a starting left tackle. There is also a chance that a player like Josh Simmons (Ohio State) could fall to them due to a midseason injury. If he does, that is about as good of a scenario as Houston could hope for.
Texas star offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. could also be a player on the table if he slides a bit. It is unlikely that Will Campbell (LSU) and Armand Membou (Missouri) will be on the board, but you never know how things could fall in the end. The back end of the first round does feel ideal to find a decent board of offensive linemen, so it could be worse for Houston.
Options will be on the table. This Texans coaching and scouting staffs will need to make a few great decisions in April. You do not want to waste a talented quarterback on a rookie contract. This will end up being a massive offseason to create a sustainable product, on and off the field.
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