The Houston Texans enter the 2025 NFL Draft with a clear goal: build around C.J. Stroud and address any glaring roster weaknesses to push deeper into the playoffs.
After a season marred by injuries and offensive inconsistency, Houston’s front office is poised for a bold approach, making an aggressive trade to fill a critical need and landing a prolific, 27-touchdown running back to supercharge their offense.
Below is the latest seven-round mock draft by PFSN’s Ian Cummings:
21) Kelvin Banks Jr., OL, Texas
Houston’s aggressive trade-up for Kelvin Banks Jr. reflects calculated urgency to secure a versatile, high-upside local talent. Banks, a three-year starter and unanimous All-American, brings explosive movement skills, ideal pad level, and positional flexibility. Though leverage maintenance and strike consistency raise concerns, his accolades, anchor ability, and mauler mentality align with the Texans’ trench needs.
With teams like Los Angeles, Green Bay, and Minnesota looming, Houston’s move mitigates risk while addressing critical protection for their franchise trajectory. This trade-up is both strategic and necessary.
79) Terrance Ferguson, TE, Oregon
Terrance Ferguson offers Houston a high-floor, TE2-caliber prospect with starting upside. While tight end isn’t a glaring need, Ferguson’s versatility, strong frame, and consistent production across four seasons make him a smart depth investment. His catch radius, zone awareness, and red-zone utility provide immediate value.
Though limited by separation struggles and rounded routes, his blocking effort, slot versatility, and steady hands warrant a Day 3 selection. With Dalton Schultz potentially replaceable, Ferguson could quietly become a dependable contributor in Houston’s evolving offense.
89) Elic Ayomanor, WR, Stanford
Elic Ayomanor presents significant developmental upside as a boundary ‘X’ receiver. His size, catch radius, and speed make him a formidable deep-ball threat with potential to thrive in the NFL. However, his limited route tree, occasional drops, and struggles against off͏-man coverage ͏highlight areas needing refinement.
Despite these shortcomings, ͏his raw physicality, ball skills,͏ and͏ growth potential͏ make him a worthwhile investment, especially on Day 2. The 49e͏rs’͏ trade-up signals confidence in his ability͏ to develop into a dynamic, physical playmaker for their offense.
100) Jamaree Caldwell, DT, Oregon
Jamaree Caldwell offers Houston a versatile, athletic nose tackle with potential to contribute immediately. His size and strength allow him to anchor against double teams, while his hustle and motor provide value in gap integrity.
Caldwell’s ability to disrupt plays with his bull rush and spin counter showcases his potential as a pocket pusher. However, his inconsistent balance, tendency to hit the ground, and lack of interior rush without assistance present areas for improvement. Still, his upside as a middle-round pick makes him a developmental asset.
113) DJ Giddens, RB, Kansas State
DJ Giddens is a productive, patient back with solid size, but lacks explosive speed. His long strides and limited lateral quickness ͏hinder big-play potential, while ͏his ͏vision and ͏elusiveness help him͏ ͏find yards in͏ tight ͏spaces. He excels in͏ ͏short-yardage situations but struggles ͏with consistency in power running and pass protection.
166) Cobee Bryant, CB, Kansas
Cobee Bryant ͏is a ball-͏hawking ͏cornerback with ͏impressive ͏instincts, registering 13 interceptions and 3͏5 passes defensed in college. Though he excels in ͏zone coverage and is ͏tough in run support, ͏his lightweight frame limits ͏his ability against bigger receivers͏. Penalties and occasional mismatches could limit his pro potential.
236) Hollin Pierce, OT, Rutgers
Hollin Pierce is a massive tackle with impressive length and discipline, starting 52 games in college. While effective in controlling edge rushers with his size, he struggles with speed-to-power and quick inside counters. His heavy legs and occasional overextension limit his potential as a top-tier NFL tackle.
241) Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas
Isai͏ah Bond is an explosive, versatile receiver with elite speed and the ability to impact͏ all levels of the field.͏ While͏ his route running and hands are solid͏, he struggles with press coverage and contested catches.
With more targets, he has the potential to develop͏ ͏into a key NFL contributor.