The Houston Texans had two clear needs heading into the 2025 NFL Draft — a porous offensive line that stopped their offense almost entirely in the 2024 season, and wide receiver help after injuries took time away from virtually every player in the room.
For the most part, Houston was able to address those concerns. However, according to one analyst, that has made one offseason acquisition potentially redundant for them. As a result, a trade or a potential cut could come in handy for the Texans.
Houston Texans Predicted To Trade Away Christian Kirk After Trading for Him
Last season, Houston’s main trio of Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins, and Tank Dell all missed time due to injury, with the former’s season ending prematurely. Dell is likely out for the 2025 season, making the position a priority need and leading to a minor trade in the offseason.
A seventh-round pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars landed Houston Christian Kirk. An explosive slot receiver, injuries hampered the last two years of Kirk’s career, leading to a cheap asking price. However, the Texans hoped to find his 2022 form again.
But according to Sterling Xie of PFSN, in his trade and cut candidates following the draft, that was before Houston found two excellent options in the 2025 NFL Draft.
“The Texans checked off that need and then some by picking Iowa State teammates Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, giving them a very high-upside top three along with Nico Collins.”
But that trio coming together also means, “that no other wide receiver on the roster is assured of a place on the team.” For Xie, that list includes Kirk, even if the team parted with a seventh-round pick to acquire him.
“That’s a tiny investment, and it didn’t stop the Texans from picking a slot receiver prospect in Noel, who could easily make Kirk redundant. There was no way for Houston to know they were picking Noel, of course.”
Instead, the Texans can probably find a similar return in a potential trade down the road. If Noel turns out to be a successful pickup and a reliable contributor near the trade deadline, then landing Kirk in a trade might be their best option.
“The Texans could flip Kirk to a team that didn’t address its slot receiver needs in the draft and recoup their Day 3 pick if Noel proves ready to play.”
At the collegiate level, both Higgins and Noel had over 1,100 yards for an explosive Iowa State offense. Finding their way back onto the same team, if the duo can replicate their success with Collins’ triple-crown potential, then the Texans’ offense could very quickly find itself looking closer to its 2023 self.