Pre-draft visits, interviews, and private workouts are incredibly important steps in the finalization of a team’s draft board. It’s the finishing touches on months of film that truly contextualize a player and fill out their profile.
Conversely, they can be used as a smoke screen.
For the Texans, it’s a direct indicator of who is high on their draft board. According to NFLTradeRumor, the first five picks of the Texans 2025 draft all met with the team pre-draft.
That leads us to today’s mock draft, the
second-to-last mock draft of the season, using only players the Texans have formally visited with during this draft season.
Round 1, Pick 28: Christen Miller, DT – Georgia
- Pre-Draft Meeting: Top 30 Visit
Analysis: I project players such as DE Zion Young, DT Kayden McDonald, and TE Kenyon Sadiq to be off the board along with eight offensive lineman. While Miller isn’t a true value here, the biggest hole on the roster is filled with a well-rounded prospect. He’s an incredible run stopper and fits the defense as a gritty three-technique with upside to improve his pass rush. Could Miller be there at 38? Possibly, but the Texans are now primed to be active and patient.
Round 2, Pick 38: Malachi Lawrence, DE – UCF
- Pre-Draft Meeting: Top 30 Visit
This pick is labeled as the “big swing” selection, and DE Malachi Lawrence is the Yordan Alvarez for this class. He’s a physical specimen and extremely raw, but can start out in Houston as a rotational pass rusher and develop into a stellar first-tier pass rusher and run stopper. He has natural athleticism whose confidence to pull out the bag of tricks in the pas rush is clearly visible. He has the frame and length to add 10-15 pounds of muscle without losing his speed and lateral agility. His long arms are a defining trait in his game. If he can add power to his punch, he’ll blossom as a player who can set the edge and devastate quarterbacks.
Round 2, Pick 59: Connor Lew, OC – Auburn
- Pre-Draft Meeting: Combine interview
Houston lands their center at the end of the second round. I believe center will go earlier than analysts predict. Lew sustained an ACL tear mid season and may not be able to start the year, but he is young, strong, and experienced. In my draft profile of Lew, I said he was an “extremely fluid mover and has high-end awareness of what’s occurring around him”. While there were significant flaws that need to be addressed, he presents the athleticism and power to play in Houston’s system long-term.
Round 3, Pick 69: Mike Washington, RB – Arkansas
- Pre-Draft Meeting: Combine interview
Washington was featured in my first mock draft of the season … but in round five. Now, Washington is RB3 in a weak class. My initial analysis was that he “He carries his large frame well and is a pure downhill rusher. He ran primarily outside zone and dive at Arkansas which should fit in well in Houston’s scheme.” Many of those points still ring true in his full analysis, but I’ve gained greater appreciation for his straight-line speed and smoothness when he sees the hole develop. The biggest concern will be stopping him from fumbling as he had four in 2025 alone.
Round 4, Pick 106: Jalon Kilgore, DB – South Carolina
- Pre-Draft Meeting: South Carolina’s Pro Day
Kilgore is a strong safety/nickel defensive back who is all instinct, no technique. He made his money staring down QBs and picking off passes in a defense that allowed him to freelance. He competes with a physical play style and toughness that fits the defense. He’ll backup Jalen Pitre for the short term until he finds a designated home within the defense.
Round 5, Pick 141: Joe Royer, TE – Cincinatti
- Pre-Draft Meeting: Combine interview
Royer flamed out at Ohio State, but found his footing in the Big 12 in his hometown university. Royer has the size and finesse to be a consistent TE2 in the NFL, but needs to improve his blocking technique to see the field more in his first two seasons. A zone-based safety valve, Royer can break down defenses as a hands catcher to turn and gain yards upfield. It will be a competitive tight end room for Royer, but there’s a roster spot there if he can earn it.
Round 5, Pick 167: Tyren Montgomery, WR – John Carrol University
- Pre-Draft Meeting: Texans’ local Pro Day
By far the best story of this draft cycle, Montgomery was the bell of the ball at the Senior Bowl… after getting called up last minute. He grew up in the Woodlands, which is why he was able to secure a local workout.
He never played a snap of high school football. He walked on to LSU’s basketball team, but left the program during COVID to help his family. His brother helped convince him to play football, and the rest is history.
He’s a natural pass catcher and long strider, Montgomery possesses deep play-making ability with upside to improve as a route runner.
Round 7, Pick 243: Josh Gesky, OG – Illinois
- Pre-Draft Meeting: Private workout and Illinois’ Pro Day
Gesky was left out of the NFL Combine, but he absolutely dominated the Pro Day. He would have finished in the top six in four different categories if he participated. Gesky is a strong, large, and technical offensive guard with the potential to immediately compete with Jarrett Patterson as the swing guard. He has experience at both guard spots, but played primarily left. Gesky is a powerful run blocker who works well in a phone booth, but will need to max out his athleticism to withstand speed rushers at the next level.
