Every off-season wild rumors swirl around the Houston Texans. Threaded in and around those are mock drafts, rumors of another sort.
This year is really no different. The talking heads need something to get people to click, tune in, listen up and otherwise help them sell you advertising content. So, the wilder the rumor, the more likely we all are to take notice. Particularly if there’s just enough “logic” around it to make it somewhat believable.
The ‘Zilla did a solid job addressing the fact and fiction
of the (silly) C.J. Stroud trade rumor. Someone who gets paid to know things, and make up stuff that sounds like he knows it, dropped Stroud’s name as a trade candidate and the disgruntled members of the Texans fanbase grabbed hold of it. As did the fans of other teams who wish they had a quarterback like Stroud (re: a LOT of the total NFL fan base).
In one of the previous regimes, Stroud might already be gone. Brian Gaine, Bill O’Brien and maybe even Rick Smith might have sent him packing for a handful of magic beans ASAP after the disastrous performance in the AFC Divisional playoffs against the New England Patriots.
Under Demeco Ryans and Nick Caserio, the only way it makes sense for Stroud to leave the building via trade is if some other team backs up a Brinks truck full of ridiculous compensation such as multiple first round picks, another starting caliber QB and 2 or more starting caliber players of need.
And, that isn’t gonna happen.
Stroud will get another shot at the glory and this rumor will die once the talking heads find something else to fill the 24/7 demand for “fresh” content.
Houston Texans Mock Draft
In the far less ridiculous end of rumors and predictions we see it’s mock draft season. These will continue to arrive hot and heavy for the next 2 months. But, unlike listening to people hotly debate whether Caserio should do dumb things like trade the star QB, mock drafts are usually fun.
PFF has their first 3-round mock all set, with few surprises for those paying attention.
As it currently stands, the Texans are in possession of:
- Rd 1 – #28
- Rd 2 – #38
- Rd 2 – #59
- Rd3 – #69
- Rd4 – #106
- Rd4 – #128
- Rd5 – #165
- Rd7 -#244
- Rd7 – #245
We all should know by now Caserio is a wheeler-dealer with the draft cards, so there’s little expectation it will remain this way. But, it’s what we have right now.
Round 1
28. Houston Texans: OL Caleb Lomu, Utah
Like Spencer Fano, his Utah teammate, Lomu saw his draft stock drop a little in 2025. There are questions about whether he is a better fit at guard instead of tackle. What isn’t in question, though, is that, even in a down year, he earned a strong 82.1 PFF pass-blocking grade and would bolster a still-shaky Texans offensive line.
Round 2
38. Houston Texans (via Commanders): DI Christen Miller, Georgia
59. Houston Texans: C Connor Lew, Auburn
Round 3
69. Houston Texans (via Giants): DI Dontay Corleone, Cincinnati
That’s a lotta love for the lines – which isn’t a bad thing. Landing a guard/tackle, a center and two defensive tackles isn’t a bad haul if even 3 of them end up contributing. Granted, if Nick Caley’s hammer the hole offense is still in vogue, they need an upgrade at tailback. PFF has the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks taking Washington’s Jonah Coleman at #64 – who would likely make a great addition to the Texans running back room.
Another fun thing the folks at PFF do annually is host the Mock Draft Generator, where anyone can play general manager and run their own draft. Granted, it’s behind a paywall, but if you’re that passionate about the NFL draft, it’s a worthy sacrifice.
