Battle Red Blog
Houston goes all-in on fixing the offensive line while finding depth across the defense too.
The Senior Bowl is in the books, and the opening bell to the NFL Draft season has officially rung. Tis the season.
Coaches, analysts, and scouts alike left Mobile, Alabama with new thoughts on the top prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft. The dust has yet to settle on whose stock has climbed the most or who has earned themselves a lot more money, but it’s clear that this draft class has more to offer than initially thought.
The Texans’ front office should feel more confident in their ability to land an immediate starter on the offensive line after the Senior Bowl. This draft class is loaded with offensive line prospects who can play in multiple spots. This class is loaded with versatile linemen, which is fortunate because Houston has multiple spots to fill.
This is the first seven-round mock of the year. Houston currently holds six picks; one in each round except for the sixth. While General Manager Nick Caserio & Co are known for trading picks draft-day trades, this mock has Houston staying the course and selecting at their current picks.
One week ago, Grey Zabel was slated to be this mock draft’s third-round, developmental guard prospect. After the senior bowl? Houston will be lucky if he sticks around until the 25th pick. Arguably no player improved their stock as much as Zabel.
The 6’6, 305 prospect has unparalleled versatility. Zabel played left tackle this past season, but he swapped between left guard and right tackle his sophomore and junior seasons. Though his shorter arms compels him to move inside the offensive line, don’t let plus the FCS school alma mater dissuade you; Zabel has the grit, technique, and footwork to be an instant starter for the Texans.
Walter Nolen the frenetic and skilled defensive tackle from Ole Miss was on the board in this mock. Nolen may become better long-term player, but Zabel fills an immediate and crucial need for the Texans.
In this mock, Jayden Higgins and Xavier Restrepo both went earlier in the draft, forcing me to go back to the trenches.
A trio of lineman are still available: Ohio State’s Donovan Jackson, Texas’ Cameron Williams, and Alabama’s Tyler Booker. Both Williams and Booker have experienced a steep decline in the draft stocks recently. Booker also exclusively plays left guard, which would be duplicative with the Zabel selection. That leaves Houston with one of the highest floor prospects in Jackson.
The 6’4, 320-pound senior started at left guard before shifting to left tackle midseason after Josh Simmons’ injury. Jackson took some time to transition, but eventually became an undeniable force in Ohio State’s run to the national championship. Plus, Jackson hails from Cypress, Texas in northwest Houston.
Doubling down on versatile interior offensive lineman checks the Texans’...
