The Houston Texans have had two consecutive winning seasons. For the last two years, they made it to the Divisional Round, losing to the Ravens in 2023 and falling short against the Chiefs this year. The Texans had a shaky offense that needs immediate fixing if they want to go beyond the Divisional Round. With the draft only three days away, hopefully, HC DeMeco Ryans has done his homework. Houston needs to build a strong team around QB CJ Stroud, starting with drafting a wideout. Their WR Tank Dell has suffered season-ending injuries for two straight years. So, it might be a smart decision to draft a WR in the early rounds.
The Texans currently have the 25th overall pick, which might push them a little late for drafting a top prospect. In that case, we project that they acquire the 11th overall pick from the 49ers in exchange for their 25th overall, 79th overall, and 236th pick.
Here is a mock draft projecting Houston’s 7-round picks.
Round 1:11th overall (via Niners) – Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
The Texans’ WR corps has Dell, Pro Bowler Nico Collins, and Xavier Hutchinson. Collins was on IR for a month in the latest season. Tank Dell suffered a season-ending injury in Week 16. Their veteran WR Stefon Diggs left for the Patriots during free agency this year. Texans have not re-signed their other veteran, Robert Woods, possibly because they don’t want to lock him into a long-term deal considering his age.
So, DeMeco Ryans needs to get key players for CJ Stroud. For this, the Texans’ brass jumps 14 franchises, acquiring the 49ers’ 11th pick to draft WR Tetairoa McMillan. The Arizona alum is one of the top WR prospects. McMillan is coming off a season racking up 1,319 yards on 84 receptions, finishing third in the nation. So, getting him on board would give some insurance to Collins and Hutchinson.
Round 2: 58th overall (own pick) – Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State
Quinshon Judkins is an RB from Ohio State. Before that, he played for Ole Miss. Judkins was named SEC Freshman of the Year after he rushed for 140 yards and two TDs on 27 carries in his first college game against Tulsa. The 21-year-old stands 5 ft, weighs 221 lbs, and has an arm length of 0.77 m, according to his pro day values.
To bolster their offense, the Texans need to draft a running back, especially after Joe Mixon couldn’t live up to what the team expected from him.
Round 3: 89th overall (own pick) – Jack Bech, WR, TCU
Jack Bech is a wide receiver for TCU. He began his college football journey with the LSU Tigers, starting in 7 games during his freshman year. Bech recorded 43 receptions for 489 yards and three touchdowns that season. The 22-year-old finished his second year at LSU with 16 receptions for 200 yards and one touchdown. In 2023, Bech transferred to TCU, where he played in eight games. He was also named MVP in one of the games during the 2025 Super Bowl week.
Drafting Jack Bech could add much-needed depth to the Texans’ WR room, especially if Tank Dell is unable to return for another season.
Round 5: 147 overall (via Niners) – Luke Lachey, TE, IOWA
If Houston pulls off the No. 11 trade with the Niners, they also get the Round 5, No. 147 overall pick. The Texans’ brass then uses this pick to further bolster DeMeco Ryans’ offense and support QB CJ Stroud. Who do they get for him? Well, they draft Iowa Hawkeyes TE Luke Lachey. Lachey is the son of former offensive tackle and Super Bowl XXVI champion Jim Lachey. According to NFL Combine data, Luke stands 6 feet tall, weighs 251 lbs, and has an arm length of 0.82 meters.
Round 5: 166th overall (acquired from Bills) – Kain Medrano, LB, UCLA
UCLA’s LB Kain Medrano could be a valuable addition to DC Matt Burke‘s defense. Kain played in all 12 games for the Bruins last season. The LB had 72 tackles, with 11 tackles for loss, and also contributed to the pass rush with 1.5 sacks. The 24-year-old’s ability to excel in coverage, as well as his strength against the run, would bring versatility to the Texans’ defense. So, Medrano is an interesting option to draft in round 5.
Round 7: 241st overall (own pick)- Justin Walley, CB, Minnesota
Houston could use a pick for drafting a CB to enhance their defense. Minnesota’s CB Justin Walley could be an intriguing option to pick in the last round. The 22-year-old can cover both the run and pass. DeMeco Ryans can put Walley behind starting CBs Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter for the time being. So, if the Texans draft Walley, he could contribute immediately as a depth piece for a team in need of CB depth.
Round 7: 249 overall (via Niners) – Willie Lampkin, C, North Carolina
For their last pick, the Texans can bolster their O-line further by selecting Willie Lampkin, a center from North Carolina. Lampkin’s solid technique and experience would provide valuable depth behind starting linemen, and he could eventually push for a starting role. The 22-year-old’s ability to play with strength and consistency would further support QB CJ Stroud as the Texans look to build a more effective offense.
By adding players like Tetairoa McMillan and Luke Lachey, Coach DeMeco Ryans could build an offense that shapes CJ Stroud’s trajectory this season. This projected mock draft sets the stage, but we’ll soon see how the Texans execute their plans in Green Bay.
The post DeMeco Ryans Jumps 14 Franchises for CJ Stroud and Overhauls Texans’ Offense With 6 Picks in Latest Mock Draft appeared first on EssentiallySports.