The Houston Texans have needs entering the final weeks leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft. Big ones? Perhaps not. Still needs that must be addressed before Week 1 rolls around? Without question.
Houston could go in a few different ways with its first-round pick: The two-time defending AFC South champs could take the best player available. They could grab a player in a position of need. Some would say trading back to accrue more capital is the right move.
But wherever they land, the Texans must address the offensive line. They also must target the right wide receiver. Offense for the first time in the DeMeco Ryans’ era, must be prioritized over defensive talent and Yahoo Sports’ Nate Tice predicts that will be the case.
In their most recent mock draft, Tice has the Texans adding in a rising prospect who continues to land at No. 25 with Ohio State offensive tackle Josh Simmons. Kelvin Banks was in line for Houston to snatch up before the Los Angeles Rams shipped off a third-round pick and Day 3 selection to their AFC counterpart to move up four spots and find the left tackle of the future.
No matter. When healthy, Simmons is one of the league’s top prospects and could be the overall highest-ranked offensive lineman in the class come this time next offseason.
The Texans have had a bizarre offseason along the offensive line, but they’ve added enough players where they might be able to take a stash draft pick on a supremely talented tackle. Simmons would be going much higher than this if not for a torn patellar tendon that cut short his final season at Ohio State. When healthy, Simmons has the traits of a franchise left tackle.
Simmons started over 40 games during his four-year college career at San Diego State and Ohio State. A right tackle by trade, he started the first five games for the Buckeyes on the left side in 2024 before a leg injury sidelined him for the remainder of the 2024 season.
Even in a small sample size, Simmons proved he was a physically imposing, loose, powerful run blocker with upside in pass protection. He showed dramatic improvements as a pass protector, showing off his ability to make first meaningful contact with sticky hands while pushing pass rushers away from the backfield.
It’s not an exciting pick by any means, but the Texans’ focus must be on maximizing C.J. Stroud’s rookie contract while still on a bargain. Keeping the Pro Bowl QB upright with a rock-solid offensive line is the best way to do that for 2025 and beyond.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: 2025 NFL Mock Draft: Texans land Ohio State OT Josh Simmons at No. 25