The Houston Texans have work to do with the roster this offseason if they plan on returning to the postseason as an AFC contender.
After trimming the fat, general manager Nick Caserio will be working to sign cost-friendly free agents while shoring up enough funds to extend All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. ahead of training camp.
After that, sights turn to the NFL Draft and several early selections, including pick No. 25. The trenches remain the top need on both sides of the ball, but with a run on offensive linemen, shoring up the defense in a promising class might be the best consolation prize.
In a new mock draft from The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner, the Texans bolster their interior pass rush by selecting Michigan’s Kenneth Grant at pick No. 25.
There’s a real chance Grant has one of those unforgettable testing weeks at the combine and rockets his stock into the top-15 range. If he doesn’t, he could be in line to slip. A phenomenal athlete at 340 pounds, Grant is still more traits than production.
After helping the Wolverines secure a national championship berth in 2024, Grant returned to Ann Arbor as the anchor of the front seven. In 12 games, he totaled seven tackles for loss and three sacks.
Listed as Pro Football Focus’ No. 2 interior defensive lineman prospect, Grant is considered by many as the top three-tech and an ideal fit for Houston’s front seven.
Don’t rule out North Dakota State OL Grey Zabel, the draft’s top center/interior O-lineman, as the Texans’ first-round pick.