Texans Mock Draft Monday: Seven Rounds Post-Senior Bowl

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 Houston 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.

Round 1, Pick 25: Grey Zabel, OG – North Dakota State

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.

Round 2, Pick 57: Donovan Jackson, OG/OT – Ohio State

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’ biggest offseason box while also finding potential replacements for Laremy Tunsil in two years. Now they just need to figure out where everyone goes.

Round 3, Pick 89: Jonas Sanker, S – Virginia

Georgia’s right guard Tate Ratledge was on the board, but even Nick Caserio isn’t daring enough to pull off an interior lineman hat trick in the draft.

Jonas Sanker is a two-time All-ACC selection with 273 tackles over four years at Virginia. Sanker is the definition of a player with game-speed; his 40-yard dash won’t wow analysts, but he is constantly the fastest player on the field.

Sanker slots into the safety role Eric Murray and potentially Jimmie Ward vacate. He’s a fantastic complement to last year’s third round pick Calen Bullock; Sanker does the dirty work underneath and Bullock gets to play ball hawk.

Sanker brings the BOOM to opposing offenses, makes all over the field, and solidifies the safety position for years to come.

Round 4, Pick 125: Tory Horton, WR – Colorado State

It came down to Horton and personal favorite Pat Bryant for this pick, but Horton’s speed and versatility fits the Texans’ immediate needs than Bryant who is similar to Nico Collins and Xavier Hutchinson.

Horton suffered a season-ending knee injury in October, but he should available to start his rookie season. The injury is the only reason Horton is available in the fourth round as his production at both Nevada and Colorado State is undeniably eye-popping. Horton is 6’3 but featured in the slot and outside in both offenses, making him the X-factor Houston is looking for.

The Texans roll the dice on an uber-talented pick later in the draft with high upside. Don’t worry about the lack of competition; he had HUGE games against Washington State, Oregon State, and Colorado.

Round 5, Pick 167: Junior Tafuna, DT – Utah

Tafuna is another prospect whose draft stock skyrocketed during the Senior Bowl. He recorded a sack and a fumble recovery on his way to a big game.

While he didn’t record any sacks in 2024, Tafuna doubled his QB hurries. He also graded well in stopping the run with a 79.7 score according to PFF. Tafuna isn’t the impact defensive lineman Houston was hoping to get out of the draft, but he’ll be a serviceable, rotational player on an already deep defensive line.

Round 7, Pick 243: Raheim Sanders, RB – South Carolina

The Texans last pick falls to a position group with more future-needs than Sanders can solve alone. This is a fantastic RB class, so don’t be surprised if Houston finds its next running back earlier in future mocks.

Sanders spent three productive seasons at Arkansas before transferring to South Carolina his senior season. This past season Sanders rushed 183 times for 881 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also caught 27 passes for 316 yards and a pair of scores.

Sanders was a projected third-rounder in 2024 before a knee injury and concerns over his lack of elite speed dropped him down boards. Sanders possesses more power than finesse and is known for his vision and play making ability.

Sanders would first slot into the special teams first before competing with an amalgamation of backs for the third-string spot. Heck, he could compete for the backup role given Pierce’s incapability of getting on the field.

Final Thoughts: Without any trades, Houston leaves the draft with a clear path forward on offense. They spend four of the six picks on offense but still walk away with two immediate contributors on defense.