Top Five RB Draft Targets for the Houston Texans

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: OCT 17 Boston College at Virginia Tech — Photo by Lee Coleman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

What tailbacks should Houston be targeting in this year’s draft?

The Houston Texans got Joe Mixon last year, and he transformed the ground game into a Pro-Bowl caliber unit. He has been worth the investment, but at the same time, Dameon Pierce sank into the deep fog of the depth chart, witnessing his road back to live-game snaps dwindling with each passing month.

After an explosive rookie campaign in 2022, Pierce has sort of vanished behind his new teammates, and 2025 might just be the year Nick Caserio calls it quits and takes another running back in the NFL Draft. Young tailbacks aren’t given much leeway in the NFL, so I have to imagine that Caserio is eyeing up the rookie running back class in search of resetting that contract clock. Good running backs on rookie contracts are the envy of the league, and Caserio won’t hesitate to find his next diamond in the rough. But who could that be? Well, I’ve got a few ideas!

An important note: this list is not meant to accurately list the “top five running backs of the 2025 NFL Draft.” If so, UNC back Omarion Hampton and Boise State back Ashton Jeanty would occupy the top spots. This is more of a personal list of running backs that I think could really help Houston’s offense and will be worth targeting in the middle-to-late rounds of the Draft. that I think will be available when the Texans are on the clock. I tried to include a healthy mix of prospects in this list, ranging from top 50 picks all the way down to fifth and sixth-round sleepers.

Currently, the Houston Texans hold seven picks in the 2025 NFL Draft:

Round 1, No. 25
Round 2, No. 58
Round 3, No. 79 (from Dolphins through Eagles and Commanders)
Round 3, No. 89
Round 5, No. 166 (from Bills)
Round 7, No. 236 (From Broncos though Eagles and Commanders)
Round 7, No. 241

I sincerely believe general Nick Caserio would never consider taking a running back in the first round, but I could see all other selections being up for grabs. Running backs are often taken in rounds two, three, and four of the Draft, so picks 58, 79, and 89 took center stage in my selection process. Not all of the players listed will be taken within this range, but many of them will. Okay, on to the list!

Honorable Mentions: Jordan James (Oregon), Jaydon Blue (Texas), Quinshon Judkins (Ohio State), Dylan Sampson (Tennessee)

5. Jo’quavious (Woody) Marks, USC

Height: 5’ 10”
Weight: 207 lbs.
40-Yard Dash: 4.54 s; 10-Yard Split: 1.57 s; Vertical Jump: 35”
2024 Statistics: 12 Games, 198 Attempts for 1,133 Rushing Yards (5.7 YPA), 9 Rushing TDs, 47 Receptions for 321 Yards

I’ve gone back and forth on giving Woody Marks the fifth spot on this list or awarding it to another scat back, Oregon’s Jordan James. After some consideration, I’ve given Marks the edge on here due to his (very) slightly larger size and because of the moves he made against good defenses like Penn State and Minnesota’s. Primarily a gap runner, Marks uses his strengths in vision and acceleration to blast through the hole and make big gains in a hurry. His 40-yard dash time of 4.54 seconds isn’t going to blow you away, but he’s got enough speed to make an impact.

Although, like many other scat backs, Marks can have the problem of being a “one-speed” runner, unable to shift into another gear when being pursued by a defender. He’s also not a very thick player at all, so his chances of navigating a crowded field at the next level while keeping his feet on the ground are diminished. But, we’ve seen smaller, lighter backs like Devin Singletary and De’Von Achane succeed in the NFL, so there’s still plenty of reason to believe Woody Marks can be Houston’s future third-down back. But, where will he be drafted? Well, NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein projects Marks being taken in the fifth round, making him a perfect target with Houston’s No. 166 pick.

4. Devin Neal, Kansas

Height: 5’ 11”
Weight: 213 lbs.
40-Yard Dash: 4.58 s; 10-Yard Split: 1.59 s; Vertical Jump: 37.5”
2024 Statistics: 12 Games, 219 Attempts for 1,266 Rushing Yards (5.8 YPA), 16 Rushing TDs, 24 Receptions for 254 Yards, 1 Receiving TD

Another scat back not dissimilar from Woody Marks, I’ve placed Devin Neal a little higher because of his more prolific career and greater consistency. Neal was the engine to a very productive Kansas offense the last three years, garnering 5,054 total yards at 6.0 average yards per touch in his four-year career. Not the sort of high-end production you’re used to seeing from the University of Kansas, but hometown prospect Devin Neal was hell bent on changing that stigma against the school not being a location for football, and I’d say he succeeded.

It’s hard to find bad tape of Devin Neal. He’s smart and capable of finding rushing lanes in traffic, hard to tackle due to it slightness and agility, and only needs a little space to really get going. Although, like Woody Marks, you have to wonder if his size and rather mediocre dodge moves will be able to handle the bigger and faster NFL, and he doesn’t really have a top-gear to reach once sprinting downfield. He gets up to a pretty impressive speed quickly, but he’s not going to get any faster. Despite this, the production alone makes him a very intriguing prospect, and I’d be happy to see Houston go after him in the fourth or fifth rounds.

3. Damien Martinez. Miami

Height: 6’ 0”
Weight: 217 lbs.
40-Yard Dash: 4.51 s; 10-Yard Split: 1.56 s; Vertical Jump: 35”
2024 Statistics: 13 Games, 159 Attempts for 1,002 Rushing Yards (6.3 YPA), 10 Rushing TDs, 17 Receptions for 204 Yards

If you’re looking for a bruising back in the middle rounds, this is the guy. With a thick frame to compliment his aggressive style, Martinez is a joy to watch from Oregon State in 2022 to Miami in 2024. He isn’t as fast or explosive at the other backs on this list, but he’s got enough moves to win in between the tackles, and he’s quite the challenge to bring down for any defender. He’s got a flair about him that’ll remind you of James Conner, which I personally think Houston could use more of.

Martinez represents a bruising back that has become a bit of a rarity around Houston in recent years. Mixon has brought that violent style of rushing back to the city, but you can’t expect him to last forever. if Houston is still looking for a running back once day three of the draft is upon us, Damien Martinez can be a target as a potential running back of the future.

2. Bhayshul Tuten, Virginia Tech

Height: 5’ 9”
Weight: 206 lbs.
40-Yard Dash: 4.32 s; 10-Yard Split: 1.49 s; Vertical Jump: 40.5”
2024 Statistics: 11 Games, 183 Attempts for 1,159 Rushing Yards (6.3 YPA), 15 Rushing TDs, 23 Receptions for 81 Yards, 2 Receiving TDs

This could be the 2025 version of Dameon Pierce, which would be great in its own right, but I see a future much brighter for Bhayshul Tuten. Crammed into a 5’ 9”, 206 lbs. frame is one of the most athletic backs of the 2025 Draft, Tuten impressed at the combine when he finished with a 4.32 s 40-yard dash, a 40.5” vertical jump, and a 4.41 s 20-yard shuttle. Talk about jumping out of the gym!

He’s incredibly fast, which mixes well with his feet and cutting ability. Against Miami, Boston College, and Virginia, Tuten flashed his intense cutting abilities, making defenders look lost in open space. Fumbles are a concern, and he’s not a miracle worker that will break every first tackle attempt, but the success he had in both zone and gap schemes in college makes me a believer in his chances of adapting to the NFL. If Houston is looking for a tailback with the body of Dameon Pierce and the collegiate tape of an NFL starter, then Bhayshul Tuten should be on their board come third round. If he can keep making the first defender miss, he’ll have a very bright future in the NFL.

1. TreVeyeon Harrison, Ohio State

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: JAN 20 CFP National Championship - Notre Dame vs Ohio State

Height: 5’ 10”
Weight: 202 lbs.
40-Yard Dash: 4.43 s; 10-Yard Split: 1.52 s; Vertical Jump: 38.5”
2024 Statistics: 16 Games, 144 Attempts for 1,016 Rushing Yards. 7.1 YPA), 10 Rushing TDs, 27 Receptions for 284 Yards, 1 Receiving TD

This is easily my favorite running back prospect on the draft. It may seem a bit odd that I’ve placed the national champions’ third-down back at the top spot instead of their bell cow back, Quinshon Judkins. Judkins is a great option in this draft class full of tailbacks, one that even mirrors Houston’s own Joe Mixon more so than Henderson, but…I just can’t help it. Henderson is just too complete of a player to pass up. The Texans are in desperate need of a secondary running back that can keep the defense guessing and give the rushing attack a change of pace when need be, and TreVeyon Henderson is the answer. He fills that third down scatback hole perfectly, possessing exceptional speed, serious receiving potential, and fantastic pass-blocking skills. For a 5’ 10” running back, you wouldn’t expect him to be so strong and balanced at the point of attack, but he makes pass blocking look easy. So, you’re telling me he can make the run game better, the pass game better, and he’s a former teammate of current Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud? Sign me up!

The one catch with TreVeyon Henderson is that he’s the only running back on this list that is guaranteed to be taken in the first or second round. He’s been a popular prospect among NFL scouts and analysts, and his demand has only risen with time. If the Texans were to take him, it would either be through luck of him falling to pick No. 58 in round two, make an exceptional (and unacceptable) reach for him at pick No. 25, or trade to a spot somewhere in between. Is he worth trading current or future draft capital?

Well, maybe he is, but in the context of this draft class, I think I’d take the risk of waiting at pick 58 rather than trade other picks to move up a few spots. It’s hard to say this after showering praise on Henderson, but since this draft class has a healthy selection of players like him (several of which I highlighted here), I think Houston would still be able to find a competent third-down back even if TreVeyon is taken before they have a chance. There’s a chance Houston won’t even need to worry about him falling past forties. But, if he does, I will be pleading on my knees to the television like it were some sort of altar, begging for my wish of a Stroud/Henderson backfield to come true. He would open up a new world of opportunities for Houston’s offense under Nick Caley.

There’s a lot of bigger problems with the offense in 2025, such as the offensive line or wide receivers, but you can never have enough good running backs. Joe Mixon was not a perfect back last year, and what the Texans have behind him isn’t inspiring. It’s no secret that Dameon Pierce has not been the revelation many (including me) thought he was, so it might be time to start looking for a plan B. Not only that, but this draft is filled to the brim with electric running backs, it would be a crime not to take one! If there was an opportunity for Houston to bounce off of Dameon Pierce and prepare for a future beyond Joe Mixon, it’s in this draft. Only time will tell if they take advantage of the wealth of options between the second and fifth rounds.

What do you think, though? Are you like me and scratching for another young tailback with starter potential, or are you comfortable with the running back room Houston has created? Let us know down in the comments below!

GO TEXANS!!!!