B
Houston Texans
The Texans let Mondon Jr. fall into their laps, and walked away with a B.
by Powerful ·
2025 NFL Draft
· 6 picks
· 3 steals
· 3 reaches
The best pick of the weekend was also the simplest. The Texans watched Smael Mondon Jr. slide 134 picks past his grade and did not hesitate.
Every board in the league had Capehart lower, and that gap is the story. They covered a lot of ground and still skipped running back, which is a strange place to end up. Job largely done: wide receiver settled and 5 of 8 of the wish list covered.
They came away with juice, if not much beef up front.
Good work on the whole, with running back the one box left unchecked.
Pick-by-Pick
In No. 19 they get a go-to option on the outside, and a steal at that. The biggest hole, addressed.
Nice patience on Tyler Warren, who had no business lasting to slot 55. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
A big swing on Luke Kandra at the 86th pick, well ahead of any board in the building. It fills a real need, too.
They reached a country mile for DeMonte Capehart at pick No. 122, and the board is aghast. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Xavier Nwankpa at the 164th overall pick is the pick scouts circle, and not in a good way. Useful depth more than a marquee fix.
They will replay Smael Mondon Jr. at pick 239 for years; that is how good the value is. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.