Did you step off the Jackson train, or are you just trying different strategies? I don’t watch college football, and I knew nothing about these prospects until the Texans’ playoff loss. This is my first time messing around with these mocks and reading player rankings and write-ups from different sites. I have a question about Zabel. Was he considered a top OL before the Senior Bowl, or did that game inflate his stock?
He was a middling prospect as an OT, he played LT last season. At the Sr. Bowl they moved him inside and let him play both OG/and the C positions. He was dominant against the best competition. He would be a very good OG, but he's the best C prospect in this draft IMHO. He is this years Graham Barton who was picked by Tampa last year and helped take their OL from being an avg OL to one of the best OL in the NFL.
The OL could use some of the nastiness Booker brings to the game. I'm looking forward to seeing how he performs at the combine.
Well, I follow college football but I am by no means any sort of talent expert. Booker is widely considered the best guard. Jackson is right there too. I will be THRILLED to have either! Of course there is no guarantee that either will be worthy of their pick since the draft produces lots of busts! As for Zabel, he was a big unknown to most fans like us being that he played at the lower FCS level. He did very well at the senior bowl. I have no problem using our #1 on Booker or Jackson but not on Zabel, but that's just me.
Heard a funny segment from Harris and Vandercarrschaub where they're trying out the Nfl Pro Network simulator on air. They kept getting upset that every single time they drafted Emeka, every other need and want from Harris or Vandercarr was gone early in the second before the Texans pick. That's the issue you run in real life when there is so much talent in the 2nd to 3rd round. If Emeka isn't there, I'm more than good trading down. Harris and Mark's final drafts after giving up on selecting the OSU WR: 1st Kenneth Grant 2nd Jack Bech 3rd Tate Ratledge Vandercarrschaub's 1st Zabel 2nd Tez Johnson 3rd Can't remember his 3rd rounder.
My trade down with Dallas 44.Donovan Jackson OG Ohio State 58.Grey Zabel OT North Dakota State 76.Mason Taylor TE LSU 89.Jack Bech WR TCU 127.Jordan Phillips DT Maryland 167.Jonah Monheim OC USC 2026 DAL 2nd
The biggest issue I have with the draft simulators is to figure out which positions you should target. If I currently look at the roster, you would think DT and Guard are the biggest holes and there will a good DT and Guard available at 25. But this draft is loaded with DE and edge players and they are so expensive to sign. If James Pierce or Jalon Walker are sitting there at 25, I would have to draft the Edge player first because they are such game wreckers and hard to acquire.
I would like to see the Texans acquire another 5th round pick. Another 6th or 7th rounder is completely unnecessary. We still don't have room on the roster for Byrd, Henderson, and Jordan from last year's draft. Trade Green or Mason and the 7th rounder to move up.
Draft: Trade down 1.25 with LV for 2.37, 3.68, 6.182 2.37 - Derrick Harmon DT 2.58 - Jonah Savaiinaea G 3.68 - Jalen Royals WR 3.89 - Kevin Winston Jr S 4.127 - Quincy Riley CB 5.167 - Mitchell Evans TE 6.182 - Jake Majors C 7.243 - Tahj Brooks RB
It’s a strong group of players, and we might be able to land a WR, Zabel, or a DT at 25. It’s still early, but Booker, the safeties, and at least one or two of those receivers will likely be gone by then. If the Texans go receiver first, they may need to trade up from 58 to get an offensive lineman. If they want one from each of those groups, they’ll have to pull off some draft day magic. That would be exciting.
https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2025/...iper-first-round-predictions-32-picks-combine 25. Houston Texans: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas This might seem low for Banks, but I'll be watching his height measurement at the combine this week. If he's shorter than 6-4, he might have to kick inside in the pros. Honestly, though, that wouldn't be a big problem for Houston, who could use the help everywhere on the offensive line. The Texans allowed 54 sacks last season, tied for third most in the NFL. Quarterback C.J. Stroud took a noticeable step back partly because he was constantly under pressure. Banks has 42 starts worth of experience and displays the strength to halt power rushers in their tracks. Inside or outside, he'd boost this offensive line and hopefully help Stroud rebound to his rookie season level of play.
This looks like as good as I can draft. 25. Donovan Jackson OG Ohio State Jackson projects best at guard in a system that can develop his natural tools. His experience in Ohio State's diverse run scheme gives him foundation in both gap and zone concepts, while his proven ability to handle edge duties in a pinch offers roster flexibility. The raw materials are there – he flashes the leverage against power rushers and shows glimpses of the footwork needed to handle NFL-caliber defenders. 58. Grey Zabel OT North Dakota State While he shows the skill set to play tackle, he may be better served moving inside where his natural leverage and mauling mentality could really shine. What excites me most is how he processes everything in real-time. Watch the Northern Iowa game - they threw every stunt and blitz package imaginable at him, and he didn't just survive, he dominated. That mental acuity combined with his natural power and leverage makes him a plug-and-play guard who could also backup center with some development. 89. Jack Bech WR TCU 90 Hands and 80 Blocking 127. Jordan Phillips DT Maryland What makes Phillips' trajectory particularly intriguing is his combination of youth and raw physical tools. At just 20 years old, he's already drawing comparisons to NFL star Daron Payne from his head coach Mike Locksley. His athletic achievements in the weight room border on mythical - squatting 665 pounds and putting up a 365-pound overhead press for two reps, numbers that caught Bruce Feldman's eye for his "Freaks List" and hint at the untapped potential still waiting to be unleashed.
