https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2025/...t-final-intel-predictions-yates-kiper-round-1 25. Houston Texans Yates' pick prediction: Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon The Texans have reconstructed their offensive line, including replacing Laremy Tunsil with Cam Robinson at left tackle. But they must be mindful of the long-term future of an essential spot. Conerly is a balanced and controlled pass protector, and he could help keep C.J. Stroud upright. Kiper's notes: Things worked out here with Conerly to Houston, but there is some talk around the league that the Texans want to trade up for an offensive lineman, depending on how the board falls. Banks to 6. Raiders Simmons to 16. Cardinals Zabel to 18. Seahawks (Kiper's notes: Here's another spot to watch for Simmons. He's a left tackle -- which is currently occupied by Charles Cross -- but could slide inside to guard if needed in the short term.) Golden to 20. Broncos (Kiper's notes: Denver does need a receiver. But I'm still hearing the Broncos want a running back, and North Carolina's Omarion Hampton has been connected to them.) Booker to 22. Chargers Donovan Jackson to 28. Lions Says Saints could go OL at 9. (Yates: “I wouldn't rule out an offensive tackle for the Saints here, either. Oregon's Josh Conerly Jr. is a name to monitor if the boards falls in this way.” | Kiper's notes: I'd watch offensive line. Banks could be a fit if he's still available, especially because he can play some guard if needed.)
For this reason, teams looking at Kyle Williams better take him in the 2nd round. It would be risky waiting until the 3rd round. Just saying, Nick.
This guy seems to be the only one still pushing the old Banks narrative. If the most recent mocks pan out, all of that Banks talk leading up to the draft was a big smokescreen.
I'd rather grab another OL with our second pick. Tory Horton out of Colorado State might be available in the 3rd and he may be a solid WR. My approach is to improve the OL with our first two picks and then add offensive weapons.
I’m a Longhorn grad and fan, which means I watched every minute of Golden tearing it up for UT last season. Still, it feels like there’s a long history of combine speed demon WR’s failing to live up to expectations which always makes me nervous with such a prospect. As for the Texans’ 1st pick tonight, a WR sounds sexy, but really feels like this team needs to spend their early round picks on the OL. Still, if the early run on OL of most recent predictions play out, trading back or drafting wideout may start to make sense
The top three — Ward, Hunter and Carter — should still go in that order, and we'll see who winds up drafting them. There has been little doubt that Will Campbell will be the next left tackle of the New England Patriots by the end of the night. Just about every general manager south of Titans GM Mike Borgonzi has said he would entertain calls about a potential trade down, and that definitely includes Carolina GM Dan Morgan. I would take him very seriously. Sources say the Panthers made preliminary calls earlier in the week. I don't think Carolina wants to go too far down if the Panthers make a trade, but such a move would indicate to me they are comfortable with a number of pass rushers and not just Georgia's Jalon Walker. Though I did say there's some comfort in knowing the top four guys will go in the top four, the one caveat I would offer is someone may really fall in love with Jeanty. I will stick with him being taken No. 6 to the Raiders, but we could really get some wackiness tonight. What's all this mean for Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham? I went with the crowd in my mock (at the time) to send him to Jacksonville. Is it possible he falls out of the top 10? One GM doesn't think so. One personnel exec did say that "he's honestly not as sure-fire a pick as what scouts thought. [He's an] easy guy to scout in a big school with production and the school loves him." But he didn't do any on-field drills and he doesn't have the ideal body for a top-five or seven pick at that position. The Raiders have a GM in John Spytek and part-owner in Tom Brady who are both calling the shots and Michigan men. The Giants don't have a need for defensive tackle, but if Cleveland takes a step back in the draft, that could also be a landing spot for Graham. There's no question the Denver Broncos are interested in trading up. Where they trade up will be interesting. I would expect GM George Paton to try to find a soft spot in the teens, since teams above that won't want to go to No. 20. I sent Omarion Hampton to them in my mock, but don't rule out a tight end for Denver. The Broncos are one of four teams that I could definitely see trading up. Along with Denver and the aforementioned Jaguars, I could see the Bears and Colts making moves up if the player and the price is right. None of these teams will be trading up just for the hell of it, and I don't see the Bears making some massive deal up the board. I'm not saying he's the pick at No. 13, but word around the league has been the Dolphins have interest in Georgia safety Malaki Starks. The Vikings have been a popular trade-down option at No. 24 since they only have four picks. If GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah stays and picks, an offensive guard could well be the selection there. There's been some smoke lately that wide receiver Tet McMillian could go within the top nine, including as high as the Jaguars at No. 5. I must abide by my mock, which has McMillian going as WR2 after Matthew Golden.
I like this, but I might trade up a few slots and go for Bech using 79 and a draft pick. Perhaps use 166 (and perhaps a pick) on Jack Nelson. Then trade back into the 6th for Blue.
Honestly, if I'm impressed with speed, I'd rather take the risk in the 6th round than the 1st. Blue rather than Golden, just because of the risk/reward ratio. Don't get me wrong, if Golden is there at 25, serious consideration has to be given to adjusting the OL strategy. But imagine IF we got Golden at 25 AND Blue in the 6th and still cover our OL needs in between.
25. Houston Texans Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon Houston could trade up for a lineman. The Texans could also draft Ohio State G Donovan Jackson, and move Tytus Howard back to tackle. Either way, my sense is they’ll take another step in rebuilding the OL room. And I’d expect whoever comes in to be clean from a character standpoint.
I like Conerly, but not as much as I like Jackson and Ersery in the 2nd (if available) might be a better OT.
The TE room could use some of this. He's a good blocker too for a young guy coming out of college. The knee injuries seem to be a thing of the past.
Lance Z was talking about the noise about Denver trading out of 20 and said he would not be surprised at all to see Nick trade up with them if someone drops (I'm pretty sure he was talking about Booker but now I can't seem to remember). He also said that he would be very happy with Donovan Jackson at 25. I'd love to stand pat at 25 and take a guard there, then trade up in the 2nd round to take one of the 2nd wave of tackles (Ersery, Conerly) should one of those slip.
