Houston Texans 2025 Season Preview
By: Michael Higgins
(Image courtesy of Brooke Sutton/Getty Images)
The Houston Texans have built a talented nucleus to begin competing in the AFC for the foreseeable future. In 2024, injuries to key skill position players and a terrible offensive line caused their season to end earlier than they would have liked. They have benefited from playing in a weak division, but with the other teams improving, they cannot afford to plateau.
Trades: They parted ways with certain key players this offseason in order to stay under the cap. Nick Caserio sent OT Laremy Tunsil and a 2025 4th round pick to the Washington Commanders in exchange for 3rd and 7th round picks in 2025 and 2nd and 4th round picks in 2026. While the Texans line was already a liability in 2024, dumping Tunsil’s salary considering his penalty problems can be seen as a net positive immediately. They also shipped IOL Kenyon Green to the Eagles in exchange for a package that included SAF CJ Gardner-Johnson. These offseason moves signal a complete reset on the offensive line for the Texans. Caserio also went out to acquire IOL Ed Ingram and WR Christian Kirk, guys who will help fill in gaps on the roster caused by both trades and injuries on the roster.
Departures: In terms of real contributors to the 2024 team, Houston did not lose too much talent. WRs Robert Woods and Stefon Diggs, CB Jeff Okudah, and LBs Devin White and Neville Hewitt all walked in free agency. It is also worth mentioning that they will be without WR Tank Dell for the entire 2025 season, which sparked the trade for WR Christian Kirk.
Additions: Only two players, LB Nick Niemann and KR Tremon Smith, were brought in on multi-year deals out of free agency. Caserio gave one year deals to RB Nick Chubb, OTs Trent Brown and Cam Robinson, IOL Laken Tomlinson, EDGE Darrell Taylor, and DL Sheldon Rankins. All of these short term contracts can provide valuable depth at positions of weakness immediately.
Draft Picks: Houston did not have a 1st round pick in the 2025 draft but they still managed to snag top talent. With two picks in the 2nd round, they selected Iowa State WR Jayden Higgins and Minnesota OT Aireontae Ersery. Other notable picks include Iowa State WR Jaylin Noel and Iowa TE Luke Lachey.
Season Predictions: The Texans open the season by traveling to Los Angeles before their home opener in Week 2 against the Buccaneers on Monday Night Football. They close September with a road matchup against the Jaguars and a home date with the Titans. The Texans will start 2025 2-2.
Houston travels to Baltimore to play the Ravens before an early Week 6 bye. After the break, the Texans play the Seahawks in Seattle on another Monday night. To finish September, they return home to host the 49ers. Houston goes 2-1 in October.
They open November with two home games against the Broncos and Jaguars, then travel to play the Titans, host the Bills on Thursday Night Football, and travel to take on the Colts to end the month. They go 3-2 in November.
To finish the season, the Texans travel to play the Chiefs, host the Cardinals and Raiders, travel back to Los Angeles to play the Chargers, and then finish the season at home against the Colts. Houston will go 3-2 in the final stretch of the season.
Final Thoughts: The Houston Texans will go 10-7 in 2025. With the AFC South being a weaker division recently, a 10-win season may be enough to win the division. However, if they do not show signs of improvement or take steps forward, their seat atop the division may not be as secure as previously thought.
