Texans Land Top WR in Surprising Draft Prediction
Could the Houston Texans strike gold in this year’s draft? Every year, there’s usually one or two high-profile players who, despite early hype, fall further down the draft board than expected. Whether it’s due to off-field issues, concerns raised by their tape, or other uncertainties during the pre-draft process, a few highly-touted prospects often experience a surprising drop. This year’s draft could be no different, especially based on insights from some draft experts.
ESPN’s Field Yates and Mel Kiper Jr. recently unveiled their latest mock draft, sharing their projections for the first three rounds. Among the most surprising selections was the Texans taking top Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan at pick 25, a player many had pegged as a potential top-five pick.
Yates explained, “McMillan isn’t the fastest, but he excels with an impressive catch radius, strong hands, and refined route running. The Texans need to target both receiver and offensive line in this draft, and McMillan could be a great fit alongside Nico Collins, Christian Kirk, and eventually Tank Dell (knee).”
In their mock, McMillan is the fourth wide receiver selected, trailing names like Travis Hunter, Matthew Golden, and Emeka Egbuka. It’s a bit of a surprise, given McMillan’s high standing among this year’s wide receiver class. Still, if Houston does manage to secure him at 25, it could be a steal for their offense.
McMillan had an exceptional 2024 season with Arizona, tallying 84 catches, 1,319 yards, and 8 touchdowns. At 6-foot-5 and 212 pounds, he’s a physical, jump-ball threat who could make an immediate impact in the NFL.
For the Texans, McMillan would be an exciting addition to an offense that already features C.J. Stroud. While Houston might not get an offensive lineman with their top pick, passing on McMillan—given his potential as a downfield weapon—could be a tough decision.
While it may seem unlikely that McMillan falls to 25 without the Texans needing to trade up, if he’s available, it wouldn’t be out of the question for Houston to eagerly make the selection.
The 2025 NFL Draft kicks off on Thursday, April 24th in Green Bay, WI.
Leave a Reply