Top Five RB Draft Targets for the Houston Texans

The Houston Texans got Joe Mixon last year, and he transformed the ground game into a Pro-Bowl caliber unit. He has been worth the investment, but at the same time, Dameon Pierce sank into the deep fog of the depth chart, witnessing his road back to live-game snaps dwindling with each passing month. After an explosive rookie campaign in 2022, Pierce has sort of vanished behind his new teammates, and 2025 might just be the year Nick Caserio calls it quits and takes another running back in the NFL Draft. Young tailbacks arent given much leeway in the NFL, so I have to imagine that Caserio is eyeing up the rookie running back class in search of resetting that contract clock Xavier Hutchinson Jersey. Good running backs on rookie contracts are the envy of the league, and Caserio wont hesitate to find his next diamond in the rough. But who could that be? Well, Ive got a few ideas!An important note: this list is not meant to accurately list the top five running backs of the 2025 NFL Draft. If so, UNC back Omarion Hampton and Boise State back Ashton Jeanty would occupy the top spots. This is more of a personal list of running backs that I think could really help Houstons offense and will be worth targeting in the middle-to-late rounds of the Draft. that I think will be available when the Texans are on the clock. I tried to include a healthy mix of prospects in this list, ranging from top 50 picks all the way down to fifth and sixth-round sleepers. Currently, the Houston Texans hold seven picks in the 2025 NFL Draft: Round 1, No. 25Round 2, No. 58Round 3, No. 79Marks, USC Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images Height: 5 10Weight: 207 lbs. 40-Yard Dash: 4. 54 s; 10-Yard Split: 1. 57 s; Vertical Jump: 352024 Statistics: 12 Games, 198 Attempts for 1,133 Rushing Yardsslightly larger size and because of the moves he made against good defenses like Penn State and Minnesotas. Primarily a gap runner, Marks uses his strengths in vision and acceleration to blast through the hole and make big gains in a hurry. His 40-yard dash time of 4. 54 seconds isnt going to blow you away, but hes got enough speed to make an , like many other scat backs, Marks can have the problem of being a one-speed runner, unable to shift into another gear when being pursued by a defender Xavier Johnson Jersey. Hes also not a very thick player at all, so his chances of navigating a crowded field at the next level while keeping his feet on the ground are diminished. But, weve seen smaller, lighter backs like Devin Singletary and DeVon Achane succeed in the NFL, so theres still plenty of reason to believe Woody Marks can be Houstons future third-down back. But, where will he be drafted? Well, s Lance Zierlein projects Marks being taken in the fifth round, making him a perfect target with Houstons No. 166 pick. 4. Devin Neal, Kansas Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images Height: 5 11Weight: 213 lbs. 40-Yard Dash: 4. 58 s; 10-Yard Split: 1. 59 s; Vertical Jump: 37. 52024 Statistics: 12 Games, 219 Attempts for 1,266 Rushing Yardsreach for him at pick No. 25, or trade to a spot somewhere in between Tank Dell Jersey. Is he worth trading current or future draft capital?Well, maybe he is, but in the context of this draft class, I think Id take the risk of waiting at pick 58 rather than trade other picks to move up a few spots. Its hard to say this after showering praise on Henderson, but since this draft class has a healthy selection of players like himthought he was, so it might be time to start looking for a plan B. Not only that, but this draft is filled to the brim with electric running backs, it would be a crime not to take one! If there was an opportunity for Houston to bounce off of Dameon Pierce and prepare for a future beyond Joe Mixon, its in this draft. Only time will tell if they take advantage of the wealth of options between the second and fifth do you think, though? Are you like me and scratching for another young tailback with starter potential, or are you comfortable with the running back room Houston has created? Let us know down in the comments below!