Houston Texans
Draft Profile · 2006–2025 · 154 picks analyzed
Avg Value Over Expected
-1.0
Across 154 graded picks
Hit Rate
21%
Picks outperforming draft slot
Avg Pick Movement
-3 spots
Average redraft position change
Positional Drafting
▲DE19p
+65.3▼DB17p
-112.5Total value over expected
Draft Range Rank
▲Late 1st
1st▼Round 2
28thBest / worst rank vs. league
Draft Class Performance
Year-by-year draft class rank among all teams. Color reflects relative performance.
Early grade — career still developing
Draft Investment Returns
Each circle is a draft pick, sized by capital invested. Position shows value generated versus expectations.
Biggest Steals & Busts
Top 5 picks that most outperformed or underperformed their draft slot.
Biggest Steals
| Pick | Player | Value | Redraft | +/- | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J.J. WattTop Steal 2011 · DE · Wisconsin | 108.6 | #11→#1 | +70.1 | |
| Brandon BrooksTop Steal 2012 · OL · Miami (OH) | 74.7 | #76→#10 | +58.3 | |
| DeAndre HopkinsTop Steal 2013 · WR · Clemson | 88.7 | #27→#2 | +58.2 | |
| D.J. ReaderTop Steal 2016 · DT · Clemson | 59.0 | #166→#16 | +52.1 | |
| Duane BrownTop Steal 2008 · OL · Virginia Tech | 81.5 | #26→#4 | +50.6 |
Biggest Busts
| Pick | Player | Value | Redraft | +/- | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amobi OkoyeBust 2007 · DT · Louisville | -0.2 | #10→#216 | -39.3 | |
| Kenyon GreenBust 2022 · OL · Texas A&M | -1.6 | #15→#262 | -37.9 | |
| Kevin JohnsonBust 2015 · DB · Wake Forest | 7.1 | #16→#99 | -28.6 | |
| Ross BlacklockBust 2020 · DT · TCU | -1.3 | #40→#249 | -26.9 | |
| John MetchieBust 2022 · WR · Alabama | -0.6 | #44→#204 | -24.9 |
Pick Range Performance
How Houston Texans performs in each draft slot range compared to the league average.
Range
Picks
vs. League Avg
Rank
Complete Draft History
Every draft pick since 2006.
154 picks
Pick | Player | Rd | Year | Value | Diff | GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
20259 picks-84.34th of 32 View draft → | ||||||
| Jayden HigginsEarly Promise WR · Iowa St. | 2 | 2025 | 10.1 | -17.6 | 17 |
| Aireontae ErseryEarly OL · Minnesota | 2 | 2025 | 1.2 | -21.9 | 16 |
| Jaylin NoelEarly WR · Iowa St. | 3 | 2025 | 3.5 | -12.3 | 17 |
| Jaylin SmithEarly DB · USC | 3 | 2025 | 0.4 | -12.3 | 4 |
| Woody MarksEarly Promise RB · USC | 4 | 2025 | 8.6 | -2.0 | 16 |
| Jaylen ReedEarly S · Penn St. | 6 | 2025 | 0.2 | -5.4 | 7 |
| Graham MertzEarly QB · Florida | 6 | 2025 | 0.0 | -5.1 | |
| Kyonte HamiltonEarly DE · Rutgers | 7 | 2025 | 0.0 | -4.1 | |
| Luke LacheyEarly TE · Iowa | 7 | 2025 | 0.0 | -3.5 | |
20249 picks-47.77th of 32 View draft → | ||||||
| Kamari LassiterRising Star DB · Georgia | 2 | 2024 | 32.4 | +7.5 | 30 |
| Blake FisherEarly OL · Notre Dame | 2 | 2024 | 4.0 | -16.4 | 31 |
| Calen BullockEarly S · USC | 3 | 2024 | 6.5 | -9.5 | 34 |
| Cade StoverEarly TE · Ohio St. | 4 | 2024 | -1.0 | -11.1 | 24 |
| Jamal HillEarly LB · Oregon | 6 | 2024 | 0.0 | -5.6 | 20 |
| Jawhar JordanEarly RB · Louisville | 6 | 2024 | 2.7 | -2.1 | 4 |
| Solomon ByrdEarly DE · USC | 7 | 2024 | 0.4 | -3.4 | 1 |
| Marcus HarrisEarly DE · Auburn | 7 | 2024 | 0.0 | -3.6 | |
| LaDarius HendersonEarly OL · Michigan | 7 | 2024 | 0.0 | -3.6 | |
20239 picks-15.84th of 32 View draft → | ||||||
| C.J. Stroud QB · Ohio St. | 1 | 2023 | 46.3 | +2.0 | 46 |
| Will AndersonLikely Steal LB · Alabama | 1 | 2023 | 59.6 | +16.0 | 46 |
| Juice ScruggsLikely Bust OL · Penn St. | 2 | 2023 | -0.8 | -20.5 | 37 |
| Tank Dell WR · Houston | 3 | 2023 | 24.6 | +6.6 | 25 |
| Dylan Horton DE · TCU | 4 | 2023 | -0.5 | -11.7 | 39 |
| Henry To'oTo'o LB · Alabama | 5 | 2023 | 6.5 | -0.4 | 46 |
| Jarrett Patterson OL · Notre Dame | 6 | 2023 | 5.2 | +0.3 | 39 |
| Xavier Hutchinson WR · Iowa St. | 6 | 2023 | 0.3 | -4.5 | 49 |
| Brandon Hill S · Pittsburgh | 7 | 2023 | 0.0 | -3.6 | 2 |
20229 picks-97.430th of 32 View draft → | ||||||
| Derek Stingley Jr. DB · LSU | 1 | 2022 | 39.8 | -3.8 | 54 |
| Kenyon GreenBust OL · Texas A&M | 1 | 2022 | -1.6 | -37.9 | 27 |
| Jalen Pitre S · Baylor | 2 | 2022 | 30.4 | +3.8 | 58 |
| John MetchieBust WR · Alabama | 2 | 2022 | -0.6 | -24.9 | 45 |
| Christian Harris LB · Alabama | 3 | 2022 | -0.9 | -17.5 | 46 |
| Dameon Pierce RB · Florida | 4 | 2022 | 17.2 | +5.7 | 43 |
| Thomas Booker DE · Stanford | 5 | 2022 | -1.2 | -9.4 | 44 |
| Teagan Quitoriano TE · Oregon St. | 5 | 2022 | -0.9 | -7.6 | 40 |
| Austin Deculus OL · LSU | 6 | 2022 | -1.1 | -5.9 | 26 |
20215 picks+25.04th of 32 View draft → | ||||||
| Davis Mills QB · Stanford | 3 | 2021 | 6.4 | -12.1 | 44 |
| Nico CollinsTop Steal WR · Michigan | 3 | 2021 | 60.3 | +46.3 | 66 |
| Brevin Jordan TE · Miami (FL) | 5 | 2021 | 4.9 | -3.5 | 36 |
| Garret Wallow LB · TCU | 5 | 2021 | -0.9 | -7.6 | 46 |
| Roy Lopez DE · Arizona | 6 | 2021 | 7.0 | +1.8 | 80 |
20205 picks-25.922nd of 32 View draft → | ||||||
| Ross BlacklockBust DT · TCU | 2 | 2020 | -1.3 | -26.9 | 44 |
| Jonathan GreenardTop Steal DE · Florida | 3 | 2020 | 40.6 | +26.8 | 77 |
| Charlie Heck OL · North Carolina | 4 | 2020 | -1.0 | -10.9 | 67 |
| John Reid DB · Penn St. | 4 | 2020 | 0.6 | -8.3 | 27 |
| Isaiah Coulter WR · Rhode Island | 5 | 2020 | -0.1 | -6.7 | 4 |
20197 picks-76.931st of 32 View draft → | ||||||
| Tytus Howard OL · Alabama St. | 1 | 2019 | 18.6 | -13.7 | 93 |
| Lonnie Johnson Jr.Bust DB · Kentucky | 2 | 2019 | -1.0 | -22.6 | 92 |
| Max ScharpingBust OL · Northern Illinois | 2 | 2019 | 0.9 | -20.4 | 81 |
| Kahale Warring TE · San Diego St. | 3 | 2019 | -0.3 | -14.8 | 9 |
| Charles Omenihu DE · Texas | 5 | 2019 | 11.4 | +4.1 | 95 |
| Xavier Crawford DB · Central Michigan | 6 | 2019 | -0.6 | -5.8 | 27 |
| Cullen Gillaspia RB · Texas A&M | 7 | 2019 | 0.5 | -3.7 | 44 |
20188 picks-28.425th of 32 View draft → | ||||||
| Justin ReidSteal S · Stanford | 3 | 2018 | 36.4 | +18.2 | 121 |
| Martinas Rankin OL · Mississippi St. | 3 | 2018 | -1.0 | -16.6 | 23 |
| Jordan Akins TE · Central Florida | 3 | 2018 | 11.3 | -1.3 | 107 |
| Keke Coutee WR · Texas Tech | 4 | 2018 | 4.7 | -7.2 | 33 |
| Duke Ejiofor DE · Wake Forest | 6 | 2018 | -0.9 | -7.1 | 12 |
| Jordan Thomas TE · Mississippi St. | 6 | 2018 | -0.8 | -5.3 | 27 |
| Peter Kalambayi LB · Stanford | 6 | 2018 | -0.5 | -4.9 | 41 |
| Jermaine Kelly DB · San Jose St. | 7 | 2018 | 0.0 | -4.2 | |
20177 picks+0.914th of 32 View draft → | ||||||
| Deshaun WatsonTop Steal QB · Clemson | 1 | 2017 | 66.4 | +28.5 | 73 |
| Zach Cunningham LB · Vanderbilt | 2 | 2017 | 21.3 | +0.4 | 106 |
| D'Onta Foreman RB · Texas | 3 | 2017 | 12.8 | -1.2 | 63 |
| Julién Davenport OL · Bucknell | 4 | 2017 | -0.8 | -10.4 | 60 |
| Carlos Watkins DT · Clemson | 4 | 2017 | 3.0 | -5.8 | 90 |
| Treston Decoud S · Oregon St. | 5 | 2017 | 0.8 | -5.9 | 11 |
| Kyle Fuller OL · Baylor | 7 | 2017 | -1.0 | -4.7 | 51 |
20166 picks+18.712th of 32 View draft → | ||||||
| Will Fuller WR · Notre Dame | 1 | 2016 | 38.9 | +5.7 | 55 |
| Nick Martin OL · Notre Dame | 2 | 2016 | 15.7 | -6.9 | 83 |
| Braxton Miller WR · Ohio St. | 3 | 2016 | -1.0 | -15.7 | 21 |
| Tyler Ervin RB · San Jose St. | 4 | 2016 | 1.2 | -9.1 | 43 |
| K.J. Dillon S · West Virginia | 5 | 2016 | 0.1 | -7.4 | 5 |
| D.J. ReaderTop Steal DT · Clemson | 5 | 2016 | 59.0 | +52.1 | 137 |
20157 picks-37.424th of 32 View draft → | ||||||
| Kevin JohnsonBust DB · Wake Forest | 1 | 2015 | 7.1 | -28.6 | 64 |
| Benardrick McKinneySteal LB · Mississippi St. | 2 | 2015 | 41.6 | +17.0 | 91 |
| Jaelen Strong WR · Arizona St. | 3 | 2015 | 0.4 | -17.4 | 20 |
| Keith Mumphery WR · Michigan St. | 5 | 2015 | -1.2 | -7.5 | 27 |
| Reshard Cliett LB · South Florida | 6 | 2015 | 0.0 | -4.5 | |
| Christian Covington DT · Rice | 6 | 2015 | 11.8 | +7.5 | 102 |
| Kenny Hilliard RB · LSU | 7 | 2015 | 0.0 | -3.8 | |
201410 picks-20.022nd of 32 View draft → | ||||||
| Jadeveon ClowneyTop Steal DE · South Carolina | 1 | 2014 | 65.5 | +20.5 | 153 |
| Xavier Su'a-Filo OL · UCLA | 2 | 2014 | 10.2 | -17.9 | 83 |
| C.J. Fiedorowicz TE · Iowa | 3 | 2014 | 15.8 | -3.1 | 51 |
| Louis Nix DT · Notre Dame | 3 | 2014 | 0.1 | -14.9 | 4 |
| Tom Savage QB · Pittsburgh | 4 | 2014 | 1.2 | -8.1 | 13 |
| Jeoffrey Pagan DE · Alabama | 6 | 2014 | -0.6 | -6.8 | 22 |
| Alfred Blue RB · LSU | 6 | 2014 | 5.7 | -0.3 | 73 |
| Jay Prosch FB · Auburn | 6 | 2014 | 4.8 | +0.3 | 63 |
| Andre Hal S · Vanderbilt | 7 | 2014 | 18.1 | +13.8 | 69 |
| Lonnie Ballentine DB · Memphis | 7 | 2014 | 0.1 | -3.4 | 4 |
20139 picks+33.39th of 32 View draft → | ||||||
| DeAndre HopkinsTop Steal WR · Clemson | 1 | 2013 | 88.7 | +58.2 | 195 |
| D.J. Swearinger S · South Carolina | 2 | 2013 | 35.7 | +14.8 | 110 |
| Brennan Williams OL · North Carolina | 3 | 2013 | 0.0 | -14.0 | |
| Sam Montgomery DE · LSU | 3 | 2013 | 0.0 | -13.0 | |
| Trevardo Williams DE · Connecticut | 4 | 2013 | 0.1 | -9.9 | 3 |
| David Quessenberry OL · San Jose St. | 6 | 2013 | 19.4 | +13.1 | 97 |
| Alan Bonner WR · Jacksonville St. | 6 | 2013 | 0.0 | -5.2 | |
| Chris Jones DT · Bowling Green | 6 | 2013 | -1.3 | -6.4 | 41 |
| Ryan Griffin TE · Connecticut | 6 | 2013 | 0.5 | -4.4 | 134 |
20128 picks+63.85th of 32 View draft → | ||||||
| Whitney Mercilus DE · Illinois | 1 | 2012 | 43.3 | +12.4 | 138 |
| DeVier Posey WR · Ohio St. | 3 | 2012 | -0.5 | -18.7 | 26 |
| Brandon BrooksTop Steal OL · Miami (OH) | 3 | 2012 | 74.7 | +58.3 | 114 |
| Ben JonesTop Steal OL · Georgia | 4 | 2012 | 50.6 | +38.1 | 172 |
| Keshawn Martin WR · Michigan St. | 4 | 2012 | -0.8 | -11.0 | 58 |
| Jared Crick DE · Nebraska | 4 | 2012 | 5.4 | -4.5 | 79 |
| Randy Bullock K · Texas A&M | 5 | 2012 | 1.7 | -5.6 | 144 |
| Nick Mondek OL · Purdue | 6 | 2012 | 0.0 | -5.2 | |
20118 picks+61.17th of 32 View draft → | ||||||
| J.J. WattTop Steal DE · Wisconsin | 1 | 2011 | 108.6 | +70.1 | 151 |
| Brooks Reed LB · Arizona | 2 | 2011 | 34.4 | +9.5 | 131 |
| Brandon Harris DB · Miami (FL) | 2 | 2011 | 1.0 | -19.1 | 42 |
| Roc Carmichael DB · Virginia Tech | 4 | 2011 | 0.0 | -9.8 | 19 |
| Shiloh Keo S · Idaho | 5 | 2011 | 1.5 | -7.2 | 56 |
| T.J. Yates QB · North Carolina | 5 | 2011 | 0.6 | -7.4 | 22 |
| Derek NewtonTop Steal OL · Arkansas St. | 7 | 2011 | 32.2 | +27.8 | 83 |
| Cheta Ozougwu DE · Rice | 7 | 2011 | 0.8 | -2.7 | 9 |
20109 picks-13.820th of 32 View draft → | ||||||
| Kareem JacksonSteal DB · Alabama | 1 | 2010 | 53.0 | +19.3 | 205 |
| Ben Tate RB · Auburn | 2 | 2010 | 10.6 | -10.0 | 51 |
| Earl Mitchell DT · Arizona | 3 | 2010 | 10.0 | -5.4 | 130 |
| Darryl Sharpton LB · Miami (FL) | 4 | 2010 | -1.0 | -13.1 | 47 |
| Garrett Graham TE · Wisconsin | 4 | 2010 | 14.2 | +3.8 | 60 |
| Sherrick McManis DB · Northwestern | 5 | 2010 | 4.3 | -4.4 | 142 |
| Shelley Smith OL · Colorado St. | 6 | 2010 | 10.6 | +5.0 | 36 |
| Trindon Holliday WR · LSU | 6 | 2010 | 0.3 | -4.8 | 33 |
| Dorin Dickerson WR · Pittsburgh | 7 | 2010 | -0.2 | -4.2 | 23 |
20098 picks+52.83rd of 32 View draft → | ||||||
| Brian Cushing LB · USC | 1 | 2009 | 44.6 | +8.3 | 104 |
| Connor Barwin DE · Cincinnati | 2 | 2009 | 27.2 | +3.5 | 142 |
| Antoine Caldwell OL · Alabama | 3 | 2009 | 18.9 | +2.7 | 39 |
| Glover QuinTop Steal S · New Mexico | 4 | 2009 | 56.9 | +46.0 | 159 |
| Anthony Hill TE · North Carolina St. | 4 | 2009 | 0.1 | -10.0 | 12 |
| James Casey TE · Rice | 5 | 2009 | 12.8 | +4.8 | 95 |
| Brice McCain DB · Utah | 6 | 2009 | 8.0 | +2.4 | 132 |
| Troy Nolan S · Arizona St. | 7 | 2009 | -0.7 | -4.8 | 38 |
20087 picks+5.715th of 32 View draft → | ||||||
| Duane BrownTop Steal OL · Virginia Tech | 1 | 2008 | 81.5 | +50.6 | 220 |
| Antwaun Molden DB · Eastern Kentucky | 3 | 2008 | -0.3 | -16.1 | 51 |
| Steve Slaton RB · West Virginia | 3 | 2008 | 15.5 | +1.5 | 45 |
| Xavier Adibi LB · Virginia Tech | 4 | 2008 | -1.0 | -11.4 | 44 |
| Frank Okam DT · Texas | 5 | 2008 | -0.6 | -8.7 | 25 |
| Dominique Barber S · Minnesota | 6 | 2008 | 0.4 | -6.1 | 39 |
| Alex Brink QB · Washington St. | 7 | 2008 | 0.0 | -4.1 | |
20077 picks-33.924th of 32 View draft → | ||||||
| Amobi OkoyeBust DT · Louisville | 1 | 2007 | -0.2 | -39.3 | 87 |
| Jacoby Jones WR · Lane | 3 | 2007 | 20.8 | +3.7 | 128 |
| Fred Bennett DB · South Carolina | 4 | 2007 | 15.1 | +5.0 | 49 |
| Brandon Harrison DB · Stanford | 5 | 2007 | 0.3 | -8.4 | 15 |
| Brandon Frye OL · Virginia Tech | 5 | 2007 | 1.3 | -5.9 | 11 |
| Kasey Studdard OL · Texas | 6 | 2007 | 16.0 | +10.2 | 25 |
| Zach Diles LB · Kansas St. | 7 | 2007 | 5.0 | +0.7 | 74 |
20067 picks+68.95th of 32 View draft → | ||||||
| Mario Williams DE · North Carolina St. | 1 | 2006 | 47.5 | +2.5 | 158 |
| DeMeco RyansTop Steal LB · Alabama | 2 | 2006 | 52.7 | +24.6 | 140 |
| Charles Spencer OL · Pittsburgh | 3 | 2006 | 0.5 | -18.4 | 2 |
| Eric WinstonTop Steal OL · Miami (FL) | 3 | 2006 | 53.2 | +34.5 | 165 |
| Owen DanielsTop Steal TE · Wisconsin | 4 | 2006 | 45.5 | +32.9 | 131 |
| Wali Lundy RB · Virginia | 6 | 2006 | -0.8 | -7.5 | 14 |
| David Anderson WR · Colorado St. | 7 | 2006 | 3.9 | +0.3 | 67 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the Houston Texans's draft history.
Who is the best draft pick in Houston Texans history?
J.J. Watt (DE), drafted #11 overall in 2011, is the Houston Texans's best value pick with +70 points over expected. In a redraft, J.J. Watt would go #1 overall.
Who is the biggest draft bust in Houston Texans history?
Amobi Okoye (DT), picked #10 in 2007, underperformed by 39 points vs. expected. Redraft value places Amobi Okoye at #216 overall.
How well do the Houston Texans draft?
From 2006–2025, the Houston Texans average -1.0 value over expected per pick across 154 graded selections. 21% of their picks outperform their draft slot.
What was the Houston Texans's best draft class?
The 2009 class ranks 3rd among all teams that year, with 8 picks averaging +6.6 value over expected.
How many draft steals and busts have the Houston Texans had?
Since 2006, the Houston Texans have found 19 draft steals and had 20 busts or significant disappointments out of 154 graded picks.
