The Houston Texans were active before and during the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. The first trade the Texans made was with the Cleveland Browns, exchanging Day 3 picks in this year’s draft.
Then, when it was time for the Texans to pick at No. 25 overall, they sent their first-round pick to the New York Giants for a massive haul. Houston got the 34th overall pick, the 99th pick, and a 2026 third-round pick from the Giants.
Based on how the draft board fell on Thursday night, the Texans are in a great position at the top of the second round to get another playmaker for third-year quarterback C.J. Stroud. The wide receiver position isn’t a huge must-need for the Texans, especially since they have Nico Collins, Christian Kirk, John Metchie, and Xavier Hutchinson.
However, with Tank Dell potentially sidelined for most of the 2025 season, the Texans should consider adding another wide receiver. Luckily enough for Houston, the perfect option for their offense is available after he was surprisingly not taken in the first round.
Former Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden III was viewed as a first-round pick earlier in the draft process. But as we got closer to the draft, Burden’s stock randomly dropped him out of the first round.
That said, for those teams who passed on Burden, it could be a blessing in disguise for Houston and Stroud.
The 6-foot, 206-pound receiver can play across the formation and has the skills to be a major factor in the special teams department as a punt and kick returner. Burden has elite hands and good run-after-the-catch ability. Simply put, get the ball in Burden’s hands out in space and let him go to work.
Burden’s production took a step back in 2024 as he only had 61 receptions for 676 yards and six touchdowns. However, that shouldn’t take away from what we’ve seen from him over the years with the Tigers.
Burden’s best season in Mizzou was in 2023, when he erupted for 83 receptions for 1,212 yards and nine touchdowns. Again, the Texans don’t need a receiver, but he’s one of the best players available and could step in Day 1 as an instant contributor.