The Houston Texans entered Thursday night as one of the biggest trade threats during the NFL draft. Houston even got ahead of the action by adding a trio of Day 3 picks in a deal with the Cleveland Browns just hours before the event.
However, GM Nick Caserio wasn't done there. With the Texans on the clock at No. 25 and several of their best options already taken, Caserio opted to swing another trade.
This time, he sent 25 to the New York Giants -- who were desperate to draft Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart -- for No. 34, No. 99 and a 2026 third-rounder in a major win for Houston.
Texans Pull Off Excellent 1st-Round Pick Trade in 2025 NFL Draft
The Texans were a team that entered the draft as a prime landing spot for an offensive lineman, but their options quickly evaporated Thursday night. Texas' Kelvin Banks Jr. was frequently mentioned as a possible Houston target, yet he was chosen No. 9 overall by the New Orleans Saints. The same could be said for Alabama guard Tyler Booker, whose name was called three picks after Banks by the Dallas Cowboys.
Several of this class' top wide receivers were gone by No. 25, too, with Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan (Carolina Panthers at No. 8), Ohio State's Emeka Egbuka (Tampa Bay Buccaneers at No. 19) and Texas' Matthew Golden (Green Bay Packers at No. 23) taken.
Since two of the Texans' most pressing areas had already been plucked barren, it was wise for Caserio to find a team who had a prospect they felt couldn't let get snatched up by another franchise. Houston doesn't waste premium capital or force a selection, and it instead ends up in a better long-term position by having extra choices at its disposal.