NFL Rumors: Texans Reportedly Eye WRs in 2025 NFL Draft amid Diggs Exit, Dell Injury

The Houston Texans will have a new-look wide receiver room in 2025 after making new additions in free agency, but the team reportedly isn't done addressing the position.

ESPN's DJ Bien-Aime reported that league sources said, "Even with the free agent moves, the Texans are still expected to add receivers in the draft" to help overcome the loss of veteran wideout Stefon Diggs and the uncertainty surrounding Tank Dell's recovery timeline from his devastating knee injury. ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. and Field Yates predicted in their latest mock draft that Houston would land Arizona wideout Tetairoa McMillan with the No. 25 pick.

After the Texans let Diggs walk in free agency, he signed a three-year, $69 million contract with the New England Patriots. Houston has also opted not to re-sign veteran free agent wideout Robert Woods. Dell suffered multiple torn ligaments and a dislocated kneecap in a Week 16 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, so it can be expected that he will be sidelined for a large portion of the 2025 campaign.

The Texans made up for those losses by acquiring veteran receiver Christian Kirk from the Jacksonville Jaguars and signing free agents Braxton Berrios and Justin Watson. Kirk is expected to have a featured role alongside incumbent receivers Nico Collins, John Metchie III and Xavier Hutchinson.

"I love Christian -- just his speed," head coach DeMeco Ryans said at the league annual meetings. "That's the one thing that jumps out about him; his redeeming trait. He's a fast player. He's made a lot of nice plays in the slot, running the deep routes in the slot, or it's the option routes, winning on third down. So, I'm excited to see what he brings on third down. I think he can really open up a lot of options for us on third down, especially from the inside position. He can be a friendly target for [quarterback C.J. Stroud]."

Still, it sounds like Houston is hoping to make a youthful addition to its receiving corps early in the draft. Bien-Aime noted that the team brought in Texas' Matthew Golden and Washington State's Kyle Williams for pre-draft visits. Texans general manager Nick Caserio had high praise for the prospects in this year's draft class.

"There's a number of players at [wide receiver] that look like they're gonna have an opportunity to help their team," he said. "I would say that position in particular in the draft, it certainly looks like there's some players that are going to be able to help whoever drafts them."