April 22, 2025 • 7 mins
Athlon Sports' Luke Easterling hops on with The A-Team to break down what are the Texans draft plans when on the clock at No. 25! Is there a steal who could be in play? Could Houston trade up for the RIGHT TARGET and what's the asking price?
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
Back here on the eight team. Halfway through our number two.
It's Adam Wexler and Adam Clanton here with you. Tom,
just talking a little bit more about the upcoming NFL Draft,
Round one, pick twenty five, your Houston Texans. Luke Easterling
of Athlon Sports covers the NFL Draft in football at large.
Great to have you with us here, Luke. Plenty of
(00:27):
things to guess about from one through twenty four. We've
had quite a few people to discuss the very very
top of the draft with, and before I get into
the Texans conversation, something that could relate to the AFC
South at the top of the draft. I think the
top three are set. I think everybody is in the
same boat on who's going one, two, three. Seems like
(00:47):
ninety five percent of the people are set on who
goes four? With an offensive tackle, Campbell going to the Patriots,
which would leave Ashton genty for the AFC South in
the Jacksonville Jaguars. Do you think that is a possibility
that he joins the Trevor Lawrence backfield.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
I definitely think it's a possibility, and I think for
a couple of different reasons. The first being that that
Ashton Gents is one of the true elite prospects in
this draft. I think there's only three of those in
this draft. I think it's Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter,
who again you mentioned, you know, we expect them to
go too, and three after cam Ward goes to the Titans.
But Ashton Genty is the only other, again, truly elite
(01:26):
prospect in this draft. The difference between the number four
guy and the number thirty guy really isn't that huge
in this class. And so if you're telling me they're
going to go purely the best player available, it's it's
easily going to be Genty if he's on the board there.
And I think also you've got a new regime taking over.
You know, there's there's you know, there's no you know,
investment or connection between the James Gladstone and Liam Cohen
(01:48):
and the staff and all these guys coming in with
Travis etn and with Tank Bigsby, and they've got some
running backs there, but like they're not, that's not going
to keep them from taking Genty if they think he's
worthy of that pick. And so I do expect that
pick to be an offensive playmaker, whether it's gent whether
it's Tterorrow McMillan from Arizona the wide receiver, whether it's
Tyler Warren the tight end for Penn State. I think
(02:08):
one of those three guys could end up being a
Jacksonville Jaguar at the number five pick.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
Certainly would impact what the future holds for one of
the teams. Indianapolis also trying to catch the Houston Texans.
You mentioned Ted McMillan. Obviously you believe he belongs there
as the second best wide receiver, presuming Travis Hunter places
wide receiver in the NFL, which I think is a
fair assumption. Why is there some disagreement on how these
(02:35):
wide receivers should be slotted in? You know, one after
the other with McMillan and Golden and Agbuca and Burden,
And how do you see this group of receivers, how
would you place them rank them?
Speaker 2 (02:48):
It's interesting because you see compared to last year's class,
which is the best wide receiver class I've ever seen,
it's not really fair to compare it to that group,
But I think this this receiver class has gotten kind
of a bad rap. But I think that second tier
after again, Travis Hunder's kind of a unicorn. He's in
his own, you know, category. But that next group of receivers,
you can stack him in a bunch of different ways,
and teams will definitely do that because they need different
(03:10):
types of receivers. All four of those guys you mentioned
very very different traits they bring to the table, and
so for me, it's a little bit of a different
exercise to rank them kind of in a vacuum. But McMillan,
to me, is a guy that he makes everything look
easy to the point where it looks like he's not
trying very hard. And I think whether he's trying hard
(03:31):
or not, the physical tools that he brings to the table.
You know, if I'm an NFL coaching staff, just get
me that guy in the building and I'll I'll make
sure that he maximizes those traits. I'll put him in a
position to be successful because I can't teach a guy
to be six five two fifteen with those long arms
and create the matchup problems that he does with that athleticism.
You know, I can teach him the finer points of
route running, I can improve certain technical things about his game,
(03:52):
but the physical traits that he brings to the table.
There's just no other receiver in this class that brings
those and I think that's why it gives him the
most upside. That's why he's the number sube receiver for me.
But if you know, again, if your team needs the speed,
take the top off the guy, you know type of guy,
then Matthew Golden is probably your guy. The deep threat.
He's a great route runner, but he's so explosive and
can again create those explosive plays deep. If you want
(04:16):
the after the catch guy who's kind of built like
a running back, more in the Deebo Samuel type of
you know, mold and that's probably Luci Berden the third
for you you know, all of those guys bring different
things to the table, and Mecha Buka is really the
most well rounded guy. He's I think the guy that's
ready to make the most immediate impact, which I think
is really going to appeal to those teams that are
picking in the back end of the first round if
(04:37):
they need a receiver and they need somebody who's gonna make,
you know, help them improve their ability to contend for
a championship right away, Abuka is probably that guy. But
that that is going to be a huge factor in
how those guys come off the board and in what order.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
We're talking to Luke Easterling of Athlon Sports here on
Sports Talk seven to ninety. Before we get to which
offensive lineman you are going to have the Texans take
in the first round, could you could you describe Shador
Sanders using only one word and then tell me where
you think he might go in this.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
Draft one where I'll cheat and hyphenate it and I'll
say it's high floor. I think you know the I
don't understand everybody like the popular phrases he's a polarizing prospect.
I don't. I don't know why, Like as a football player,
I don't understand why he's a polarizing prospect. I think
he is an accurate, polished, mechanically sound quarterback who makes
(05:29):
good decisions with the football. It had zero running game
and zero offensive line for two years of Colorado and
still made a lot of chicken salad out of that.
And I think what he doesn't get enough credit for.
I've seen people reference like, oh, do you know, do
the team like the Giants want him come into the
big market and do they want to deal with Dion
and all this stuff. I see it the other way around.
(05:51):
I think I think shud Or Sanders brings a mental
toughness to that position that is so vital because he
has always been beyond sun. He has always had that
target on his back. He has always had every a
large group of doubters and haters wanting and wishing for
him to fail. And I think that mental toughness that
has been developed is going to allow him to deal
with the big market pressure or the media in New
(06:13):
York or in a place like Pittsburgh where the fan
base is is very devoted and rabid. And so I
think all of those traits are positive for him, not negatives.
And again, maybe he doesn't have the high end arm
strength of a guy like Camboard, he doesn't have the
athleticism the explosiveness of a runner like a guy like
Jaln Milroe has. But I just if you look at
the way Geno Smith played the last couple of years
(06:34):
in Seattle, he played so well despite a terrible offensive
line and really was one of the most underrated quarterbacks
in the league. That is what Shudor Sanders looks like
to me, And I think that type of quarterback is
going to win a lot of football games at the
next level, and I think he should absolutely be a
first round pick.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
A little bit short on time here, Luke, I apologize
for that, But if the Texans were to walk away
from Thursday Nights Draft with Kelvin Banks in their fold,
would they be able to do it at twenty five
or at what point in the draft do they have
to trade up for him?
Speaker 2 (07:03):
Yeah, it's not going to happen in twenty five. I
can tell you that right now. I've had earlier mocks
that had that happening, and the closer we get, I
just don't think that's going to happen. I think he
could go in the top ten at this point. They
probably have to get ahead of a team like Miami
at thirteen, and I just don't know if that's too
rich for them. I think on the back end there,
you're probably looking more like Josh Connery junior from Oregon.
Maybe it's a grad is able from North Dakota State
(07:25):
if you like the versatility and the fact that he
can play all five positions. Don't know if Josh Simmons
drops that low. I know he's coming off the knee injury,
but his tape was really, really good before he got hurt,
so I think they'll have some quality options there. I
just don't think Banks is going to be one of
them unless they're willing to make a big jump off
the board.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
Certainly feels like that's how we see it, and I
believe some of the intel suggests the very same. Look
forward to more of your coverage over the next couple
of days and after all these great stuff. Really appreciate
your time this afternoon, Luke, Hey, no problem, guys, enjoy
the draft.
Back here on the eight team. Halfway through our number two.
It's Adam Wexler and Adam Clanton here with you. Tom,
just talking a little bit more about the upcoming NFL Draft,
Round one, pick twenty five, your Houston Texans. Luke Easterling
of Athlon Sports covers the NFL Draft in football at large.
Great to have you with us here, Luke. Plenty of
(00:27):
things to guess about from one through twenty four. We've
had quite a few people to discuss the very very
top of the draft with, and before I get into
the Texans conversation, something that could relate to the AFC
South at the top of the draft. I think the
top three are set. I think everybody is in the
same boat on who's going one, two, three. Seems like
(00:47):
ninety five percent of the people are set on who
goes four? With an offensive tackle, Campbell going to the Patriots,
which would leave Ashton genty for the AFC South in
the Jacksonville Jaguars. Do you think that is a possibility
that he joins the Trevor Lawrence backfield.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
I definitely think it's a possibility, and I think for
a couple of different reasons. The first being that that
Ashton Gents is one of the true elite prospects in
this draft. I think there's only three of those in
this draft. I think it's Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter,
who again you mentioned, you know, we expect them to
go too, and three after cam Ward goes to the Titans.
But Ashton Genty is the only other, again, truly elite
(01:26):
prospect in this draft. The difference between the number four
guy and the number thirty guy really isn't that huge
in this class. And so if you're telling me they're
going to go purely the best player available, it's it's
easily going to be Genty if he's on the board there.
And I think also you've got a new regime taking over.
You know, there's there's you know, there's no you know,
investment or connection between the James Gladstone and Liam Cohen
(01:48):
and the staff and all these guys coming in with
Travis etn and with Tank Bigsby, and they've got some
running backs there, but like they're not, that's not going
to keep them from taking Genty if they think he's
worthy of that pick. And so I do expect that
pick to be an offensive playmaker, whether it's gent whether
it's Tterorrow McMillan from Arizona the wide receiver, whether it's
Tyler Warren the tight end for Penn State. I think
(02:08):
one of those three guys could end up being a
Jacksonville Jaguar at the number five pick.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
Certainly would impact what the future holds for one of
the teams. Indianapolis also trying to catch the Houston Texans.
You mentioned Ted McMillan. Obviously you believe he belongs there
as the second best wide receiver, presuming Travis Hunter places
wide receiver in the NFL, which I think is a
fair assumption. Why is there some disagreement on how these
(02:35):
wide receivers should be slotted in? You know, one after
the other with McMillan and Golden and Agbuca and Burden,
And how do you see this group of receivers, how
would you place them rank them?
Speaker 2 (02:48):
It's interesting because you see compared to last year's class,
which is the best wide receiver class I've ever seen,
it's not really fair to compare it to that group,
But I think this this receiver class has gotten kind
of a bad rap. But I think that second tier
after again, Travis Hunder's kind of a unicorn. He's in
his own, you know, category. But that next group of receivers,
you can stack him in a bunch of different ways,
and teams will definitely do that because they need different
(03:10):
types of receivers. All four of those guys you mentioned
very very different traits they bring to the table, and
so for me, it's a little bit of a different
exercise to rank them kind of in a vacuum. But McMillan,
to me, is a guy that he makes everything look
easy to the point where it looks like he's not
trying very hard. And I think whether he's trying hard
(03:31):
or not, the physical tools that he brings to the table.
You know, if I'm an NFL coaching staff, just get
me that guy in the building and I'll I'll make
sure that he maximizes those traits. I'll put him in a
position to be successful because I can't teach a guy
to be six five two fifteen with those long arms
and create the matchup problems that he does with that athleticism.
You know, I can teach him the finer points of
route running, I can improve certain technical things about his game,
(03:52):
but the physical traits that he brings to the table.
There's just no other receiver in this class that brings
those and I think that's why it gives him the
most upside. That's why he's the number sube receiver for me.
But if you know, again, if your team needs the speed,
take the top off the guy, you know type of guy,
then Matthew Golden is probably your guy. The deep threat.
He's a great route runner, but he's so explosive and
can again create those explosive plays deep. If you want
(04:16):
the after the catch guy who's kind of built like
a running back, more in the Deebo Samuel type of
you know, mold and that's probably Luci Berden the third
for you you know, all of those guys bring different
things to the table, and Mecha Buka is really the
most well rounded guy. He's I think the guy that's
ready to make the most immediate impact, which I think
is really going to appeal to those teams that are
picking in the back end of the first round if
(04:37):
they need a receiver and they need somebody who's gonna make,
you know, help them improve their ability to contend for
a championship right away, Abuka is probably that guy. But
that that is going to be a huge factor in
how those guys come off the board and in what order.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
We're talking to Luke Easterling of Athlon Sports here on
Sports Talk seven to ninety. Before we get to which
offensive lineman you are going to have the Texans take
in the first round, could you could you describe Shador
Sanders using only one word and then tell me where
you think he might go in this.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
Draft one where I'll cheat and hyphenate it and I'll
say it's high floor. I think you know the I
don't understand everybody like the popular phrases he's a polarizing prospect.
I don't. I don't know why, Like as a football player,
I don't understand why he's a polarizing prospect. I think
he is an accurate, polished, mechanically sound quarterback who makes
(05:29):
good decisions with the football. It had zero running game
and zero offensive line for two years of Colorado and
still made a lot of chicken salad out of that.
And I think what he doesn't get enough credit for.
I've seen people reference like, oh, do you know, do
the team like the Giants want him come into the
big market and do they want to deal with Dion
and all this stuff. I see it the other way around.
(05:51):
I think I think shud Or Sanders brings a mental
toughness to that position that is so vital because he
has always been beyond sun. He has always had that
target on his back. He has always had every a
large group of doubters and haters wanting and wishing for
him to fail. And I think that mental toughness that
has been developed is going to allow him to deal
with the big market pressure or the media in New
(06:13):
York or in a place like Pittsburgh where the fan
base is is very devoted and rabid. And so I
think all of those traits are positive for him, not negatives.
And again, maybe he doesn't have the high end arm
strength of a guy like Camboard, he doesn't have the
athleticism the explosiveness of a runner like a guy like
Jaln Milroe has. But I just if you look at
the way Geno Smith played the last couple of years
(06:34):
in Seattle, he played so well despite a terrible offensive
line and really was one of the most underrated quarterbacks
in the league. That is what Shudor Sanders looks like
to me, And I think that type of quarterback is
going to win a lot of football games at the
next level, and I think he should absolutely be a
first round pick.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
A little bit short on time here, Luke, I apologize
for that, But if the Texans were to walk away
from Thursday Nights Draft with Kelvin Banks in their fold,
would they be able to do it at twenty five
or at what point in the draft do they have
to trade up for him?
Speaker 2 (07:03):
Yeah, it's not going to happen in twenty five. I
can tell you that right now. I've had earlier mocks
that had that happening, and the closer we get, I
just don't think that's going to happen. I think he
could go in the top ten at this point. They
probably have to get ahead of a team like Miami
at thirteen, and I just don't know if that's too
rich for them. I think on the back end there,
you're probably looking more like Josh Connery junior from Oregon.
Maybe it's a grad is able from North Dakota State
(07:25):
if you like the versatility and the fact that he
can play all five positions. Don't know if Josh Simmons
drops that low. I know he's coming off the knee injury,
but his tape was really, really good before he got hurt,
so I think they'll have some quality options there. I
just don't think Banks is going to be one of
them unless they're willing to make a big jump off
the board.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
Certainly feels like that's how we see it, and I
believe some of the intel suggests the very same. Look
forward to more of your coverage over the next couple
of days and after all these great stuff. Really appreciate
your time this afternoon, Luke, Hey, no problem, guys, enjoy
the draft.
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