Here’s how Houston Texans could make huge pre-draft splash
BREAK THE BANK
28 February 2023
For the first time in years, the Houston Texans are in a position where they have a large amount of salary cap space and are flush with draft capital to make significant improvements to the roster.
GM Nick Caserio can make a splash in free agency and try to “buy” one of the top players on the market, or he can spread around his budget in free agency and prioritize bodies over talent.
When we asked NFL.com's draft expert Lance Zierlein about how the Texans should proceed, he said he believes the Texans should be bold and go after a highly coveted free agent. Some of the names we discussed were Saints DL Marcus Davenport, and Bills LB Tremaine Edmunds. A wide receiver like DJ Chark or Jakobi Meyers could also be a good fit for the Texans, especially if disgruntled WR Brandin Cooks has played his last game in a Texans uniform.
Finally, Mel Kiper Jr.'s latest mock draft has the Texans trading to No. 1 and selecting Bryce Young. His thought is the compensation could be similar to what the Bears had to give up to climb one spot and select Mitchell Trubisky (swap first rounders, 3rd round pick, 4th round pick, 2024 third round pick). If this is indeed what it would require to move up to No.1, should the Texans make the deal?
Be sure to check out the video above as we cover all the angles!
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Astros show signs of life in blowout win over Brewers
May 7, 2025, 3:25 pm
Framber Valdez pitched seven strong innings and Jeremy Peña homered and drove in four runs as the Houston Astros defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 9-1 on Wednesday.
Houston earned just its second victory in seven games to snap Milwaukee’s three-game winning streak and leave both teams with .500 records. The Brewers were attempting to sweep a series from the Astros for the first time since 2012.
The Astros led 3-1 before Peña broke the game open by delivering a three-run homer to left off reliever Elvin Rodriguez with two outs in the sixth inning.
JP3-run bomb. #BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/En0XXWdlt0
— Houston Astros (@astros) May 7, 2025
Valdez (2-4) struck out seven while allowing three hits, two walks and one run to earn his first win since the Astros’ March 27 season opener. He threw a season-high 101 pitches.
The Framchise is all business.#BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/J8EGGDk5gl
— Houston Astros (@astros) May 7, 2025
Milwaukee’s only run off Valdez came on Eric Haase’s fifth-inning homer, a 425-foot drive to center.
The Astros took a 1-0 lead off Quinn Priester (1-1) in the second inning as Jake Meyers hit a two-out single and scored on Zach Dezenzo’s double.
RBI double for Zach gets us on the board early! #BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/AilCY27A9d
— Houston Astros (@astros) May 7, 2025
The Brewers have lost all 13 games this season in which their opponent scored first.
Five-time All-Star closer Josh Hader worked the ninth while pitching in Milwaukee for the first time since the Brewers traded him in 2022.
Key moment
The Astros led 1-0 and had runners on third and second with one out in the fifth when Peña hit a bouncer to third.
Safe all day. #BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/OVjcvev7cM
— Houston Astros (@astros) May 7, 2025
The throw home beat Dezenzo to the plate. Home plate umpire Chris Conroy initially ruled Dezenzo out, but the Astros challenged the call and replays showed the runner slid home ahead of Haase’s tag.
Key stat
Valdez has now pitched at least seven innings an MLB-leading 57 times since 2020.
Up next
The Astros host the Cincinnati Reds on Friday. Scheduled pitchers are right-hander Hunter Brown (5-1, 1.67) for the Astros and right-hander Nick Martinez (1-3, 4.19) for the Reds.
The Brewers visit the Tampa Bay Ray on Friday. Left-hander José Quintana (4-1, 2.83) will pitch for the Brewers.
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