April 21, 2025 • 7 mins
Fantasy Pros Russell Brown joins the show to break down Houston's game plan for the draft at No. 25.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
We're gonna talk a little bit of NFL Draft. Adam
Wexley here with you on the A team this afternoon. Now,
please to be joined by Russell Brown. NFL draft analysts
can find him on the old X platform at RUSS.
NFL Draft does work for the Lions as well, covering
the Detroit Football Club and fantasy pros. Russell certainly appreciate
the time and to that end, it might be of
(00:21):
interest to you and your followers what happens at pick
number twenty five, not only because it's the Houston Texans,
but because they are probably in line to take a
player that's protecting their very expensive, talented quarterback. As you've
kind of looked around at what might happen in the
back third of the NFL draft, what do you forecast
(00:41):
from this group of offensive linemen after Membo and after
Campbell early? Do you have a kind of progress order
of rank of the available lineman both interior and tackles
that come to play after that?
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Well, first and foremost great being with you guys, Yeah,
I mean the next guy in line after Membo and
Campbell is Calvin Banks, the offensive tackle out of Texas.
I don't believe he'll make it to pick twenty five.
It sounds certainly like he's gonna end up being a
top fifteen, top twenty pick in this draft, and rightfully so.
He earned a first round grade on my board, thirteenth
(01:17):
overall player on my board. But that opens the door
for Josh Simmons, who's eighteenth overall on my board and
my fourth ranked tackle. And had it not been for
the serious injury that he had suffered this past year
at Ohio State, he would probably have been a first
round pick for me. And I still believe he's going
to be a first round pick. I just I mean
as far as first round grade, but he's a player
(01:38):
that could very well be on the radar for protecting CJ.
Stroud In the Houston Texans. We know they've got those
ties and connections to Ohio State, and I think Josh
Simmons makes a lot of sense for them with what
they've done with their offensive line by moving on to
Laramy Tounzell. As you guys know, and when you look
at Josh Simmons, I mean, he's six foot five, three
hundred and seventeen pounds. Arm length is not a problem
(01:59):
with him. He's very clean technician. He stays under control,
he stays square, He shows that he can win with
the snatch trap technique. His inside hands strikes are strong,
and he resets his hands quickly. I think he's a
guy that has a little bit of a forward lean
that can be troublesome, especially if he's in the run game.
He's trying to down block and he's trying to beat
(02:20):
line stunts and keep his hat on a scribble. But overall,
he's a technically sound prospect that can certainly get better
in the NFL. And I think he's a player that
would make a lot of sense at twenty five if
he's there, and if they don't end up going with
an offensive tackle, I just wonder like is one of
the wide receivers in this draft intriguing enough for them?
For example, staying with Ohio State is a mecha, a
(02:40):
bouquet that they would be more intrigued with outside of
the offensive tackles.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
If you were placing a wager, since you just brought
up two of them, I was going to bring up
Jonavan Jackson and he just simply said, I'm just going
to say the Texans are taking a player from Ohio State.
Would you feel confident that at twenty five they might
do it.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Yeah, I feel pretty confident in that. And I'm glad
you bring up Donovan Jackson because he would have probably
been the next player I mentioned, because of course he
is from Ohio State, but he's my thirty sixth overall
player and he's a second round graded player on my board.
But I love the guard tackle flexibility with him. The
experience that he provides is going to be huge for
any team that selects him, whether it's early on Day
(03:21):
two or somewhere in the first round. And he was
really the probably the most underappreciated player on Ohio State's
team this past year for what he was able to
do from going from guard to tackle and locking that
down after the injury to Simmons. But he's a player
that also hits, you know, very quickly with his hands.
He strikes defenders and knocks them back with low pad level.
(03:42):
He's versa like I mentioned, he's got a thick frame,
six three and fifteen pounds, thirty three and a half
inch arms, So much to be desired with him, and
I think he's a guy that if they were just
looking to upgrade anywhere up front, he would make a
lot of sense. But you're absolutely right. Drafting an Ohio
State player seems very likely for Houston at this point
with with ever thing we've heard up to this point.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
Russell Brown joining us here on the A team at
RUSS NFL Draft on the X platform, second tier second
round wide receivers after Agbuca, after a burden in that group,
Tep McMillan, if they were to go that route at
fifty eight where their next pick comes up, do you
have a liking to any one of those, Jalen Noel,
(04:23):
Trey Harris. There's a few guys that certainly seem like
they would fit both with this team and at that spot.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
Yeah, Jalen Noell certainly if he there, I don't think
he will be. I mean, I'm probably a little bit
biased because I'm a leader of the fan club there.
I mean, I love his skill set. He's my wide
receiver for thirty second overall player. I just love his skills.
At five ten one and ninety four pounds, he's got
you know, some true first after the catch with that
(04:52):
four three nine speed and really explosive player with a
forty one and a half inch vertical but he makes
great adjustments to the football. He tracks the football field,
he can run routes at different gears with a good pace,
and it helps him create separation on a consistent basis. Plus,
he's got that special team's ability. He kind of reminds
me of a little bit of a smaller version of
(05:12):
Amena Saint Brown. He's not as necessarily maybe as strong
as him, but very comparable play style, and I'm really
intrigued by him staying with Iowa State. I really like
Jayden Higgins as well. I don't know if you'd be
redundant to Nico College is simply because of the size
and the frame. I don't know if they're really looking
for another player that may be more of like a
prototypical X receiver. I know they can move Nico inside
(05:35):
and outside, but Higgins really seems like that prototypical X.
At six foot four, two hundred and fifteen pounds. He
makes some really good adjustments on the football, and he's
a guy that can win down in the red zone
because he's got a big catch radius, he's got some
pretty good body control and those types of things. And
then just kind of throwing a dart at the board.
It might not necessarily be in the second round. It
(05:56):
might be more so, you know it picks seventy nine
because they've got the tooth round picks there in Houston.
I think Saveon Williams is really intriguing out of TCU.
I know, the biggest problem with him is that he
doesn't always catch the football. There's those concentration drops. But
when you look at him, he's got great burst, he's
got inside outside ability, he's got alignment versatility into the
(06:17):
backfield as well. So I'm really intrigued with Savi Williams,
and he might end up being a player that they
might be intrigued with just simply because of him being
down the street at TCU.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
All Right, that's a comical way to say it. I
would have said it the same way. This wide receiver's
one issue as he doesn't catch the ball. But I
totally understand what you're saying. You got a minute here,
give me a player in your top one hundred, considering
the Texans F seventy nine and eighty nine that maybe
not everybody views that way that could end up here
in Houston.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
I'm gonna go with one of my favorite players in
the draft from SMU Elijah Rogers. I love this player.
I love his skill set. The interior defensive lineman, he's
very versatile. I love the power to his game. He's
more power than speed, but he's got a nice blend
of speed to power. I think he's more of a
five Tech four I at the next level. But again,
(07:07):
he can play in multiple spots. And when I was
watching SMU's defense, I wasn't really even watching for him.
I believe I was watching the offensive player at the time,
and he just he stood out consistently. He can win
in a variety of ways, cross, chop, dip, and rip.
So much to love with the long arm. I love
his skill set. I think he's a guy that can
go solid in the third round. He's seventy first overall
(07:29):
player on the board for me, so I love his
skill set and I think he can be a guy
that can be a top one hundred pick all day long.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
Five years of college football and his resume twenty three
years old, turn twenty four actually during this upcoming season.
An interesting thought. We'll definitely keep that name in mind
and certainly follow along with a lot of your work
right there at RUSS NFL Draft Russell. We certainly appreciate
the time and best of luck as the draft gets underway.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
Thanks guys, I appreciate it.
We're gonna talk a little bit of NFL Draft. Adam
Wexley here with you on the A team this afternoon. Now,
please to be joined by Russell Brown. NFL draft analysts
can find him on the old X platform at RUSS.
NFL Draft does work for the Lions as well, covering
the Detroit Football Club and fantasy pros. Russell certainly appreciate
the time and to that end, it might be of
(00:21):
interest to you and your followers what happens at pick
number twenty five, not only because it's the Houston Texans,
but because they are probably in line to take a
player that's protecting their very expensive, talented quarterback. As you've
kind of looked around at what might happen in the
back third of the NFL draft, what do you forecast
(00:41):
from this group of offensive linemen after Membo and after
Campbell early? Do you have a kind of progress order
of rank of the available lineman both interior and tackles
that come to play after that?
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Well, first and foremost great being with you guys, Yeah,
I mean the next guy in line after Membo and
Campbell is Calvin Banks, the offensive tackle out of Texas.
I don't believe he'll make it to pick twenty five.
It sounds certainly like he's gonna end up being a
top fifteen, top twenty pick in this draft, and rightfully so.
He earned a first round grade on my board, thirteenth
(01:17):
overall player on my board. But that opens the door
for Josh Simmons, who's eighteenth overall on my board and
my fourth ranked tackle. And had it not been for
the serious injury that he had suffered this past year
at Ohio State, he would probably have been a first
round pick for me. And I still believe he's going
to be a first round pick. I just I mean
as far as first round grade, but he's a player
(01:38):
that could very well be on the radar for protecting CJ.
Stroud In the Houston Texans. We know they've got those
ties and connections to Ohio State, and I think Josh
Simmons makes a lot of sense for them with what
they've done with their offensive line by moving on to
Laramy Tounzell. As you guys know, and when you look
at Josh Simmons, I mean, he's six foot five, three
hundred and seventeen pounds. Arm length is not a problem
(01:59):
with him. He's very clean technician. He stays under control,
he stays square, He shows that he can win with
the snatch trap technique. His inside hands strikes are strong,
and he resets his hands quickly. I think he's a
guy that has a little bit of a forward lean
that can be troublesome, especially if he's in the run game.
He's trying to down block and he's trying to beat
(02:20):
line stunts and keep his hat on a scribble. But overall,
he's a technically sound prospect that can certainly get better
in the NFL. And I think he's a player that
would make a lot of sense at twenty five if
he's there, and if they don't end up going with
an offensive tackle, I just wonder like is one of
the wide receivers in this draft intriguing enough for them?
For example, staying with Ohio State is a mecha, a
(02:40):
bouquet that they would be more intrigued with outside of
the offensive tackles.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
If you were placing a wager, since you just brought
up two of them, I was going to bring up
Jonavan Jackson and he just simply said, I'm just going
to say the Texans are taking a player from Ohio State.
Would you feel confident that at twenty five they might
do it.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Yeah, I feel pretty confident in that. And I'm glad
you bring up Donovan Jackson because he would have probably
been the next player I mentioned, because of course he
is from Ohio State, but he's my thirty sixth overall
player and he's a second round graded player on my board.
But I love the guard tackle flexibility with him. The
experience that he provides is going to be huge for
any team that selects him, whether it's early on Day
(03:21):
two or somewhere in the first round. And he was
really the probably the most underappreciated player on Ohio State's
team this past year for what he was able to
do from going from guard to tackle and locking that
down after the injury to Simmons. But he's a player
that also hits, you know, very quickly with his hands.
He strikes defenders and knocks them back with low pad level.
(03:42):
He's versa like I mentioned, he's got a thick frame,
six three and fifteen pounds, thirty three and a half
inch arms, So much to be desired with him, and
I think he's a guy that if they were just
looking to upgrade anywhere up front, he would make a
lot of sense. But you're absolutely right. Drafting an Ohio
State player seems very likely for Houston at this point
with with ever thing we've heard up to this point.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
Russell Brown joining us here on the A team at
RUSS NFL Draft on the X platform, second tier second
round wide receivers after Agbuca, after a burden in that group,
Tep McMillan, if they were to go that route at
fifty eight where their next pick comes up, do you
have a liking to any one of those, Jalen Noel,
(04:23):
Trey Harris. There's a few guys that certainly seem like
they would fit both with this team and at that spot.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
Yeah, Jalen Noell certainly if he there, I don't think
he will be. I mean, I'm probably a little bit
biased because I'm a leader of the fan club there.
I mean, I love his skill set. He's my wide
receiver for thirty second overall player. I just love his skills.
At five ten one and ninety four pounds, he's got
you know, some true first after the catch with that
(04:52):
four three nine speed and really explosive player with a
forty one and a half inch vertical but he makes
great adjustments to the football. He tracks the football field,
he can run routes at different gears with a good pace,
and it helps him create separation on a consistent basis. Plus,
he's got that special team's ability. He kind of reminds
me of a little bit of a smaller version of
(05:12):
Amena Saint Brown. He's not as necessarily maybe as strong
as him, but very comparable play style, and I'm really
intrigued by him staying with Iowa State. I really like
Jayden Higgins as well. I don't know if you'd be
redundant to Nico College is simply because of the size
and the frame. I don't know if they're really looking
for another player that may be more of like a
prototypical X receiver. I know they can move Nico inside
(05:35):
and outside, but Higgins really seems like that prototypical X.
At six foot four, two hundred and fifteen pounds. He
makes some really good adjustments on the football, and he's
a guy that can win down in the red zone
because he's got a big catch radius, he's got some
pretty good body control and those types of things. And
then just kind of throwing a dart at the board.
It might not necessarily be in the second round. It
(05:56):
might be more so, you know it picks seventy nine
because they've got the tooth round picks there in Houston.
I think Saveon Williams is really intriguing out of TCU.
I know, the biggest problem with him is that he
doesn't always catch the football. There's those concentration drops. But
when you look at him, he's got great burst, he's
got inside outside ability, he's got alignment versatility into the
(06:17):
backfield as well. So I'm really intrigued with Savi Williams,
and he might end up being a player that they
might be intrigued with just simply because of him being
down the street at TCU.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
All Right, that's a comical way to say it. I
would have said it the same way. This wide receiver's
one issue as he doesn't catch the ball. But I
totally understand what you're saying. You got a minute here,
give me a player in your top one hundred, considering
the Texans F seventy nine and eighty nine that maybe
not everybody views that way that could end up here
in Houston.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
I'm gonna go with one of my favorite players in
the draft from SMU Elijah Rogers. I love this player.
I love his skill set. The interior defensive lineman, he's
very versatile. I love the power to his game. He's
more power than speed, but he's got a nice blend
of speed to power. I think he's more of a
five Tech four I at the next level. But again,
(07:07):
he can play in multiple spots. And when I was
watching SMU's defense, I wasn't really even watching for him.
I believe I was watching the offensive player at the time,
and he just he stood out consistently. He can win
in a variety of ways, cross, chop, dip, and rip.
So much to love with the long arm. I love
his skill set. I think he's a guy that can
go solid in the third round. He's seventy first overall
(07:29):
player on the board for me, so I love his
skill set and I think he can be a guy
that can be a top one hundred pick all day long.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
Five years of college football and his resume twenty three
years old, turn twenty four actually during this upcoming season.
An interesting thought. We'll definitely keep that name in mind
and certainly follow along with a lot of your work
right there at RUSS NFL Draft Russell. We certainly appreciate
the time and best of luck as the draft gets underway.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
Thanks guys, I appreciate it.
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com