By Blessing 
With the 25th Pick in the Pride of Detroit Community Mock Draft, the Houston Texans Go Big with WR Luther Burden
Our Pride of Detroit Community Mock Draft is really heating up as we inch closer to the Detroit Lions’ selection. For those unfamiliar, this fun twist on the NFL Draft lets community members step into the shoes of general managers, making the picks for each team. And now, with pick No. 25, the Houston Texans are officially on the clock.
Representing Houston this year is community member the_ville_lions, who’s hoping to give the Texans that extra push they need to climb out of the competitive AFC middle tier and into the realm of contenders like the Chiefs, Bills, and Ravens.
Before diving into the pick, feel free to catch up on how the first 24 selections played out by checking out our 2025 POD Community Mock Draft tracker.
And with the 25th overall selection, the Houston Texans select…
Luther Burden, wide receiver out of Missouri.
Here’s what the_ville_lions had to say about the decision:
“I’m going to be completely honest, I was hoping that one of the stud offensive linemen would fall to the Texans here, but both Tyler Booker and Kelvin Banks were off the board. With those two being gone, luckily our next position of need matched up well with where the value was on the board.”
It’s no secret the Texans could use a boost at wide receiver. After acquiring Stefon Diggs earlier this offseason, Houston now finds itself with a significant gap on the depth chart after his unexpected departure. Christian Kirk was brought in to work the slot, but injuries have plagued the receiving corps as a whole—making Burden’s addition both logical and necessary.
So what exactly are the Texans getting in Luther Burden? According to the_ville_lions:
“The Texans have a Stefon Diggs sized hole on the depth chart opposite of Nico Collins… Burden has great speed, running a 4.41 at the combine at 6-foot and 206 pounds. Burden has inside/outside versatility, which is exactly what the Texans are needing with a WR room that has trouble staying healthy.”
Burden’s junior year wasn’t quite as electric as his sophomore campaign, mainly due to erratic quarterback play. But if he can return to that earlier form, the Texans may have just snagged top-15 talent at pick 25. He brings flexibility and explosiveness to an offense already buzzing around young quarterback C.J. Stroud.
While offensive line help remains on the Texans’ wish list, they’re banking on better value in the later rounds. For now, Burden adds another dangerous weapon to an already promising attack.
What do you think of the Texans’ decision? Sound off in the comments below!