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After Round 1 of last month’s NFL draft, the Houston Texans made it clear their sights were set on landing Minnesota offensive tackle Aireontae Ersery as their hopeful Laremy Tunsil 2.0.
By the middle of the second round, Houston pulled the trigger, sending picks No. 58 and No. 99 to the Las Vegas Raiders to move up 10 spots and make the selection. Now in the building, Ersey can hopefully transform into a stable option at left tackle, protecting C.J. Stroud’s blindside for years to come.
But the Texans really wanted Ersey following his top-30 visit with the franchise in the offseason. How much were they willing to wager on his potential? According to the Houston Chronicle’s Jonathan M. Alexander, the Texans tried to move up 20 spots for the All-Big Ten lineman in a trade with the New England Patriots.
“As a projected late first-round, early second-round pick, the Texans’ front office thought there was a chance someone could take him early in the second round,” Alexander wrote. “But the Patriots declined to take Houston’s offer of picks No. 58 and 79 and a third-rounder in 2026.”
The report matches the recent video released by New England on its draft weekend. A pick No. 38, the Patriots were locked in on Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson to begin the second round, but two teams made offers to try and move up. Chicago was one, offering a seventh-round pick to move back one spot.
According to multiple reports, that move was for Henderson.
Houston was willing to give up more, but the selection was for Ersey rather than the All-Big Ten running back.
“With (Aireontae), we add a guy who brings that physicality, that mindset, that I really think helps offensive linemen be good at their job,” coach DeMeco Ryans said earlier this month. “He’s done a great job at playing left tackle and still has room to grow and develop.”
The Texans were hoping to improve their offensive line after the previous group gave up 54 sacks last season. Quarterback C.J. Stroud was sacked 52 times, the second-most in the NFL. Adding Ersery, a 6-foot-6, 311-pound “dancing bear,” could be the spark needed for a complete culture shift.
Ersery was considered the best of the Day 2 offensive tackles and comes with ample experience on the left side. He started 38 games in his final three years at Minnesota, earning a third-team AP All-American, a Big 10 first-team selection, and the Big 10 offensive lineman of the year.
Ryans said the Texans would start him out of left tackle and go from there. Ersery said he’s willing to do whatever the coaches ask him to do.
“That’s the type of guy I am,” Ersery told reporters. “Whenever I get out there I’m going to give it my all to protect C.J. (Stroud).”
The Texans return to the practice field for voluntary OTAs this week.
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