The Houston Texans are gearing up for a crucial season and will continue to lean heavily on their youth to get to the next level.
That’s why their second-round pick from the 2025 NFL Draft will be counted on right away.
According to former Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson Jr., offensive tackle Aireontae Ersery is more than up for the challenge.
“Tae, man, he has really shocked me a lot. His mindset as a rookie. There’s not a lot of guys like that. He wants to be great. He wants to get better every day. He stays after practice with me and Danielle [Hunter]. You just see the grit, the grime in his game, and he has all the tools to be a great offensive lineman in this league,” Anderson said.
➖#Texans DE Will Anderson Jr. (@will_anderson28) with high praise for rookie OT Aireontae Ersery
🗣️ “Tae (@Aireontae_69), man, he has really shocked me a lot. His mindset as a rookie. There’s not a lot of guys like that.
He wants to be great. He wants to get better everyday.… pic.twitter.com/ruogqyPRh8
— sidelinesarah (@sidelinesarah) August 23, 2025
The Texans drafted Ersery with the No. 48 overall pick.
With an offensive line overhaul that saw them trade Pro Bowl tackle Laremy Tunsil this offseason, Ersery is penciled in to start at left tackle.
He already has the stamp of approval of one of the top young pass rushers in the game, so that’s a lot to say.
Fellow tackle Cam Robinson is dealing with an injury, and that paves the way for Ersery to make a big impact as a rookie.
As things stand, he will look to fill Tunsil’s role, with veteran Tytus Howard on the other side of the line and Laken Tomlinson, Jake Andrews and Ed Ingram manning the interior.
Of course, nothing is set in stone, and after watching quarterback C.J. Stroud face consistent pressure last season, the Texans aren’t likely to give anybody a long leash.
The early returns on Ersery are quite positive, and they may have gone from a star left tackle to another one in no time.
