The Houston Texans have had a disappointing start to their 2025 season, losing their first three games en route to an 0-3 record.
Last year, the Texans' run game helped carry them through stretches when CJ Stroud couldn't get going, but Joe Mixon has been dealing with a foot injury and has yet to play a game. It remains unclear if Mixon will suit up at all for Houston this year.
The Texans need a boost at running back, and in CBS Sports' latest mock draft, Mike Renner has them getting arguably college football's best back.
NFL Mock Draft Lands Texans Jeremiyah Love From Notre Dame
Renner has Houston selecting Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love with the 18th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, providing a significant upgrade at the running back position.
"The Texans running back room is one of the worst in the NFL with Joe Mixon down. Love has the kind of dynamism that can take the pressure off of C.J. Stroud. He's racked up 284 yards and three scores on the ground in three games for Notre Dame this season," wrote Renner.
While Nick Chubb has been serviceable in the place of Mixon, he isn't the player he once was and hasn't provided the ground threat that the former Cincinnati Bengal was in 2024.
The Texans have a franchise quarterback in Stroud, and while they've done a good job supplying him with weapons to throw to, the offensive line and running backs are not good enough to support the former Ohio State star.
If they want the former second overall pick in the draft to flourish, they will do what they can to support Stroud with a strong run game.
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