Houston Texans select Aierontae Ersery in second round of 2025 NFL Draft

Former Minnesota offensive tackle Aierontae Ersery was selected by the Houston Texans with the No. 48 overall pick in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. His pro career begins after Houston traded the 58th and 99th picks to the Raiders to move up.

Ersery was named the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2024 and was First-Team All-Big Ten as well. In 2023, Ersery was named Second-Team All-Big Ten for the Gophers.

During his final season, Ersery was key up front to the Gophers going 8-5 overall and winning the Duke’s Mayo Bowl over Virginia Tech. The Gophers won 24-10 over the Hokies.

During the 2022 season, Ersery was honorable mention All-Big Ten. As his awards suggest, he consistently improved throughout his college career.

As a member of the Class of 2020, Ersery was a three-star recruit out of Kansas City (Mo.) Ruskin, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 19 overall prospect in the state, the No. 95 offensive tackle in the class and the No. 928 overall prospect in the class.

What NFL Draft analysts are saying about Aierontae Ersery

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein evaluated Ersery as a prospect ahead of the NFL Draft. His pro comparison is Marcus Cannon.

“Three-year starter at left tackle with good power,” Zierlein wrote of Ersery. “Ersery is not a natural bender, which creates disadvantages with leverage and when attempting to mirror moving fronts. He’s well-versed in Minnesota’s outside zone attack, but might be more consistent in power, inside zone and hat-on-hat matchups. He’s huge, but he sets with good quickness to the rush, using his length and hand strength to gather it or lock it out.

“His anchor is derived from his upper half, which opens him to hand counters. Ersery has the potential to become an average starting tackle on the right side, but his success will be tied to matchups across from him.”