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Trade Suggestion Boosts Houston Texans in Vulnerable Area

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By A. Kazmierczak | Last updated Jun 5, 2025 11:29 AM ET

Entering the 2025 season, one of the biggest question marks for the Houston Texans is the offensive line.

C.J. Stroud was one of the most pressured quarterbacks last season, sacked 52 times, second most behind Chicago Bears rookie Caleb Williams. As a result, the Texans traded starting left tackle Laremy Tunsil to the Washington Commanders, left guard Kenyon Green to the Philadelphia Eagles, and released guard Shaq Mason this offseason.

To counter those transactions, Houston added tackle Cam Robinson (Minnesota Vikings) and guard Laken Tomlinson ( Seattle Seahawks) in free agency, traded for tackle Ed Ingram (Minnesota Vikings), and drafted Minnesota Golden Gophers tackle Aireontae Ersery in the second round.

However, as DeMeco Ryans and company mix-and-match to find the right combinations up front, they may not be done bolstering the offensive line.

In a recent article outlining one trade target for each NFL team, PFF's Brandon Austin suggested the Texans could go after Los Angeles Chargers veteran lineman Trey Pipkins III.

"Pipkins, formerly the Chargers’ starting RT, shifted to right guard last season after the team selected Joe Alt with the No. 5 overall pick. Now, with Los Angeles bringing in Mekhi Becton, likely to fill that RG spot, Pipkins may find himself on the outside looking in once again," Austin wrote.

"Over the past two seasons, Pipkins has started 46 games and brings valuable versatility with experience at both tackle spots and right guard. That combination, along with his age (just 28), makes him a viable trade candidate heading into a contract year."

Pipkins' experience and versatility could add much needed depth to the Texans' offensive line unit. However, the Texans may want to proceed with caution. With Pipkins in the fold, the Chargers offensive line allowed 44 sacks last season, ranking towards the bottom half of the league.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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