NEW YORK - APRIL 29: The stage is shown with the NFL Logo at the 2006 NFL Draft on April 29, 2006 at Radio City Music Hall in New York, New York. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

HOUSTON (CBS HOUSTON) – The Houston Texans have less than a week left in their preparations for the 2017 NFL draft which begins Thursday in Philadelphia. The Texans hold the 25th overall selection in the draft and have a variety of needs including filling out their quarterback room.

The other positions of need for the Texans include outside linebacker, safety, and right tackle. With safety Quintin Demps leaving in the offseason, the Texans will be looking to replenish a secondary that was one of the best in the NFL.

Rick Smith said that that this year’s draft has some strong spots and some weaknesses, but safety will be one of the bright spots.

“It’s probably one of the strongest safety classes that I can remember,” Smith said at his pre-draft press conference on Friday. “It’s a very balanced board in the sense that both offensively and defensively, there is some depth throughout the draft and throughout each round. So, I like that about the board and certainly about the safety position as well.”

The Texans will also be looking for help on the offensive line. Derek Newton tore both patellar tendons in Week 7 of last year and will be a long shot to return at any point in 2017 for the Texans. While the Texans will see Nick Martin return from a training camp ankle injury that kept out the entire 2016 to play center. Jeff Allen struggled mightily in the first year of his four year $28 million deal and will have to work to earn a spot on the offensive line this season. Unfortunately for the Texans, the depth of the offensive line has been rated by many analysts as one of the weakest positions depth wise in this year’s draft. Smith agreed.

“I would probably characterize the offensive line group as a little light,” Smith said. “Just as I talked about the safety group being heavy, I think I would tell you that I’d say the opposite about the O-line group.”

Alex Del Barrio covers the Houston Texans for Sportsradio610.com and is the color commentator for the Houston Dynamo. He also hosts “ADB and Murph” with Matt Murphy which can be heard on Saturday afternoons 4-7 pm Follow Alex Del Barrio on Twitter: @alexdelbarrio