The NFL season ͏is still in its infancy, but the early draft picture is beginning to take shape.͏ Several prospects have already separated themselves from the rest of ͏the pack͏, while ͏others are still working͏ to establish early-round status. The discussion centers on one towering name for the Houston Texans up front.
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Houston Looks to Reinforce Protection with Oregon’s Isaiah World
PFSN’s Owain Jones notes that at 6’8″ and 309 pounds, Isaiah World combines rare size with natural strength that overwhelms defenders.
Despite his frame, he moves with͏ ͏surprising agility and fluidity, giving him͏ the tools to excel in pass protection while also providing a͏ powerful presence in the run͏ game. Those attributes have placed him͏ firmly in the͏ mix as the first͏ offensive lineman taken͏ in ͏the 20͏26 NFL Draft.
World’s background reveals a steady climb. A three-star recruit out of Lincoln High School in San Diego, he initially committed to Arizona State before switching to Nevada. After earning two honorable mentions in the Mountain West, he transferred to Oregon for the 2025 season.
With over 2,300 career snaps at left and right tackle, he enters his senior year with the experience that NFL teams covet.
What makes him intriguing to Houston is his size, versatility, and advanced awareness. Analysts note that he has improved significantly in identifying stunts and blitzes, an inconsistent area during his Nevada days. His broad base and quick kick step allow him to neutralize wide-alignment rushers, rarely giving up the outside shoulder.
That said, World is not without flaws. He’s had penalty issues from his Nevada stint, where he drew 19 flags across two seasons. His pad level and balance sometimes create leverage problems, and defenders with powerful hands have found success driving him off course. He has also shown lapses in hand timing, leaving his chest exposed.
Still, evaluators describe a lineman capable of completely erasing pass rush threats when his technique aligns. His developing snatch-trap move and improved strike timing have helped limit some of the deficiencies seen earlier in his career.
In the run game, his ability to drive through contact and use body positioning to seal lanes adds further value, even if consistency in vertical displacement remains a work in progress.
Oregon left tackle Isaiah World is firmly in the mix to be the top offensive lineman chosen in the 2026 NFL Draft. For Houston, which is seeking reliable long-term protection for quarterback C.J. Stroud, the combination of size, athleticism, and growth makes World a logical candidate.
If the Texans do indeed call his name, it would be less about taking a chance and more about investing in a prospect whose ceiling continues to rise.