The Super Bowl left many Houston Texans fans thinking “that could have been us”. A better offensive line and a healthy Joe Mixon could have been the difference… especially in taking the pressure off of QB C.J. Stroud.

The seven-round post-Super Bowl mock draft is my third of the offseason. Next edition will be after the NFL Combine and will include trades. For now, we’re sticking and picking with nine selections.

Round 1, Pick 28: Monroe Freeling, OT – Georgia

Analysis: Freeling has the resume befitting of a first round draft prospect. He’s 6’7, has two+ years of starting experience at Georgia, and played both left and right tackle. His True Pass Set Blocking Grade from PFF is an exquisite 74.1 and his long frame offers extremely high upside at the next level. However, he must refine and coordinate his hand placement and footwork before taking over the starting role.

He’ll slot in at right tackle and should be Houston’s starting tackle for the next decade. He does have hiccups on tape where speed to power rushers blast through his frame, but his upside and athleticism offer high-end potential out of a late first-round pick.

While Freeling is a high-upside zone blocker, he may struggle to find a home in Houston given the Texans’ late-season pivot to a gap-heavy scheme centered on power and duo-blocking concepts. Whether the Texans prioritize the player or the system will impact who Houston selects at 28.

Round 2, Pick 38: A.J. Haulcy, S – LSU

Analysis: The original pick was Lee Hunter, DT – Texas Tech, but recent mock drafts have him going late first round. Plus, picking DT this high goes against Nick Caserio’s draft patterns as he’s never selected an interior defensive lineman before the SIXTH ROUND (Roy Lopez, 2021).

Haulcy is my favorite player in the draft class. Haulcy is a deep-lying play maker whose bone-crushing hits and ball production are among the best in the class. He is at his best when triggering downhill to disrupt receivers than turning and running down the field with them. He slots in next to Calen Bullock in the secondary and provides immediate impact on defense to round out a young, athletic, and physical defensive back room.

Round 2, Pick 59: Connor Lew, C – Auburn

Analysis: In this mock (and in many more mock drafts to come), Houston doubles down on the offensive line early in the draft. This time, they land the top center on the board. Connor Lew’s mid-season ACL tear will drastically impact where teams have him on their draft board.

Lew’s width, athleticism, and leverage are elite. His ability to shift between DTs is profound and is a skill QB C.J. Stroud desperately needs in front of him. He needs to improve his positioning when facing bull rushes, but there’s enough instances of correct technique on tape to feel comfortable using a second round pick on him. Houston can roll the dice on an injured center due to his production and athletic profile with the anticipation he’ll over midseason.

Round 3, Pick 69: Domonique Orange, DT – Iowa State

Analysis: Houston continues to address its needs on defense by selecting on of the largest players in the draft. Orange is bigger than Houston’s prototypical defensive tackle, but his ability to stack-and-shed is rare this late in the draft.

Orange was asked to play nose tackle in Iowa State’s 3-3-5 defense. This forced him to play both A gaps, which made him raise up out of his stance and expose his 6’4 frame to blockers. Houston will only ask Orange to defend in four-linemen formations, which should unlock his ability to penetrate and clog rushing lanes.

He immediately slots into the rotation and will play early downs as a high-end run stuffer who over time can incorporate more pass rush skills into his repertoire.

Round 4, Pick 106: Joe Royer, TE – Cincinnati

Analysis: Houston misses out on a bevy of running back options between the third and fourth rounds. However, there is a goldmine of capable tight ends available to begin the fourth rounds.

Houston’s entire arsenal of tight ends enter the offseason injured. They need both a backup plan and long-term solution. They find that in TE Joe Royer.

Royer is a catch-first, block-second type of tight end, but his 6’5 frame lends itself to inline blocking duties. He’s a natural catcher with some of the better after the catch skills in this class. Houston can integrate him into their red zone offense immediately and add another weapon to this offense.

Round 4, Pick 128: Trey Moore, LB – Texas

Analysis: Trey Moore transitioned from defensive end to linebacker in 2025 and struggled in coverage, but presents an alluring athletic profile to develop. As a pass rusher, he bends around offensive tackles well to pursue the QB. He lacks the raw power to push through larger blockers, which necessitated the move to LB in his second year in Austin. As a LB, he’s better in man than zone as he looks lost falling back to a landing spot.

Houston adds depth at both DE and LB with the Spring Branch, Texas native. Moore could use a year backing up Henry To’oTo’o before making the transition to full-time linebacker. Whether Moore can learn to drop back into coverage will dictate his career trajectory at the next level.

Round 5, Pick 165: Mike Washington Jr., RB – Arkansas

Analysis: Washington’s stock is rising and may be out of range by April, but for now he presents great value as a first and second down bruising back. At 6’2”, 220 pounds, Mike Washington Jr. is a fifth-year senior with previous stops in Buffalo and New Mexico State. He had a breakout campaign with the Razorbacks, rushing for over 1,000 yards and hauling in 28 catches.

He carries his large frame well and is a pure downhill rusher. He ran primarily outside zone and dive at Arkansas which should fit in well in Houston’s scheme. Washington needs to add a cutback move and counter to his repertoire and he’ll be ready to rotate in at the next level.

Round 7, Pick 243: Josh Moten, CB – Southern Miss

Analysis: Houston rarely takes players with a litany of legal issues. Moten was arrested three times at Texas A&M between February 2021 and December 2022. However, Moten has been clean since transferring to Marshall and Southern Miss, where he was among the best cornerbacks in the Sun Belt in 2025.

I could see Moten moving inside to guard slot receivers with his mirroring skills and ability to turn and run.

11 career interceptions and 21 pass breakups is worth the seventh round flier. Houston could use the depth at CB and he’ll be in a room with enough big personalities to deter any misconduct off the field.

Round 7, Pick 244: Mason Reiger, DE – Wisconsin

Analysis: Reiger’s catastrophic knee injury in 2024 derailed his entire senior year. He is already 23, but possesses high potential as he further recovers from his injury. His performance at the East-West Shrine Bowl indicates his pass rush acumen, something extremely valuable this late in the draft. At 6’5, 250 pounds, he has the frame to play DE at the next level and could find his way onto the roster if Houston fails to re-sign Denico Autry or Derek Barnett.

With this haul, Houston adds two immediate starters in Freeling and Haulcy, two players who should start mid-season in Lew and Orange, and a host of depth pieces to help bolster the roster.