March 6, 2026, 6:11 p.m. CT

No, a lone pick in the 2026 NFL Draft won’t define the Houston Texans‘ season in a prove-it year for Pro Bowl quarterback C.J. Stroud. Still, the notion of missing out on an offensive lineman once again could make or break the AFC South franchise once more.

After making it to back-to-back divisional round matchups, Houston once again finds itself coming up short, this time picking 28th overall in the draft after going 12-5.

So, what position is the top need for the Texans to target? According to NFL Network’s Lance Zierlein, it’s stability at right tackle, thus leading to a move to shore up the right side of the line. In the latest mock draft, Zierlein has the Texans upgrading the right side of the line with Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu.

“Lomu needs to improve as a run blocker, but he has the potential to become a very good NFL pass protector,” Zierlein wrote. “The Texans could look to bring him along slowly or immediately plug him in at left tackle and slide Aireontae Ersery over to the right side.”

While All-American right tackle Spencer Fano garners most of the attention, fans shouldn’t forget about the 6-foot-6 tackle from the blind side found in Salt Lake City. A two-year starter with the Utes, Lomu is better used as a pass-protector, but his experience should make him a plug-and-play option on the outside.

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Perhaps the biggest adjustment to Lomu’s game would be moving over to the right side. Fano was exceptional on the right side, often taking on the team’s best defensive end, allowing Lomu to worry about improving as a run blocker. Then again, the Texans could shift Ersery over to the right side since that was the initial plan last season before Cam Robinson suffered an injury in training camp.

One negative scouts have pointed out when watching his tape is that his footwork can get sloppy when asked to mirror pass rushers looking to attack the inside. The good news? Houston doesn’t need to start Lomu right away since it brought back Trent Brown on a one-year deal earlier this week.

With Brown back, this should allow Lomu to make the transition to right tackle with ease, or get acclimated with new offensive coordinator Nick Caley’s personnel before taking over full-time. Getting younger on the offensive line isn’t a priority, but addressing the stability of the trench play long-term is essential.

The Texans own four picks in the top 70 and nine picks total in April’s draft.