What’s the plan for the Houston Texans when on the clock at No. 28?
With free agency underway, the Texans have made moves to better the 12-win roster. Houston extended names like defensive end Danielle Hunter, offensive lineman Ed Ingram and tight end Dalton Schultz. On the trade market, the Texans added a bruiser runner in Detroit Lions starter David Montgomery.
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On the open market, they bolstered up the defense with additions in defensive lineman Logan Hall and safety Reed Blankenship, along with securing another option on the offensive line with tackle Braden Smith. Overall, the moves have made the AFC South franchise better entering draft weekend.
If there is a weak point for Houston, it remains the offensive line. Until they add in another guard, the Texans could potentially flirt with the idea of moving Smith, a former All-American guard in college at Auburn, inside full-time, thus allowing them to move on toward drafting a right tackle.
USA TODAY’s Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz released a fresh mock draft after the first wave of free agency, and he has the Texans doing just that when on the clock. With the selection to close out Round 1, Middlehurst-Schwartz mocked Arizona State’s Max Iheanachor to the Texans, giving Houston flexibility to stabilize the offensive line beyond 2026.
“Re-signing Trent Brown should be taken as a reflection of Houston’s desperation along a still-problematic offensive line,” Middlehurst-Schwartz wrote. “A late bloomer who never played football until reaching junior college, Iheanachor is the kind of project the Texans’ staff needs to demonstrate it can cultivate. The 6-6, 321-pounder could sit and learn behind Braden Smith before taking over for him at right tackle.”
Even though the Texans re-signed Brown and could play Smith at tackle, going after linemen is essential. Houston has swung and missed on nearly every linemen in the Nick Caserio era, but most were forced to start Week 1. Iheanachor would have time to develop, whether it’s behind Brown or Smith, before eventually becoming a running mate on the other side of Tay Ersey.
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Iheanachor might not need much time to take over as a legitimate threat to start at right tackle early in his Texans tenure. While a junior college product, the former Sun Devil started 31 games over his three seasons with in Tempe, including all 14 of their College Football Playoff run in 2024. He was also the team’s most well-rounded blocker for two seasons, allowing four sacks and less than a 10 percent pressure rate in back-to-back years.
Though guard and center feel like more immediate needs, selecting Iheanachor would be wise if he were the top name on the market. Houston must hit on offensive linemen this draft cycle and he seems to be one of the safer options on the market.
His ceiling might be lower than some, but Iheanachor’s floor is one of the highest. The Texans need stability, not transcendence, in their trenches long-term.
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This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans: Houston adds Arizona State All-Big 12 OT in new mock draft