Feb. 19, 2026, 4:04 p.m. CT

Who should the Houston Texans target in the upcoming NFL Draft? According to ESPN’s Field Yates, a familiar name once again seems to be the right option.

In his latest 2026 NFL mock draft for ESPN, Yates has the Texans shoring up their offensive line with the selection of Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor. While his role remains a mystery, perhaps the Texans could make it a battle with Tytus Howad to see which player shifts inside to guard while the other stands on the outside at right tackle.

The Texans’ playoff loss was marred by quarterback C.J. Stroud‘s carelessness with the football, but protection was undoubtedly an issue, too. Houston drafted a young left tackle to build around in Aireontae Ersery last year, and Proctor would give them another gigantic pillar.

Proctor had an uneven 2025 season at Alabama, which made some scouts wary of his overall foot quickness against twitchy edge rushers. But there is zero debate about his power and size (6-foot-7, 366 pounds), which could be crucial for Houston’s rushing attack. The Texans were last in run block win rate in 2025.

An All-American left tackle for the Crimson Tide during his three seasons under Nick Saban and Kalen DeBoer, Proctor’s arrival would likely serve as a sign that the Texans plan on addressing several needs in free agency. Right now, both center and right guard should be areas worthy of improvement, while the status of Trent Brown’s potential return could at least give veteranship on the right side of the line.

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Proctor, one of the more consistent options in the SEC among offensive linemen, allowed just two sacks in over 220 pass-blocking snaps and just 19 total pressures. Perhaps the biggest question mark to his game will be transitioning from the left side over to right tackle.

During his three college seasons, Proctor never played outside of left tackle in over 1,800 snaps. Finishing with an 85.2 grade by Pro Football Focus, Proctor might never reach the Pro Bowl potential as envisioned when signed on with the Crimson Tide in 2023, but he’s a capable starter to begin the next chapter of his career.

The Texans have eight picks in April’s draft, including four inside the top 70.