Updated March 15, 2026, 4:03 p.m. CT
At the end of the day, one pick won’t define the Houston Texans‘ 2026 season, but the notion of missing out on an offensive lineman once again could make or break for the Texans once more.
As free agency has begun, movement around the franchise has shifted. While right tackle remains a dire need, perhaps it’s not the most important position to address after the signing of Colts longtime right tackle Braden Smith. The same goes for the defensive line since Sheldon Rankins and Logan Hall each inked two-year deals to stick around NRG Stadium through 2028.
Houston once again finds itself coming up short, this time picking 28th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft after going 12-5. C.J. Stroud is back for another season, but he’ll need to prove his value as potentially the long-term answer at quarterback following a disastrous postseason appearance.
Left guard needs a stable option long-term. The same goes for a No. 3 running back and potential depth at defensive tackle. Adding a center wouldn’t be the worst option, though it probably is a Round 3 need over a top 40 pick. And if the Texans really wanted to bring in a right tackle prospect, Smith could technically shift over to guard, thus creating a role for a five-man front with proven stability.
As the first major wave of free agency officially comes to an end, players are separating themselves as legit Day 1 selections and potential late-round steals. Who is in play for Houston at No. 28?
Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.
Texans Wire has rounded up the latest 2026 NFL mock drafts, where experts believe the Texans will more than likely shore up the trenches should they stay in the first-round, and three names that constantly seem to appear as the favorites to call NRG Stadium home for the long haul.
From Kiper: “Per ESPN Research, this would be the fourth time two running backs from the same school both went in Round 1 — and the first time since 2008, when Arkansas’ Darren McFadden and Felix Jones were Day 1 selections. But just because Price was second on the Fighting Irish’s depth chart to Jeremiyah Love doesn’t mean he can’t be an RB1 in the NFL. He’s a powerful runner who plays a one-cut-and-go brand of football. There are ball security concerns (four lost fumbles over three years), and we haven’t seen a ton from him as a pass catcher, but Price is dynamic. He ran for 11 touchdowns, caught two TD passes and scored two more times on kickoff returns last season.”
From Jeremiah: “Lomu pairs with Aireontae Ersery to give the Texans young bookends to build around on the offensive line.”
From Zierlein:“Lomu needs to improve as a run blocker, but he has the potential to become a very good NFL pass protector. 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.”
From Thompson:“The Texans are known for trading back, so picking a few extra picks and still landing Iheanachor might end up being the best course of action for GM Nick Caserio. The redshirt senior started 31 games over his three seasons with the Sun Devils, including all 14 of their College Football Playoff run in 2024. He’s a proven name that could immediately compete with Trent Brown for reps at right tackle. He’s ready as a run blocker, but his pass protection could use some work.”
From Middlehurst-Schwartz:”Even with the strides made in pass protection last year, the Texans still seem at least a little unsettled up front. Keeping Tytus Howard at left guard might be the optimal route for Houston, but doing so would create some uncertainty at right tackle. The ultra-reliable Miller, who started for four years at Clemson, could step in as the final piece of the puzzle.”
From Brooks: “Banks’ superior size, strength and disruptive potential would enhance a front that already features a pair of wildly destructive bookends on the edges.”
From Baumgardner: “If you need an offensive tackle this year, you’d better act sooner than later — Miller is the sixth first-round tackle in this mock. Though I can see a world in which he and Iheanachor (and maybe even Proctor) slide, the odds of that becoming reality feel smaller by the day.”
From Dochterman -“Can somebody please protect C.J. Stroud? It’s step one in reclaiming his breakout rookie season. Freeling is a good start. He lived at right tackle for the Bulldogs and can still add some weight but played his way into the first-round conversation over just 16 career starts. He can grow as a run blocker, but he’d give the Texans some needed help on the edge.”
From Podell:Â “Christian Kirk is a free agent, and who knows if Tank Dell will ever be the same player after all the injuries. Cooper, one of Mendoza’s top targets, displays strong hands and an explosive lower body, allowing him to make plays against tight coverage; Cooper’s game-winning catch at Penn State was a perfect example of that,” Podell wrote. “His ability to break tackles is underrated, and he has big-play ability: Cooper’s nine receiving touchdowns of 10-plus yards were the most in the Big Ten in 2025.”
From Tice: “The Texans’ offensive line is still a problem, so Houston can take a massive swing here to fix it with the 6-foot-7, 370-pound Proctor. He has to answer questions about his conditioning, but if he can stay in shape at the next level he has a chance to tap into the athleticism that has scouts and fans so excited about his upside.”
From Wasserman: “The Texans are in a position to take the best available offensive lineman with this pick. That could be Georgia’s Monroe Freeling, who earned an excellent 85.6 PFF pass-blocking grade while allowing just nine pressures in 2025.”
From Froton: “Freeling enters the 2026 NFL Draft as one of the most experienced and efficient blindside protectors in the SEC, logging 881 reps at left tackle for UGA. As a pass protector, his 2025 pass-block grade jumped to 85.6 with only nine total pressures allowed, reflecting his competence in true pass sets. Freeling has been rising up draftboards as a plug-and-play left tackle prospect whose low-pressure rate and snap volume translate cleanly to the next level, though continued refinement in run-block consistency and play strength will determine whether he settles in as a long-term franchise starter.”
![Florida Gators defensive lineman Caleb Banks (88) looks on during the second half during the Florida Gators Orange and Blue Spring Game at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 13, 2023. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]
Ncaa Football Florida Gators Orange Blue Spring Game](https://www.rawchili.com/nfl/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/88916679007-usatsi-20458626.jpg)
From Auman:“This really should be an offensive line pick, but six of them are off the board already. Going defensive tackle makes much more sense if Sheldon Rankins isn’t re-signed in free agency. Houston will need to address their line, but can do so in the second or third round. To let the Texans get the second defensive tackle off the board is a rich-get-richer problem for the NFL.”
From Iyer: “The Texans’ weak offensive line might lose average right guard Ed Ingram in free agency and needs more youthful talent upgrades. Pregnon moves so well for such a physical, nasty presence inside.”
From Easterling:“The offensive line is Houston’s top priority, but after signing Braden Smith to replace Tytus Howard at right tackle, they could wait until Day 2 to address the interior. That could free them up to spend this pick on another high-upside weapon for DeMeco Ryans’ defense, bringing Banks’ massive frame and rare physical traits into a defense that’s built to maximize what he does well, with a coaching staff that will get the most out of his talent.”
From Infante: “Kayden McDonald is a thickly built defender with a 1-technique’s body but the pass-rushing chops of a 3-technique. He’s a powerful interior defender who can two-gap well with a sturdy anchor and good spatial awareness against the run, but he also has some juice coming off the line of scrimmage for such a big man.”
From Filice: “After missing most of last season with a foot injury, Banks revitalized his draft stock with an eye-opening performance at the Senior Bowl. A striking specimen at 6-6 and 330 pounds with 35-inch arms, Banks has game-wrecking potential on the interior. Putting him between Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter would make Houston’s ferocious defense even scarier.”