March 29, 2026, 7:53 p.m. CT<\/p>\n
Another day, another mock draft where the Houston Texans<\/a> land an offensive lineman for the long-term future<\/a>.<\/p>\n Yes, while Houston did pick up two new linemen and re-signed a pair of others, finding stability past 2026 in the trenches seems to be priority No. 1 for the 12-win franchise. Veteran right tackle Braden Smith<\/a> has dealt with multiple injuries, so targeting a tackle prospect that doesn’t have to start from Day 1 might be ideal.<\/p>\n In the latest mock draft from USA Today’s Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz<\/a>, the Texans<\/a> find Smith’s eventual replacement at right tackle to close out Round 1. Clemson offensive tackle Blake Miller<\/a> has been a trendy pick for Houston in recent months and once again seems to be the logical option to redshirt for a season while getting him prepared to start in 2027.<\/p>\n “Reconfiguring the offensive line has been the running theme of Houston’s offseason, with right tackle Braden Smith and left guard Wyatt Miller arriving to solidify the starting lineup,” Middlehurst-Schwartz said. “The effort might not stop there, however, with Blake Miller \u2013 who started 54 games at Clemson \u2013 providing additional support behind Smith, who has missed at least four games in four of the last five seasons.”<\/p>\n Adding Miller would present a solid run blocker with plug-and-play experience on the right side, which could be considered an upgrade over Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor or Oregon offensive lineman Emmanuel Pregnon, two names likely set to either play left tackle or left guard. Shoring up the right side of the line would also allow the\u00a0Texans<\/a>\u00a0to perhaps target a guard in the later rounds without the need of having to feel as if they must start right away.<\/p>\n