The Houston Texans were one of the more surprising teams in the NFL in 2025. Houston opened the season with three straight losses, but then went on a huge winning streak to finish 12-5. The Texans almost made the AFC Championship but could not handle the Patriots’ swarming defense in the playoffs.
Houston entered the offseason with an appropriate sense of urgency. The Texans acquired running back David Montgomery and made several moves to rebuild their offensive line.
Next up for Houston is the 2026 NFL Draft. The Texans could solidify their future as AFC contenders if GM Nick Caserio puts together another strong draft class.
Will Houston invest in their offensive line in the first round? Or will they surprise their fans by going in a different direction?
Here are some of the players who analysts are mocking to Houston just weeks before the draft.
G Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon
It should be no surprise to Texans fans that offensive line prospects are well represented on this list.
Most analysts have Houston picking an offensive tackle in the first round. But Carragher made a strong argument for why an interior lineman like Pregnon makes a lot of sense for the Texans.
“The Texans need some more nastiness on the interior, and Pregnon fits the bill. He’s already 24 years old, but his breakout 2025 season with the Ducks has opened the door for real late-first-round consideration,” Carragher wrote. “Playing exclusively on the interior over his 3,200 collegiate snaps, Pregnon has been at fault for just three sacks. He only allowed five pressures this past year and was only met with one flag from the officials.”
Left guard Evan Brown appears to be the weak link on Houston’s offensive line. Pregnon would be a massive upgrade at the position.
On paper, the Texans would have one of the better o-lines in the NFL after adding Pregnon.
T Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
If the Texans want to grab an o-line prospect with some versatility, Proctor could be their guy.
The athletic Alabama product has multiple years of experience playing left tackle for the Crimson Tide. Scouts and analysts agree that he could play either tackle or guard in the NFL.
“The massive Alabama lineman might be better suited as a guard in the NFL, where he can use his size and athleticism in tight spaces and minimize concerns about his range,” Acosta wrote. “Despite several additions up front, none offer Proctor’s long-term upside at guard or tackle.”
Proctor could be appealing because he could play right away at left guard. A potential move to right tackle in the future would be worth exploring, if that fits how Houston wants to construct their offensive line.
If Proctor is the pick, it will be because of his high upside and ability to play at guard in Week 1.
T Blake Miller, Clemson
Miller projects as a right tackle in the NFL.
Scouts agree that Miller’s technique needs some refinement to fully transition the professional game. But he showed a lot of promise during his 54 starts at Clemson.
But what would his role be during the 2026 season?
The Texans brought in Braden Smith during free agency and he should be their starting right tackle in Week 1. That does not leave space on the depth chart for Miller to play much during his rookie season.
Miller could still be the pick if Houston is confident enough in his future. But Houston’s front office may have to really fall in love with him.
T Max Iheanachor, Arizona State
Iheanachor is the high-upside play for tackle-needy teams in the 2026 draft class.
“One of the players with the biggest upside in this class, Iheanachor is still relatively new to football,” Schrager wrote. “The Nigerian-born tackle got to the United States when he was 13 years old and picked up the sport in just the past few years. Still growing and learning, he could be a home run pick if a team is patient and capitalizes on his upside.”
Iheanachor’s lack of experience is both a blessing and a curse. Some NFL teams may not want to take a chance on such an inexperienced prospect, even if he’s an incredible athlete.
The Texans could be tempted to convert Iheanachor into a guard. His massive size and impressive athletic traits could translate well to the guard position.
Perhaps Iheanachor could be Houston’s backup option if other o-line prospects are off the board by 28.
T Caleb Lomu, Utah
Lomu is a two-year starter at left tackle. He projects as a left tackle in the NFL because of his solid pass protection skills.
It is unclear what Houston would actually do with Lomu if they drafted him in the first round. Could he challenge Aireontae Ersery for the team’s left tackle job? Or could he slide inside and play left guard?
A move to right tackle seems unlikely for Lomu considering his run blocking skills are not on par with his pass protection.
Ultimately, a Lomu pick would be a big investment in protecting QB C.J. Stroud.
LB Anthony Hill, Texas
Nate Tice and Charles McDonald, Yahoo Sports
This is the only mock draft in this roundup that did not pick an offensive lineman for Houston.
Tice and McDonald argued that Houston needs to invest in the linebacker position for the future. Both Azeez Al-Shaair and Henry To’oTo’o are only under contract through the 2026 season. If the Texans do not address the position during the draft, they could be left with just E.J. Speed entering the 2027 offseason.
That could make linebacker a priority for the Texans early in the draft.
“Hill would insulate the Texans from any injuries that could hinder their defense and championship aspirations for this season, while also giving DeMeco Ryans that keystone player for the future whose athleticism, range, and intelligence make him a great fit for the always-attacking Houston defense,” Tice and McDonald concluded.
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein gave him a pro comparison to Bobby Wagner. That shows how much upside some scouts believe Hill has entering the draft.
This pick might surprise some fans and analysts, but it would be a smart selection that provides stability for Houston’s defense moving forward.
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