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.
After making it to back-to-back divisional round matchups, 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.
Houston doesn’t have any glaring needs on defense, depending on the status of a new deal with defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins ahead of free agency, but the offense, mostly the offensive line, will no doubt be the biggest focus for general manager Nick Caserio this offseason. Shoring up the interior line, in particular, is a glaring need, but right tackle could also be a position to monitor since the Texans could shift Tytus Howard to right guard full-time.
As the Super Bowl is set to get underway this Sunday, 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 favorite for Houston at No. 28.
Georgia OT Monroe Freeling
NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah: “The Texans did a nice job of maneuvering to land Aireontae Ersery in last year’s draft. Now they get another young tackle to pair with him. Freeling is just scratching the surface of his potential.”
PFF’s Dalton Wasserman:“Tytus Howard’s versatility at both guard and tackle gives Houston the flexibility to draft the best offensive lineman available. That player could be Georgia’s Monroe Freeling, who has been climbing draft boards after a major leap in pass protection this season. His 85.7 pass-blocking grade ranked seventh among qualified tackles, and he allowed just three sacks on the year.”
The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner: “A big man who moves like a much smaller man, Freeling’s light feet on the outside give him the potential to be an outstanding blind-side protector. He still needs more polish in the run game, however.”
USA Today’s Jacob Camenker: “Houston found its left tackle of the future in the 2025 NFL Draft, as Aireontae Ersery found solid success as a rookie. They could still use a “right-side bookend” to help C.J. Stroud, and Copilot likes the idea of the 6-7, 315-pound Freeling getting a chance to win that role.”
Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.: “Houston turned its offensive line upside down last offseason in a full makeover effort, but there wasn’t enough improvement. The unit was still 30th in pass block win rate at 55.5%, though the sack count dropped from 54 (tied for third most) to 31 (tied for ninth fewest). There’s also the matter of the entire right side being unsigned for 2026. Proctor had all 40 of his career starts at left tackle (where Aireontae Ersery was this season), but he could slide to right tackle or even inside to guard. The bigger priority is getting capable blockers in front of C.J. Stroud.”
Yahoo! Sports’ Nate 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.”
NFL.com’s Eric Edholm: “Bama’s left tackle is a complex evaluation and didn’t have a first-round type of season in 2025, but he’s a gifted mauler who could find a better home inside. The Texans still must upgrade the offensive front and might be the perfect team to gamble on his talent.”
Texans Wire’s Cole Thompson: “Moving Tytus Howard inside to guard could benefit both sides since he’ll be on one of the more team-friendly contracts regarding the position in terms of value. Proctor has never seen reps on the right side, but his footwork, hand usage and ability to win in pass-protection make him a priority option should the Texans stick around in Round 1. He has 40 starts on his resume in the SEC and allowed just five sacks in over 1,800 passing sets.”
Penn State OL Olaivavega Ioane
The Draft Network’s Keith Sanchez:“The Houston Texans appear to have one of the most dominant defenses in the NFL, one that should rank among some of the best ever constructed. But offensively, their offense has struggled and at times has looked like one of the worst units in the league. While some of that blame could be pointed directly at the quarterback, another position group that clearly needs improvement is the offensive line. Insert Penn State OL Olaivavega Ioane, and the Texans will have addressed one of their biggest offensive needs, which should hopefully lead to better results on offense.”
Clemson OT Blake Miller
ESPN’s Matt Miller:“Miller probably isn’t a first-rounder in the 2025 draft. But in a 2026 class that lacks a high number of prospects with a first-round grade, drafting a rock-solid right tackle with a ton of experience (54 starts) and just two sacks and two blown run blocks allowed last season seems like good value. Miller would slide into the starting lineup opposite Aireontae Ersery, last year’s second-rounder, to form a young bookend duo that can help protect C.J. Stroud well enough to elevate his game as his rookie contract nears expiration. Considering the Texans finished 30th in pass block win rate (55.5%), they could use the help. Miller received a lot of love from scouts I talked to at the Senior Bowl, something that could push him up boards.”
Texas A&M OL Chase Bisontis
Pro Football Network Alec Elijah: “For a team in need of toughness, reliability, and positional versatility, Bisontis is an NFL read lineman who pairs size with surprising agility, giving him the tools to dominate both inside and on the edge. His movement skills allow him to pull and climb to the second level efficiently, creating running lanes and sustaining blocks in traffic. Bisontis also brings a finish-first mentality, playing through the whistle and maximizing displacement on every play.”
Oregon OL Emmanuel Pregnon
Pro Football Network’s T.J. Randall: “Georgia’s Christen Miller or some other defensive tackle would be a rational selection, but quarterback C.J. Stroud needs to improve. Much of the improvement process involves keeping him upright. This is an easy pick for someone like me who has long been a fan of the strong, bendy guard.”
Sporting News’ Vinnie 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.”
Ohio State DL Kayden McDonald
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein: “Houston needs help on the offensive line, but the best available prospect in this scenario could be a defensive lineman. McDonald is an ascending talent with the “SWARM” mentality DeMeco Ryans looks for.”
Arizona State OT Max Iheanachor
Pro Football Focus’ Trevor Sikkema: Iheanachor made a statement during Senior Bowl week, showcasing the ceiling of a first-round offensive tackle. His movement and body control made him a wall in pass protection on days two and three of Senior Bowl practices, making it nearly impossible for any pass rusher to get around him. He is a better pass blocker than a run blocker, but his physical gifts don’t come around very often.
Texas LB Anthony Hill Jr.
The Athletic’s Scott Dochterman: “Hill could be a bit of a wild card, but his blend of size (6-3, 238) and athleticism is basically ideal for an NFL stack linebacker. Can he continue to grow in terms of processing the run game in the NFL, though? Hill is a tempting talent, but his landing spot likely will depend on how he interviews.
Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq
CBS Sports James Brockermeyer:“Kenyon Sadiq is a fluid mover who runs like a big wide receiver. He catches naturally away from his body, finds soft spots in coverage and is a dependable target you can count on. He offers big-play ability after the catch and is a solid blocker.”
Utah OT Caleb Lomu
Pro Football Network’s Jack Aaron: “Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud struggled in the playoff loss to New England, though poor protection was an issue throughout the season. Rookie Aireontae Ersery had difficulties on the left side, while veteran Trent Brown held his own at times on the right but is set to hit free agency.”
Florida DT Caleb Banks
NFL Network’s Bucky Brooks: “The Texans could lean into a strength-on-strength philosophy by adding another building block to their championship-caliber defense. Banks’ superior size, strength and disruptive potential would enhance a front that features a pair of destructive bookends in Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr.”
Texas Tech DL Lee Hunter
CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson: “Hunter is a heavy-handed presence in the middle who consistently makes life miserable for interior offensive linemen by eating up double teams and shedding blocks to swallow up running backs. While he’s still developing as a pass rusher, his ability to collapse the pocket with raw power and chase down plays from the backside shows he’s much more than your garden-variety two-gap space-eater.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: 2026 NFL mock draft roundup: OL remains top priority at pick No. 28
