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.
The initial major wave of free agency has end, so the Texans know what their short-term needs are headed in the end of the month. While right tackle and left guard remain long-term issues, perhaps it's not the most important position to address after the signing of Colts longtime right tackle Braden Smith and Browns lineman Wyatt Teller.
The same goes for the defensive line after Sheldon Rankins and Logan Hall each inked two-year deals to stick around NRG Stadium through 2028. As for safety, the Texans might need to worry about how to replace Calen Bullock should he become too expensive in the future, but the immediate arrival of Reed Blankenship should stabilize the strong safety spot after five players saw reps last fall on the No. 1.
With less than a week before the No. 1 pick comes off the board in Pittsburgh, all eyes turn toward the draft and trades around the NFL. The big question now for general manager Nick Caserio; is trading out of Round 1 the best option?
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.
Texans Wire will release its final mock draft on Tuesday, but our pick comes from the one set by from the universal draft selection with the USA Today Network.
From Kiper: "Why would the Texans go defense? Yes, it's their strength, but they need to keep it their strength. Smart teams plan ahead. And having the chance to put a disruptive interior lineman between Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter is exciting. Miller is active and quick, and he keeps getting better. With opponents focused on stopping Anderson and Hunter, Miller could get pressure inside and make some plays in the backfield. He had 7.5 tackles for loss over the past two years."
From Yates: "Houston could use more youth at defensive tackle, and McDonald was the best at his position against the run in 2025. His sturdy frame and power make him a tough player to move around."
From Schrager: "One of the players with the biggest upside in this class, Iheanachor is still relatively new to football. 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. Houston is always looking for talent on its O-line as the front office works through another makeover of the unit."
From Jeremiah: "There are a lot of similarly graded interior offensive linemen that I have in the second-round range. I have a feeling one of them is going climb into Round 1. In this case, Houston stays in state to add Bisontis."
From Zierlein: "Hill is fast, can rush or cover on third down and is a very good tackle finisher who rarely misses assignments in the run game. Both Texans starting linebackers (Henry To'oTo'o and Azeez Al-Shaair) are free agents after 2026; however, Hill should be able to supplant To'oTo'o this year."
From Miller: "Signing 30-year-old Braden Smith to a two-year contract solves Houston's right tackle need for the moment, but the Texans' plan to build a young (and inexpensive) offensive line around C.J. Stroud is still in place. Miller started 54 college games at right tackle and improved every season, allowing only two sacks in 2025. With 34-inch arms and a strong base to block from, Miller profiles as a solid starter with higher-end potential as he develops his run-blocking talents."
From Thompson: "Houston is known for trading back and given the Cardinals' potential need to target Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, that’s very much in play. However, if there's one player who might stand pat, it's McDonald. The Buckeyes star is coming off one of the best seasons for a defensive tackle, racking up 65 tackles, nine tackles for loss and three sacks. Two of his best games were against Texas and Miami, arguably two teams loaded with future NFL talent. Add in that he's only 21 and still growing, Houston could be getting a prospect who's yet to reach even his floor that already has Day 1 production that teams covet for their defensive lines. The Texans would probably love to land McDonald on Day 2, but if they feel like he's going to be out of the running to fall into Friday's second round, Nick Caserio might just pull the trigger and call it a day. McDonald is already one of the better run-stoppers in the class, which is exactly what Houston wants to pair behind pass-rushing specialist Tommy Togiai and Sheldon Rankins."
From Middlehurst-Schwartz: "Even after a concerted effort in free agency to fortify their offensive line, the Texans' work doesn't quite feel finished. Rutledge's unrelenting demeanor as a blocker could help Houston do a better job of setting the tone in the run game for new lead back David Montgomery."
From Ostley: "Houston’s defense is one of the scariest units in the NFL and should be that once again in 2026 but they have a need on the interior. Banks could shore that up in a big way. A foot injury at the combine may drop his stock but he’s one of the best at the position in the class at 6-foot-6 and 327 pounds."
From Davis: " Could Arizona be the team that comes up for the highly scrutinized ‘Bama quarterback, though Simpson is still widely regarded as this draft’s clear-cut No. 2 passer? It could make sense given veteran Jacoby Brissett remains in place as an ideal bridge option, and the weapons are fairly plentiful when you've got the league's best receiving tight end (Trey McBride) and a solid group of backs and receivers − and that's potentially an understatement if Marvin Harrison Jr. blossoms.
Maybe the Cards need to jump the Jets at No. 33 and maybe not. But coming up here from No. 34 probably only costs GM Monti Ossenfort a fourth-rounder while also conferring the fifth-year option that comes with being a first-rounder.
From Jones: "The Texans continue their upgrade of the offensive line with Miller. Yes, they signed veteran right tackle Braden Smith in free agency, but the former Indianapolis Colt has battled injury in recent years, and Miller gives the Texans the long-term answer at the position. At 6-7 and 317 pounds, he has great size. He is a four-year starter and has great durability. Paired with 2025 second-round pick Aireontae Ersery, who starts at left tackle, Houston now has its bookends of the future to help keep C.J. Stroud upright for years to come."
From Brooks: "Slotting in a disruptive defensive tackle between a pair of All-Pro edge rushers (Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr.) would make the Texans' defense even nastier."
From Podell: "Lee Hunter is a strong, wide defensive tackle, which made him an outstanding run defender at Texas Tech. Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter can help improve his pass-rushing chops at the NFL level, and he can learn the ropes from Sheldon Rankins for a couple of years before being relied on more heavily during passing downs."