The Houston Texans finished up the 2026 NFL Draft on Saturday, but that doesn't mean that the roster moves are done. Teams are always thorough when it comes to signing undrafted free agents after the draft concludes. These players are unlikely to make final rosters, but there have been plenty of instances of undrafted players making an impact and going on to have great careers in the NFL.

The Texans did not have a clear need at running back going into the draft, despite the fact that the running game was considered a weakness in 2025. Houston has Woody Marks returning for his second season, and the franchise also added David Montgomery after completing a trade with the Detroit Lions. The top two in that room seems set in stone, but Houston also added Noah Whittington as an undrafted free agent.

#Texans signing former Oregon running back Noah Whittington, per a league source

Whittington played his college football at Western Kentucky and Oregon, and he was a popular name throughout his time with the Ducks. He is on the older side, having played at the college level for 6 seasons, but that also means he has plenty of experience, which can certainly be a good thing.

It was a weak class overall when it came to the running back position, but Whittington was a name that many thought would be drafted. He ran for nearly 3,000 yards in his college career to go along with 21 touchdowns. He is also a threat in the passing games as he caught 90 passes while in college.

He joins a running back room that is already settled, but he can certainly compete for a roster spot. He will have to prove that he can be a contributor on special teams as well, which is usually the secret ingredient to an undrafted player making the active roster. Players near the bottom of a roster have to be able to contribute in multiple areas. He does have some experience returning kicks in college, but he can also work his way onto punt and kickoff teams.

Whittington is an exciting undrafted free agent, all things considered, though it is a long shot that he will ever make a major impact while playing football in Houston. He will have some good veterans around him to learn from, especially with a player like Montgomery who has spend a good amount of time in the NFL as a lead back.

He joins Jamal Hill on the roster as the only two players from Oregon.