Eight new players joined the Houston Texans' rookie class after hearing their names called in the 2026 NFL Draft, but they won't be the only players suiting up for a chance to make an impact once OTAs break later on this offseason.
Some names, including a standout pass-catcher, could end up proving to be options with an upside to make the active squad.
NFL.com's Chad Reuter revealed his top undrafted rookies following the 2026 NFL Draft, and Houston walked away with four high-profile options on his list.
Syracuse punter Jack Stonehouse, Iowa State offensive lineman James Neal, Stanford cornerback Collin Wright and Illinois State wideout Daniel Sobkowicz all were among the top 10 at their respective positions. Wright, who finished with 10 pass breakups last season with the Cardinal, was the second-highest ranked cornerback, trailing only North Carolina's Thaddeus Dixon, a player who has yet to sign with his new franchise entering rookie minicamp.
Stonehouse, who was a finalist for the Ray Guy Award, was ranked the No. 3 overall punter, trailing Georgia's Brett Thorson and Western Kentucky's Cole Maynard. Among the specialists, he graded out as the No. 7 overall player to watch for on special teams.
Perhaps the biggest name to watch for is Sobkowicz, a walking touchdown every other series out at Illinois State. Known for his long strides and smooth hands, the FCS star was the epitome of consistency during his time with the Red Birds. As a sophomore, the 6-foot-3 target caught 68 for a team-leading 923 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. That would be the last time Sobkowicz would ever finish with three numbers next to his name during his college career.
In his final two seasons, Sobkowicz combined for 163 catches, 2,249 yards and 28 touchdowns, including an FBS-leading 19 last season en route to a national title appearance in Nashville.
The Texans have had success with undrafted rookies in the past, including perhaps one of the greatest running backs of the era in Arian Foster. More recently, players like British Brooks and Myles Bryant have stood out as names who fought their way onto the roster over former standouts many envisioned as locks to make it.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans: Houston lands 4 of NFL.com's top undrafted free agents