An analyst pinpoints offensive tackle targets, suggesting Houston could aggressively trade up for a Georgia or Alabama standout to bolster their line.
Trade up rumors are heating up as NFL teams near the 2026 draft in Pittsburgh. Like several other teams, the Houston Texans are being mentioned as a possible trade up team this offseason.
The Texans will have to be smart in how they allocate their picks, but if there is an opportunity to get the right player at the right position, it may be tough for Houston to pass up a trade opportunity. One NFL analyst has an idea of a position that could be worth trading up for this April.
Jared Koch of Houston Texans on SI writes that the Texans could trade up for an offensive tackle. Koch names Georgia lineman Monroe Freeling as a good choice.
"One of the draft class' biggest risers, Georgia's Monroe Freeling would be a perfect long-term option for the Texans to plug in at right tackle. He's only 21 years old, coming off an All-SEC season starting for the Bulldogs with great length, athleticism, and the raw tools to be a great NFL tackle with the ideal development setup.
Odds are, Freeling's stock has trended as high as the top half of the first round. So the Texans would need to be extremely aggressive in a trade up situation if they were interested in his services. He'd definitely answer some major questions on their offensive line, though."
Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Zachariah Branch (1) celebrates with offensive lineman Monroe Freeling (57) after a touchdown catch against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Brett Davis-Imagn ImagesAnother player Koch views as worthy of a trade up would be Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor. He gave the following justification for that move.
"Someone who would likely take a smaller investment to trade up for than Freeman, Alabama's Kadyn Proctor, fits a ton of the traits that the Texans love in their players: massive physical traits, SEC-tested, and explosive athleticism that makes him stick out as one of the most appealing offensive line prospects on the board.
The Texans might be lucky enough to see Proctor slide to 28, depending on what the league's consensus is on his stock. But if Caserio and Co. really covet his blend of size and skills, a trade up is well within play."
Depending on who you ask, there are a handful of experts that can see either prospect coming in and making an immediate impact. Whether they do or not could depend on team fit, but both players are worthy of consideration for the Texans.
Houston is in search of a right tackle for the 2026 NFL season. If it cannot find that player on its own roster, look for the team to make an effort to draft a tackle in the first round.