Houston retools its draft board for 2026 and beyond with key trades, impacting future roster building and positional needs.
The Houston Texans are making moves this offseason. The latest moves involve bringing in a fifth-round pick for right tackle Tytus Howard and sending a fourth rounder and a 2027 seventh rounder for Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery.
Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle discussed where the Texans' recent trades leave them after trading their fourth-round pick for Detroit running back David Montgomery.
"Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio has become known for his pension to make trades any place, any time - especially before and during the draft.
On Monday alone, two months before the draft begins, he made two. He traded two draft picks for ex-Lions running back David Montgomery and traded offensive lineman Tytus Howard for a fifth-round pick.
So keeping up with the Texans current draft picks and where they've originated from, is like solving a puzzle.
The Texans currently have eight draft picks in 2026 and six in 2027.
It is possible, given Caserio's history that at least a few of those picks will be involved in a trade either before or during the draft, which takes place April 23-25."
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) runs against Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey (44) and defensive tackle Broderick Washington (96) during the second half at M&T Bank Stadium. Junfu Han-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesTrading a fourth rounder for Montgomery certainly isn't the worst move. Knowing what the team will get from the productive player makes him a solid replacement for whatever player the team would get in the fourth round. It is as if the team drafted Montgomery with the pick, only they know how we pans out in the National Football League.
The addition of a fifth rounder for Howard makes it as if the team never really lost a draft pick in the process, although they did lose a quality offensive lineman in the process. However, the player they lost was probably not in the team's long-term plans, at least not for the rumored three-year, $63 million contract he is rumored to be on track to sign with the Cleveland Brown.
All in now the Texans are in a pretty good position to make quality draft picks in the 2026 NFL draft with eight picks available. Albeit their positional needs may have shifted given their two trades.
Running back certainly seems off the board with Montgomery in the fold, but right tackle appears to be a potential need with Howard leaving for Cleveland. Given the importance of having a good offensive line, the Texans will need to move with urgency to fortify their offense for 2026.