Houston rockets up in mock draft, targeting offensive line upgrades and landing Notre Dame's talented running back, bolstering C.J. Stroud's protection.
The Houston Texans have had a good handful of seasons, but the franchise can't seem to get past the Divisional round of the postseason. It has been three seasons in a row that the organization's season has ended there, and the team is looking to make the necessary upgrades during the 2026 offseason to keep that from happening again.
The Texans are well-positioned to make some much-needed roster upgrades. The organization currently holds the 28th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and two second-round picks. That's a good group of selections early on in the event, and it will be interesting to see how they are used. Draft analyst Chad Reuter put out a three-round mock draft on Monday, and he actually had the Texans moving up in the first round of the event.
Reuter predicts the Texans will make a deal with the Los Angeles Chargers to move up to the 22nd overall pick. He has Houston giving up the 28th pick and two fourth-round picks in the move, and the Texans would inevitably select Blake Miller. Miller is a tackle out of Clemson, and he would provide an upgrade along the offensive line for Houston.
In the second round, Reuter believes Houston will attack the offensive line once again with the 38th pick and draft Emmanuel Pregnon. Pregnon is a guard from Oregon, and he is seen as one of the better interior offensive linemen in the class. This mock draft from Reuter puts a strong emphasis on protecting quarterback C.J. Stroud, which is probably the right move.
The Texans pick again in the second round, as the franchise also holds the 59th overall selection, and Reuter believes Houston would select Jadarian Price, a running back out of Notre Dame. His college teammate, Jeremiyah Love, is getting all of the attention ahead of the draft, but Price is a good prospect in his own right. Reuter has Love going eighth overall in the event, but the two teammates would both be happy with these draft positions.
With Houston's final pick in the first two days of the 2026 NFL Draft, Reuter has the franchise drafting Darrell Jackson Jr. out of Florida State. Jackson is a defensive tackle with a big frame, and he should be able to transition to the NFL rather seamlessly.
The Texans are expected to pay a lot of attention to the trenches during this draft, and that is exactly what Reuter has them doing in this mock draft.