A crucial battle for the Texans' starting center spot heats up as the draft approaches, with several intriguing prospects emerging.
The Houston Texans have done a great job throughout the 2026 offseason of addressing the issues on the offensive line. On paper, the group looks much better than it did in 2025. The main additions include Braden Smith and Wyatt Teller, who are two veterans that were signed to two-year deals during free agency. The entire starting offensive line is pretty much set, aside from the fact that the organization would like to upgrade the center position.
Houston was not able to be in play on the big-market names at center during free agency. Tyler Linderbaum reset the center market by signing with the Las Vegas Raiders, and the Texans could not have come close to their offer with some of the future extensions that the franchise needs to be worried about giving out. This means that the center position is going to get hit during the 2026 NFL Draft, but there isn't any sure-fire center prospects entering the league this time around.
Jake Andrews was Houston's starting center in 2025 as he started 16 games, and he left a lot to be desired. The organization would like to find a young center in the draft, and thankfully Houston has several picks right around the area where centers are supposed to start coming off of the board. Ben Solak of ESPN spoke about the centers in the draft in a recent article, "But challengers at center for Jake Andrews and right tackle for Braden Smith would raise the floor of the group. Centers should start coming off the board around pick No. 69, where Sam Hecht (Kansas State), Jake Slaughter (Florida) and Connor Lew (Auburn) are all vying to be the first taken. Brian Parker II (Duke) is also a great candidate for the Texans as he has five-position versatility."
Houston holds the 69th overall pick in the draft, and Solak believes this is the perfect spot for a center. Jake Slaughter out of Florida is probably the best name to consider when it comes to adding a rookie center to the roster, but Houston will have some options.
Sam Hecht and Connor Lew would also be great choices if they are on the board when the Texans are making their selections. Other teams in the NFL are more desperate for a center than the Texans, including the Los Angeles Chargers who hold the 55th and 86th overall pick. That is tough for Houston as the Chargers could pick their guy at center at 55, which could force Houston to miss out. It would also pressure the Texans into picking a center at 69 as Houston won't pick until after Los Angeles does at 86.