Houston Texans 2026 NFL Draft Needs, Picks & Depth Chart

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No matter how well they did in free agency, all 32 NFL teams head into the 2026 NFL Draft with holes to fill on the roster.

Leading into the draft, we will identify the top needs for every team and break down the depth chart position by position.

What are the Texans' top positions of need heading into the 2026 NFL draft?

Houston Texans Needs: Top Positions of Need in 2026

1. Defensive Line
2. Offensive Line
3. Edge Rusher

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Houston Texans 2026 Draft Capital

The Texans have the 11th-most draft capital according to our Sharp Football Draft Value.

Our Sharp Football Draft Value is a valuation of draft capital based on a combination of average performance delivered and average dollars earned on second contracts.

Houston Texans Mock Draft Predictions

Find out who our top-rated experts expect the Texans to draft:

• Brendan Donahue's 2026 NFL Mock Draft – Complete first round breakdown from the #2 most accurate mock drafter over the last five seasons.
• Ryan McCrystal's 2026 NFL Mock Draft – Complete first round breakdown from the #20 most accurate mock drafter over the last five seasons.

Houston Texans Offense: Depth Chart, Analysis & Draft Needs

Rich Hribar breaks down the offensive depth chart by position for the Houston Texans, identifying areas where the team could improve in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft.

Quarterback

1. C.J. Stroud
2. Davis Mills
3. Graham Mertz

C.J. Stroud was a mixed bag in 2025.

He completed a career-high 64.5% of his passes last season while improving his touchdown rate (4.5%) and interception rate (1.9%).

He also threw for 217.2 yards per game, which was the lowest rate of his career.

Stroud’s 42.3% success rate ranked 24th in the league.

The season ended on an extremely bitter note, with Stroud throwing 4 interceptions in a Divisional Round loss in New England.

One of the disappointing parts of this new offense under Nick Caley was the lack of top-down creativity.

The Texans used pre-snap motion on 49.9% of Stroud’s dropbacks (21st) and play action on 24.8% (19th).

The downer is that when Stroud did get to use play action, he averaged 8.5 yards per pass attempt (10th) and 13.1 yards per completion (7th).

When the Texans used motion, Stroud averaged 7.8 Y/A (7th) with 11.7 yards per completion (9th).

Without either, Stroud averaged 6.0 Y/A (30th) and 9.6 yards per completion (31st).

Stroud missed three games due to a scary concussion in Week 9.

Before the injury, he was using his legs at the highest rate of his career.

Stroud had a 6.8% scramble rate over eight weeks, ranking 10th in the league.

Returning from his concussion, Stroud then only scrambled on 3.1% of his dropbacks, 24th in the league.

The Texans have made the postseason every year of Stroud’s early career, but the season ended on such a down note that there were some whispers about questioning if Stroud was the long-term answer.

He is entering 2026 in the final year of his rookie contract, although the Texans have already picked up his fifth-year option for 2027.

Houston did get a look at their offense without Stroud last year, if they believe the grass could be greener.

Although they went 3-0 in the games Davis Mills started, the offense sagged in production.

Houston averaged 5.2 yards per play with Stroud on the field last year, and that includes the playoff debacle.

That fell to 4.7 yards per play with Mills.

Mills completed 57.2% of his passes compared to 64.5% for Stroud.

Mills averaged 5.8 yards per pass attempt to Stroud’s 7.2 Y/A.

Mills is set to be an unrestricted free agent after 2026.

Running Back

1. David Montgomery
2. Woody Marks
3. Jawhar Jordan
4. British Brooks

The Houston running game was a weak spot for the offense in 2025.

Texans running backs combined for:

• 3.8 yards per rush (27th)
• 34.1% success rate (29th)
• 8.3% rate of runs for 10 or more yards (27th)
• 20.3% rate of runs that failed to gain yardage (27th)
• 18.5% of runs resulted in a first down or touchdown (30th)
• 2.76 yards after contact per rush (28th)

Looking to recalibrate things, the Texans made a trade for David Montgomery.

Montgomery will turn 29 in June and is coming off a year in which he was bypassed by Jahmyr Gibbs.

Montgomery had career lows in touches (182) and yards from scrimmage (908) with Detroit in 2025.

Over the final eight games of the season, Montgomery only played 32.6% of the offensive snaps with 336 yards.

Before that, he had played 41.3% of the snaps with 572 yards.

Montgomery was still a solid back when on the field, averaging 4.5 yards per rush (21st out of 49 backs with 100-plus attempts), a 39.9% success rate (24th), and 3.17 yards after contact per rush (17th).

For better or worse, the real appeal of getting Montgomery for Houston was his underlying usage in man/gap concepts.

In Caley’s first season with the Texans, he brought over that same rushing scheme from the Rams.

Houston was second in the league in man/gap run rate (38.8%), trailing only the Rams.

45.9% of Nick Chubb’s runs in 2025 were man/gap runs, the second-highest rate in the league.

Woody Marks was at 38.3%, which ranked sixth.

On man/gap runs, Montgomery had a 50% success rate (10th) and led all backs in EPA per rush (.034).

The Texans traded up for Marks in the fourth round last season (116th overall).

Marks ended up being the lead back, handling 220 touches for 911 yards from scrimmage with 5 touchdowns.

Marks took control of this backfield midseason, averaging 17.5 touches per game with 63.1% of the backfield touches over his final eight games.

Unfortunately, that did not lead to great results.

He only averaged 63.1 total yards per game over that span.

Out of 49 running backs with 100 or more rushes last season, Marks was 48th with a 3.6 yards per attempt average.

He had a run of 10 or more yards on 7.7% of his runs (41st) while failing to gain yards on 23% (45th).

His 2.59 yards after contact per rush ranked 45th.

Stroud targeted his running backs only 15.2% of the time (23rd), so Marks never got active in the passing game.

He did not have more than two receptions in a game after Week 8.

With Montgomery coming in, Marks can serve more of a complementary role in year two.

Wide Receiver

1. Nico Collins
2. Jayden Higgins
3. Jaylin Noel
4. Tank Dell
5. Xavier Hutchinson
6. Justin Watson
7. Jared Wayne
8. Josh Kelly

Houston threw the ball to their wide receivers 63.7% of the time in 2025, which ranked sixth in the league.

As a byproduct, their wideouts combined for 212 receptions (9th), 2,688 receiving yards (8th),  and 18 touchdowns (8th).

Nico Collins was productive again, catching 71 passes for 1,117 yards and 6 touchdowns.

He did take a slight dip in per-game output.

After 5.3 and 5.7 receptions per game in Stroud’s first two seasons, Collins averaged 4.7 catches per game in 2025.

His 74.5 yards per game were a smidge down from 83.8 in 2024 and 86.5 in 2023.

He caught 4 or fewer passes in five of his final six games.

He also had two concussions that impacted his season, missing two games in the regular season and then the final playoff game.

Collins has yet to play a full season through five years.

All of that said, Collins still had the profile of an alpha WR1.

He accounted for 24.6% of Houston's targets (WR11) and 37.3% of the air yards (WR7) in his games played with 2.35 yards per route (WR12).

He still has two years remaining on his current contract at good numbers, counting $27.8 million against the cap this season and then $28.8 million in 2027.

Houston played a hodgepodge of receivers surrounding Collins.

Xavier Hutchinson was second at the position in routes run, playing on 62.3% of the dropbacks.

He was lackluster with the opportunity, catching 35 of 57 targets for 428 yards and 3 touchdowns.

He produced 1.07 yards per route run, which ranked 99th at the position.

Hutchinson is in the final season of his current contract.

Instead of producing, Hutchinson served as more of a roadblock for rookies Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel.

Higgins was on the field for 56.4% of the dropbacks as a rookie, catching 41 of 68 targets for 525 yards and 6 touchdowns.

He only played more than 67% of the passing plays in two games as a rookie, but Higgins was second among the receivers with a target on 18.7% of his routes and produced a first down or touchdown on a team-high 41.2% of his targets.

Noel only played 31.4% of the dropbacks as a rookie, catching 26 of 35 targets for 292 yards and 2 touchdowns.

He did not play 50% of the passing plays in any game as a rookie.

Both year-two players should have more on their plates in 2026.

Houston is expected to get Tank Dell back at some point.

Dell missed all of the 2025 season because of a devastating knee injury he suffered at the end of 2024, enduring a torn ACL, MCL, LCL, meniscus, and dislocated kneecap.

Houston is optimistic that he will play in 2026, but there is no current timetable for his availability.

Dell will be an unrestricted free agent after the season.

Tight End

1. Dalton Schultz
2. Cade Stover
3. Foster Moreau
4. Brevin Jordan
5. Luke Lachey
6. Layne Pryor

Dalton Schultz caught a career-high 82 passes last season for 777 yards (his most since 2021) and 3 touchdowns.

He was second on the team with 106 targets.

His 45.7 yards per game ranked TE11 on the season, although his 9.5 yards per catch ranked TE44.

Schultz is more volume-dependent than dynamic, but he is a reliable asset at the position.

He was on the field for 77.5% of the dropbacks (TE7) with 19.2% of Houston's targets (TE6).

He will turn 30 this July with two years remaining on his current contract.

The depth here is solid with run-game blockers Cade Stover and Foster Moreau both under contract for multiple seasons.

Offensive Line

LT: Aireontae Ersery, Blake Fisher
LG: Wyatt Teller, Jarrett Patterson
C: Jake Andrews, Evan Brown
RG: Ed Ingram, Jarrett Kingston, Sidy Sow
RT: Braden Smith, Trent Brown

This offensive line is still a work in progress.

Houston ranked 30th in ESPN’s pass block win rate (56%) and last in run block win rate (68%) last season.

Per Pro Football Focus, they ranked 23rd in pass-blocking grade and 20th in run-blocking grade.

Houston moved on from Tytus Howard (who led the offensive line in snaps last year) and Juice Scruggs (351 snaps), as they did not fit their man-blocking scheme.

In an effort to throw more at the line, Houston added veterans Wyatt Teller and Braden Smith to the roster.

Teller will turn 32 in November and is coming off a down season with Cleveland that was marred by injuries again.

He was benched late in the year in Cleveland, ranking 40th in overall grade among guards per Pro Football Focus.

He missed four games for the second straight season.

Smith turned 30 this March and is also coming off a down year with the Colts.

He ended last year 53rd among tackles in grade, allowing a 5.5% pressure rate (41st).

Smith missed four games as well and has missed multiple games in five of the past six seasons, playing his last full season in 2019.

Smith has early-career experience playing center and guard, and there have been whispers that he could move inside.

Houston kept Trent Brown as a potential starter or insurance for Smith if he should miss more action.

Brown played 547 snaps at right tackle last season, allowing only a 3.7% pressure rate, 11th at the position.

Brown also allows Houston some versatility should Aireontae Ersery fail to develop.

They selected Ersery in the second round last year (48th overall) and threw him to the fire.

Ersery played 99% of the snaps as a rookie, taking his lumps.

He allowed the third-most pressures (49) among tackles with 11 sacks (tied for the most) and 13 penalties (tied for the 2nd most).

Houston has some added versatility since it brought back Ed Ingram on a three-year extension.

Ingram had bounced around the league before having his best season last year in Houston.

Ingram ranked 13th among guards in overall grade per PFF in 2025.

Center Jake Andrews made a career-high 16 starts for Houston last year and was 28th among overall centers in grade.

Andrews will be an unrestricted free agent after 2026.

Houston has a lot of pieces to throw at the wall here that could work out if veterans like Teller and Smith can bounce back and stay healthy.

Those additions allow some flexibility, so Houston does not have to force the offensive line, but they are still open to adding players who can be longer-term solutions.

Houston Texans Defense: Depth Chart, Analysis & Draft Needs

Raymond Summerlin breaks down the defensive depth chart by position for the Houston Texans, identifying areas where the team could improve in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft.

Defensive Line

1. Sheldon Rankins
2. Tommy Togiai
3. Logan Hall
4. Naquan Jones
5. Kyonte Hamilton
6. Junior Tafuna

The Texans shut down running backs in 2025, allowing just 3.7 yards per carry (2nd) to the position and finishing second in success rate against running back runs.

Sheldon Rankins re-signed on a two-year deal this offseason, but Tim Settle left in free agency.

Rankins bounced back in his return to the Texans, but he is heading into his age-32 season.

Tommy Togiai played the second-most snaps among the defensive line group last season, and he was excellent against the run.

Togiai finished with 9 run stuffs and recorded a tackle on 25.6% of his run defense snaps, the best mark among qualified defensive linemen.

Togiai also posted a career-best 10.6% pressure rate despite finishing with just 1.5 sacks.

Logan Hall was added in free agency after four years with the Bucs.

Hall was never more than a rotational player in Tampa, but that is all he needs to be for the Texans as they look to replace the versatility offered by Denico Autry — Hall can also push outside to defensive end.

Togiai is coming off a great season, and Houston obviously brought back Rankins for a reason.

Still, it does seem like the Texans could use one more quality addition to the defensive tackle group.

Edge Defenders

1. Will Anderson Jr.
2. Danielle Hunter
3. Dylan Horton
4. Dominique Robinson
5. Xavier Thomas
6. Solomon Byrd

The Texans finished second in pressure rate (42.2%) last season, notching 47 sacks (7th).

Houston has one of the best pass-rushing duos in the league with Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter.

Anderson led qualified pass rushers in pressure rate (21.0%) last season while recording 12 sacks.

Hunter finished seventh in pressure rate (17.7%) while getting 15 sacks (3rd).

Anderson just signed an extension, and Hunter is under contract through 2027.

Hunter will turn 32 in October, but he has shown zero signs of decline.

A 2023 fourth-round pick, Dylan Horton only has 0.5 sacks through three seasons and has never played more than 250 snaps on defense.

He did post the best pressure rate of his career last season, though, so perhaps there is more there.

The Texans also added Dominique Robinson in free agency, who also posted his best numbers last year.

It seems ridiculous to call edge rusher a need given what is at the top of the depth chart, but the Texans probably could use more depth here, and there are not many other holes on the roster.

That depth could come by signing a veteran (or maybe bringing back Derek Barnett), but getting a young player to sit behind Hunter makes some sense.

Linebacker

1. Azeez Al-Shaair
2. Henry To’oTo’o
3. E.J. Speed
4. Jake Hansen
5. Marte Mapu
6. Jake Hummel
7. Jamal Hill

With E.J. Speed returning, the Texans have their primary snap takers at linebacker returning for 2026.

Azeez Al-Shaair and Henry To’oTo’o were the primary starters last year, with Speed filling that No. 3 role.

Al-Shaair was not as impactful against the run as he has been in the past, but he was still a quality starter who excelled in coverage (5.2 yards per target allowed).

The only real concern in this group is that Al-Shaair is headed into a contract season.

The Texans likely want to work out an extension with their primary starter, but they could also look to add a rookie just in case the price gets out of hand.

Cornerback

1. Derek Stingley Jr.
2. Kamari Lassiter
3. Jalen Pitre
4. Jaylin Smith
5. Tremon Smith
6. Ja’Marcus Ingram
7. Ajani Carter
8. Alijah Huzzie

Houston also excelled against the pass in 2025, allowing 6.5 yards per attempt (7th) and finishing second in EPA allowed per pass attempt.

Like at linebacker, all of their primary snap takers are back.

Derek Stingley has earned first-team All-Pro honors the last two seasons.

He has allowed just a 55.1 quarterback rating in his coverage through four seasons.

Kamari Lassiter made the Pro Bowl in his second season, finishing 34th among qualified corners in yards allowed per coverage snap.

He was also a playmaker against the run, finishing second among all defensive backs in run stuffs.

Jalen Pitre is nominally a safety, but he has been the primary slot corner for the last two seasons and has absolutely shone in that role

The question here is depth.

Houston did spend a third-round pick on Jaylin Smith last year, but he obviously did not get much of a chance with the talent ahead of him on the depth chart.

Adding more experienced depth could make sense, but Houston obviously is not going to find that in the draft.

A veteran addition over the summer makes a lot more sense.

Safety

1. Calen Bullock
2. Reed Blankenship
3. Jaylen Reed
4. M.J. Stewart
5. Kaevon Merriweather

Calen Bullock is another massive draft hit for the Texans in the secondary, and like Lassiter, also made his first Pro Bowl in his second season.

The Texans did need someone to play next to Bullock, and they got that by adding Reed Blankenship in free agency.

Blankenship has been a key player for the Eagles’ excellent defense, but he did give up some plays in coverage last year, allowing a 100.5 quarterback rating.

Jaylen Reed struggled with injuries as a rookie, and he did not fare great in coverage, but he did start in the playoffs.

M.J. Stewart is experienced depth despite being more of a special teams contributor.

Houston has likely made their move here by signing Blankenship, and Jalen Pitre is also a safety by name who can help out as needed.

It never hurts to have a little more depth, but the Texans look fine at safety.

2026 Depth Chart Analysis & Team Needs for All 32 NFL Teams