How close are the Houston Texans to being a legitimate threat for a Super Bowl run?
After the first 12-win campaign since 2012, the Texans made sure to cross off all question marks headed into the 2026 season. They added depth to the defense with names like defensive back Reed Blankenship, defensive tackle Logan Hall and defensive end Dominque Robinson. They fortified the run game by trading for Lions starter David Montgomery and bulked up the offensive line by grabbing offensive tackle Braden Smith and interior lineman Wyatt Teller.
The Texans aren’t in a position to land a big-time prospect come the draft, but they still have enough draft compensation to feel content about the roster as a whole. General manager Nick Caserio is also known for making trades, so don’t be surprised if Houston is willing to push itself down the pecking order to land players who can help the franchsie win not just now, but also long-term.
Knowing Caserio’s draft strategy and the approach to the offseason, ESPN’s Ben Solak believes Houston has some wiggle room to play with when on the board. In his piece about how each team can ace the draft, Solak has several names that might be considered “risky picks” in the short-term, but potential boom players in the future if given the chance to hit their stride.
But the main thing? Solak believes the Texans should continue to build an offensive line that can be potent beyond 2026, mostly targeting an upgrade at center.
“The big issue is their offensive line. The Texans have had the 31st-ranked rushing attack (by EPA and success rate) since Stroud entered the league in 2023,” Solak wrote. “Once that improves, they’ll be able to control game pace and field position a lot better. The starting offensive line is technically set, 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.”
Hecht, Slaughter and Lew have all been mocked to the Texans by analysts in the past. None of the trio is expected to be a top-40 selection, but Lew and Hecht have been considered late Round 2 or early Round 3 options. Given that Houston has two selections among 10 spots, Houston could use one pick on either option.
Should the Texans wait, Parker, who started at three different positions with the Blue Devils, could be the name to watch for early on Day 3. Given that Houston still would trust Andrews to start Week 1, it’s possible a selection like Parker would be more so used in 2027 when the former is up for a new contract.
A name to watch for with the first of Houston’s two second-round picks is Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks. Solak believes he’s the ideal fit for the Texans’ defensive front, and could be a “sneaky” find for Houston this early on Day 2.
Among the top 70 picks, Solak brought up Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq and Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price. Neither would start Week 1, but given that Houston could be looking for a more youthful approach, both players could end up being the foundation for a future gamble that keeps the window open for several more years under DeMeco Ryans’ watch.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: ESPN analyst argues Texans to ‘take risk’ on several boom-or-bust options in draft
Reporting by Cole Thompson, Texans Wire / Texans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
