With free agency underway, the Houston Texans have made moves to better the 12-win roster.
Internally, Houston extended names like defensive end Danielle Hunter, offensive lineman Ed Ingram and tight end Dalton Schultz. On the trade market, the Texans added a bruiser runner in Detroit Lions starter David Montgomery. And on the open market, they bolstered up the defense with additions in defensive lineman Logan Hall and safety Reed Blankenship, along with securing another option on the offensive line with tackle Braden Smith.
So, whee does Houston turn in the draft with four picks in the top 70?
Pro Football Focus’ Max Chadwick went through the Texans’ first three picks to find the best fits for the team heading into a pivotal 2026 season. At pick No. 28, Houston upgraded the right tackle position long-term by targeting Clemson’s Blake Miller.
“The Texans have needs all over their offensive line after finishing with the 10th-worst PFF pass-blocking grade in the league in 2025,” Chadwick wrote. “Miller is a fantastic athlete who started every game of his college career as Clemson’s right tackle, tallying 70.0-plus PFF overall grades in all four years.”
Adding Miller would present a solid run blocker with plug-and-play experience on the right side, which could be considered an upgrade over Alabama offensive tackle Kaydn Proctor or Oregon offensive lineman Emmanuel Pregnon, two names likely set to either play left tackle or left guard. With his addition, the likely plan for now would be for Houston to shift Smith inside to guard, thus letting veteran Trent Brown start at right tackle before eventually being overthrown by Miller.
Smith, who spent eight seasons at right tackle, was previously an All-American guard at Auburn for four seasons.
Shoring up the right side of the line would also allow the Texans to perhaps target a guard or center in the later rounds. That’s what Chadwick has Houston doing at pick No.59 with the selection of Auburn center Connor Lew. As for pick No. 38, the Texans secure a long-term name on the defensive side of the trenches with Texas Tech lineman Lee Hunter.
Both Hunter and Lew fill positions in need of long-term stability. The latter could have been a potential Day 1 pick if a torn ACL hadn’t limited him to six games last season at Auburn. As for Hunter, he was the anchor of a defensive line that ranked No. 1 in run defense last season for the Red Raiders amid a run to a Big 12 title appearance.
With pick No. 67, Chadwick has Houston adding more depth to the running back room with the selection of Arkansas’ Mike Washington Jr. No one gained more ground in their position last month at the combine than Washington, who averaged 5.0 yards per carry for his career between stops at Buffalo, New Mexico State and Arkansas.
To check the entire mock draft, click the link here.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans still address offensive line needs in PFF’s new 3-round mock
Reporting by Cole Thompson, Texans Wire / Texans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
