2026 NFL Draft Grades: Houston Texans

The major concern was on that offensive line, which just underwent yet another makeover. Out went Tytus Howard and Juice Scruggs, in came Braden Smith, Wyatt Teller and Evan Brown. That's definitely an improvement, especially with left tackle Airontae Ersery now having a full year of experience under his belt, but is it enough? It's a crucial year for C.J. Stroud's future as he and the Texans approach extension talks, so making sure he has a firm pocket was, in my eyes, the No. 1 objective coming into the draft. And Keylan Rutledge is pro-ready with 43 career starts, and he amazingly allowed just two sacks over that entire time.

The pick I really liked came shortly after Round 2 began. The big, bad Texans defense got scarier. For all of Rutledge's experience, Kayden McDonald was the opposite. He didn't start until 2025, but you wouldn't know it from the tape. It was a big breakout campaign, with 67 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 17 run stops and three sacks. He's a powerful 326-pounder, but he can move. Sheldon Rankins is occupying the middle, but there's room for McDonald to see meaningful snaps in the Texans' 4-3 defense.

The rest of the picks were a little confusing, at least in terms of value. I was shocked to hear Marlin Klein's name in Round 2. I didn't have him in the top 150, and he was the ninth-best tight end on my board (I split out halfbacks into a different position list, so he's even lower if you combine them). Klein caught 38 career passes, and he needs to work on his blocking. He's a good developmental prospect, but I didn't understand going this early on him when Oscar Delp, Justin Joly, Eli Raridon and Max Klare were all there (and other needs existed).

Not sexy. But good teams invest in the trenches, where the Texans took G Keyland Rutledge at the back of Round 1 and DT Kayden McDonald at the top of Round 2. Hard to shade reinforcements for the league's No. 1 defense in 2025 and a blocker who might add a charge to a perennially average (at best) running game that needs to do a lot more to support QB C.J. Stroud. (And, on that front, swapping a fourth-round pick as the primary currency in March's trade for RB David Montgomery seems eminently wise.)

Best Pick: It was their first one, guard Keylan Rutledge. Most will say he was overdrafted, but I loved the way he played. He will add toughness to a line that needed help inside.

Worst Pick: I didn't love the pick of tight end Marlin Klein in the second. There were better tight end options on the board.

The Skinny: By taking Rutledge and defensive tackle Kayden McDonald with their first two picks, the Texans got better on both lines. They got meaner, too. Fifth-round safety Kamari Ramsey is an interesting player as well.

It is funny how certain teams adopt the mentality of their head coach, and the Texans certainly are doing that with top picks Keylan Rutledge and Kayden McDonald playing with the same tenacity and physicality that helped former linebacker DeMeco Ryans star in the NFL. Both have the look of longtime franchise anchors. I'm just not so sure the Texans got optimum value with their next few picks — Michigan tight end Marlin Klein, Oklahoma guard Febechi Nwaiwu and Clemson linebacker Wade Woodaz. But I do like the versatility and instincts of USC safety Kamari Ramsey to lead off the fifth round — my favorite of Houston's five Day 3 selections.

Kayden McDonald was one of my favorite players in this draft. The Texans have a Super Bowl-caliber defense and now they add a force to the trenches of it to make everyone's life easier around him.

Rutledge went a little earlier than I expected, but he is a brawler in the run game and has a knack for getting under his opponent's skin. Febechi Nwaiwu went from walk-on at North Texas to a four-year starter. He has the mentality, build and strength to provide real depth at guard.

The German-born Marlin Klein continued the trend of this draft of teams reaching on tight ends. He was an interesting developmental prospect because of his size, but I'm floored he was taken with a top 75 pick.

Aiden Fisher lacks speed and length but always seems to punch above his weight with instincts and awareness. One of him or Woodaz will work out not only on special teams, but potentially for an early down role over time.

Here's why: Houston made an unorthodox pick in Keylan Rutledge at the bottom of the first round, but he makes sense as a hard-nosed player who fits in the Texans' blocking scheme. They made what could be the home run pick of the draft when they traded up early in the second round to take Ohio State nose tackle Kayden McDonald, who has an incredible amount of playmaking and skill for a bigger nose tackle. Wade Woodaz in the fourth round is a nice project for DeMeco Ryans to get his hands on as well as the Texans look for a new impact player at linebacker.

Most interesting pick: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State

This guy was made in a lab to play for this defense. Not only does he already have elite run defending skills, he can legitimately be an attacker into the backfield and has pass rush potential at 330 pounds. He is the perfect player to play alongside Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter on the interior, and his upside in this scheme is through the damn roof.

The Texans really leaned into their identity of toughness in this draft. First-rounder Keylan Rutledge is a road-grading brawler who can immediately contribute at any of the three interior offensive line spots, providing a massive boon not only for C.J. Stroud but also for the team's sub-par run game. Houston turned around in the second and traded up for defensive tackle Kayden McDonald, a stonewall run defender who holds his ground and mucks up opposing offensive plans. He should play on early downs right away, and he brings the upside to develop as an interior pass rusher as well. The rest of the Texans draft looks to be made up of developmental depth options; Marlin Klein is a raw but athletic tight end who could work his way into the team's rotation down the line, and Febechi Nwaiwu gives the team more depth on the line. All in all, Rutledge and McDonald make up the beef of this class, both literally and figuratively, but Houston may need to wait a few years to see returns on the rest of their picks.

Analysis: Houston continued to upgrade its offensive line in the draft, selecting Rutledge and Nwaiwu after signing tackle Braden Smith and guard Wyatt Teller in free agency. The Texans also got a steal in McDonald, who should anchor their interior defensive line for years as a run-stuffer. This was a meat-and-potatoes draft that upgraded the trenches for both units.