Th-th-th-th-that’s all folks. For the Houston Texans, their 2026 NFL Draft has come to an end.
If you haven’t watched all seven rounds of the draft, like a lunatic or a football blogger, then allow me to show you who the Texans came away from the Draft with along with a brief rundown on each player.
Day One
Round 1 (26) – Keylan Rutledge; OL Georgia Tech
Overview
Rutledge is a burly, experienced right guard with excellent contact pop and a rugged field demeanor that will appeal to offensive line coaches. He excels as
a drive/combo blocker, where he displaces defenders, but he has the athleticism to operate in all run-blocking concepts. He understands technique but suffers from occasional rough patches due to inconsistent balance and body control. His pass protection range is average, and edge leakage could be a concern against NFL athletes. Rutledge has the toughness to earn a role as a good backup with starting potential.
Day Two
Round 2 (36) – Kayden McDonald; DT Ohio State
Overview
A talented run defender, McDonald plays with natural leverage and rattles pads with his initial contact. He’s quick to locate ball-carriers, play off of blocks and rally to the action. His technique is a bit underdeveloped and he’s not a natural drain-clogger against double teams, but he still managed an unusually high tackle rate as an interior defender. Quicker hand strikes should allow for more efficient reps and earlier wins at the point. He offers limited rush value, so his money will be made by giving grief to centers and guards as an even-front nose tackle with starting potential.
Round 2 (59) – Marlin Klein; TE Michigan
Overview
German-born prospect with average athleticism in space but above-average grit at the point. Klein’s tape shouldn’t be viewed as a finished product considering his relative lack of game experience in the sport. He needs to block with inside hands but displays a sturdy core and strong hands to do his job in-line. He builds speed with long strides and will catch what is provided. More muscle mass is needed, but Klein has a chance to become a Day 3 pick as a backup “Y” tight end.
Day Three
Round 4 (106) – Febechi Nwaiwu; G Oklahoma
Overview
Nwaiwu is reliably active with good length. After a bumpy first season with the Sooners in 2024, he displayed improvement in both phases. He centers opponents in front of him to stay connected and uses good technique to displace down-block targets. However, he is inconsistent finding his foe on move blocks. Chronic leaning and slow initial hand strikes can render his massive wingspan useless against two-gappers and in pass protection. Nwaiwu’s snaps at center offer a peek into what might be his best spot, but his position flexibility is a positive regardless.
Round 4 (123) – Wade Woodaz; LB Clemson
Overview
Two-year starter who punches in and goes to work but fails to stamp games with high-level impact. Woodaz has adequate size and diagnose quickness. However, he lacks base strength and take-on pop to keep himself clean through contact. He displays good awareness in zone drops and has enough man-cover talent to match with some pass-catching tight ends underneath. Woodaz needs to add strength, play faster and become more forceful in everything he does. He has a chance to develop into an average backup Will linebacker, but his work on special teams is what will get him on the field early on.
Round 5 (141) – Kamari Ramsey; S USC
Overview
Versatile safety prospect with solid size. Ramsey saw a heavier workload at nickelback in 2025 after splitting time at all three safety spots in 2024. He plays with average eyes in space and good break anticipation when matched up in man. He was adequate covering the slot in college but might not have enough short-area burst and athleticism to do the same in the pros. He needs to close downhill in run support with greater urgency when playing from depth. His tackle-finishing saw a massive improvement in 2025, but with multiple games missed in consecutive seasons, Ramsey’s draft stock could take a hit due to durability concerns.
Round 6 (204) – Lewis Bond; WR Boston College
Overview
Hard-hat possession receiver who has delivered with consistency for three consecutive seasons. Bond shines with natural ball skills highlighted by plus catch focus and sure hands to routinely win contested catch battles. Finding separation as a pro will be a challenge. He’s not shifty enough to beat a pro press and doesn’t have the speed or suddenness to break free from sticky man coverage. He might need pre-snap motion or bunch formations to get rolling. Bond will find his best chance with teams who covet pro-caliber ball skills over separation traits.
Round 7 (243) – Aiden Fisher; LB Indiana
Overview
Fisher is a Mike linebacker who can run the defense as an extension of his coordinator. He’s well-built with leadership and football character that are praised by teammates and coaches. Fisher has the instincts and feel of an NFL player but lacks the needed quickness and athletic ability. He reads play designs and gets to the action at a high rate, but a lack of range, cover talent and plus open-field tackling will make the NFL jump challenging.
And there you have it. Three days and seven picks turned into eight new Texans.
So what do you think? Is this the class that’s going to put the Texans over the top? What was your favorite/least favorite pick on the day? Let us know in the comments section!
