The Texans 2026 NFL Draft is a full week in the books. While most pundits grade the Texans’ class between a B and a C, its impact on the roster should not be understated. The Texans bolstered the linebacker room and offensive line while adding depth to almost every position group.
This post follows up on the Pre-Draft Depth Chart that was published several days before the draft. The roster is mostly set and now can the players can be sorted into positional tiers. These tiers set the stage for the each
player heading into Rookie Minicamp from May 7-9th.
For the below article. Players are broken into four tiers. Rookies are bolded. Undrafted rookies are bolded and italicized with their school in parenthesis.
The Tiers:
- Starter
- Core contributor
- Backup
- Competing for a roster spot:
Offense
Quarterback
- Starter: C.J. Stroud
- Backup: Davis Mills
- Competing for a roster spot: Graham Mertz
Running Back
- Starter: David Montgomery
- Core contributor: Woody Marks
- Depth: British Brooks
- Competing for a roster spot: Jawhar Jordan, Noah Whittington (Oregon), Josh Pitsenberger (Yale)
Analysis: Undrafted rookie Noah Whittington will compete for a roster spot with Jawhar Jordan. Whittington’s bowling ball mentality pairs well with the Texans downhill run game. His patience combine with gritty run style
Wide Receiver
- Starter: Nico Collins, Tank Dell, Jayden Higgins
- Core contributor: Jaylin Noel, Xavier Hutchinson
- hBackup: Lewis Bond
- Competing for a roster spot: Justin Watson, Jared Wayne, Josh Kelly, Treyvhon Saunders (Colgate), Daniel Sobkowicz (Illinois State)
Analysis: Plenty of storylines to be had in this position group. The competition between sixth-rounder Bond or veteran Justin Watson will be the most intense of this group. Regardless, all eyes will be on the health and wellness of Tank Dell. Plus, the development of second-year receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel will have a significant impact on how far the Texans can make it in 2026.
Tight End
- Starter: Dalton Schultz
- Core contributor: Foster Moreau, Brevin Jordan
- Backup: Cade Stover, Marlin Klein
- Competing for a roster spot: Luke Lachey, Lane Pryor
Analysis: This is an incredibly muddled group behind Schultz. Stover is coming off an injury in the AFC Divisional round. Brevin Jordan is coming off his second ACL surgery. Luke Lachey, last year’s seventh round pick, fits what the team wants but may lack the talent to break through.
I originally wrote: “If Houston adds another mid-round tight end, which is their M-O, they have to find a definitive role early to crack the roster”. That was fairly spot on as they selected Marlin Klien late in the second. It’s now a five-man race for three spots at tight end. If Jordan or Stover start the season on IR, that may be their ticket onto the roster down the line due to the additions of Moreau and Klein.
Offensive Line
- Starter: Aireontae Ersery, Wyatt Teller, Keylan Rutledge, Ed Ingram, Braden Smith
- Core contributor: Trent Brown, Blake Fisher
- Backup: Jake Andrews, Febechi Nwaiwu
- Competing for a roster spot: Jarrett Patterson, Evan Brown, Jarrett Kingston, Eli Cox, Sidy Sow, James Neal III (Iowa State)
Analysis: Houston will once again have to workshop their offensive line to assemble the best five lineman to protect C.J. Stroud. For now, Rutledge gets the nod at starting center.
At first glance, Rutledge is poised to take Jake Andrews’ starting job, while Nwaiwu steps into Jarrett Patterson’s backup role. Patterson was one of the biggest losers from the draft, as he went from potential starter to off the roster. If the interior offensive line breaks a certain way, both Patterson and Evan Brown could tumble from presumed starters to draft-driven roster casualties.
Defense
Defensive End
- Starter: Danielle Hunter, Will Anderson Jr.
- Core contributor: Dyaln Horton
- Backup: Dominique Robinson
- Competing for a roster spot: Solomon Byrd, Xavier Thomas, Sebastian Harsh (North Carolina State)
Analysis: While there were rumors of the Texans investing heavily in defensive end before the draft, that did not materialize. Defensive end is the one clear position Houston should upgrade after the draft. Dominique Robinson is not a sufficient replacement for both Denico Autry and Derek Barnett. There are plenty of veteran DEs available in free agency.
Defensive Tackle
- Starter: Kayden McDonald, Sheldon Rankins
- Core contributor:: Tommy Togiai
- Backup: Logan Hall
- Competing for a roster spot: Naquan Jones, Kyonte Hamilton, Junior Tafuna
Analysis: Seven players, four roster spots. Seems simple? Naquan Jones will certainly fight for a roster spot and performed valiantly down the stretch for the Texans in 2025. Kyonte Hamilton, last year’s seventh-round pick deserves a legitimate look as a rotational piece behind Rankins. What Logan Hall can bring to the table is versatility and scheme flexibility, but is it enough to earn a spot next to Togiai?
Linebacker
- Starter: Henry To’oTo’o, Azeez Al-Shaair
- Core contributor: E.J. Speed, Jake Hansen, Wade Woodaz
- Backup: Marte Mapu
- Competing for a roster spot: Jamal Hill, Jake Hummel, Aiden Fisher
Analysis: Like tight end, linebacker depth is a mess. This is arguably the deepest, most competitive room in all of the NFL. NINE. Linebackers are worthy of a roster spot. The Texans are three-deep at every LB spot. I guarantee you two, maybe three LBs from this group will make 53-man rosters on other teams.
Houston will have to balance experience against youth. Do they choose to carry special teams aces such as Hummel or Mapu, or do they prioritize developing rookies Woodaz and Fisher? Long-standing linebackers Jake Hansen and Jamal Hill played in 2025, but may not make the roster this time around.
Seventh-rounder Fisher can change quite a lot; a second rookie in the mix will absolutely force the Texans’ hand in who they keep. Ideally, they can stash him on the practice squad for the majority of the season and bring him along next year as a rotational piece.
Cornerback
- Starter: Kamari Lassiter, Derek Stingley Jr., Jalen Pitre
- Backups: Jaylin Smith, Tremon Smith, Alijah Huzzie
- Competing for a roster spot: Ajani Carter, Ja’Marcus Ingram, Brandon Codrington, Stephen Hall (Missouri)
Analysis: No “core contributors here as it’s clear who is starting and who is riding the pine in Houston.
Jaylin Smith is the second-biggest question mark on this team behind Tank Dell. If he’s ready to rock in 2026, the Texans don’t need to invest in this position. However, a mid-to-late round pick improves the immediate depth.
Another angle is the Texans acquiring depth behind Jalen Pitre. Without him, the defense loses its schematic flexibility, often forcing the coaching staff to completely alter their game plan.
Safety
- Starter: Calen Bullock, Reed Blankenship
- Core Contributor: Kamari Ramsey, M.J. Stewart
- Backup: Jaylen Reed
- Competing for a roster spot: Kaevon Merriweather, Collin Wright (Stanford)
Analysis: Based on Nick Caserio’s comments to the media, fourth-round rookie Ramsey projects to be a safety alongside Reed Blankenship. He should immediately push Stewart for a rotational role and special teams reps.
Reed stepped up more than anticipated in 2025 as sixth-round rookie and hopefully won’t be called upon as often this upcoming season. His role may be in jeopardy, but he can also fight to improve to a core contributor on this defense if he continues to improve his vision and contact at the point of attack.
