Draft season is upon us. With six picks in the first four rounds, Houston is going to fill some of its major holes this offseason. Namely, offensive and defensive line, safety, and running back. Pro Football Network’s Ian Cummings’ delivered one of the first 7-round mock drafts of the season. It helps set the stage for April’s draft and puts into context what Houston will be prioritizing.
Below is my analysis on the picks and grades for each selection, but you can find Cummings’ analysis and full
picks here. My final analysis is at the end wrapping up the class as if it were Houston’s true class.
Round 1, Pick 20: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
- Grade: A+
- Analysis: Love is the preeminent weapon in this year’s class. There’s no chance he’s around at pick 20… or even later considering Houston is 99% chance to make the playoffs. Love may be the safest bet to be a breakout star and focal point of the Texans offense for a decade. Make no mistake, this is the best-case scenario for Houston.
Round 2, Pick 39: Chase Bisontis, OG, Texas A&M
- Grade: C
- Analysis: A 6’5”, 315 pound guard is one of the best pass protectors in the nation, but lacks athleticism. Bisontis would be a reach at this point, which is unnecessary with Gennings Dunker, Austin Siereveld, or Blake Miller on the board. Bisontis has middling PFF grades, but should step in to take over Ed Ingram’s role at right guard immediately, even if he played on the left side.
Round 2, Pick 52: Isaiah World, OL, Oregon
- Grade: B+
- Analysis: World is an all-world, prototypical left tackle. At 6’8, 318 pounds, World has the attributes it takes to make it as a left tackle. Problem will be the transition to right tackle; World has only played RT 12 snaps in his career. World is a fairly good mover for his size and certainly is a developmental prospect with top-end potential.
Round 3, Pick 65: Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati
- Grade: A
- Analysis: Goldman has the prototypical frame for a modern day linebacker. His sideline to sideline range is what Houston needs in their linebackers. Outside of the two elite talents from Ohio State, Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles, Golday possesses the greatest athleticism in this class. He blitzes off the line, plays in the box, and helps guard in the slot. That versatility would be a world class fit in Houston’s defense.
Round 4, Pick 107, Sam Hecht, OC, Kansas State
- Grade: D
- Analysis: A tad overkill to draft a third lineman in five picks. Sam hits good run grades but average pass blocking grades. He’s a massive center at 6’4 with two years of starting experience at Kansas State. He did not face much elite talent in the Big 12 this year and will be interesting to see how he plays against stouter defenders who can get under his big frame at the Senior Bowl.
Round 4, Pick 120: Dae’Quan Wright, TE, Ole Miss
- Grade: C+
- Analysis: four years of production split between Virginia Tech and Ole Miss, Wright is an athlete playing tight end. More in the Brevin Jordan mold than Cade Stover, Wright played more in a seven-on-seven offense than a Shanahan-style system that Houston plays. In blocking, Wright was used as a weak-side blocker rather than a lead blocker. He’d be competing in a crowded room with Jordan, Stover, and Dalton Schultz.
Round 5, Pick 160: Nick Barrett, DT, South Carolina
- Grade: B
- Analysis: While Barrett is a quality choice this late, defensive tackle is a much bigger need than a fifth round pick can provide. Barrett had a transcendent senior year after an injury-filled junior year. He is well built, primarily an A-gap defender, and has improved his pass rush abilities his senior year.
ROund 6, Pick 205: Vincent Anthony Jr., EDGE, Duke
- Grade: C-
- Analysis: Vincent Anthony Jr. will be attending the East-West Shrine game and will be a major candidate to improve his draft stock as the winter continues. At 6’6”, he’s a third-down pass rusher only. An extremely low run defense grade, but quite productive as a wide-9 rusher. Houston needs more support on run defense to replace Derek Barnett and Dylan Horton eventually.
Round 7, Pick 235: Zane Durant, DT, Penn State
- Grade: C+
- Analysis: Man, they really wanted to address the defensive line at the end of this class… Durant spent four years at Penn State, but had a tumultuous senior year. He had four sacks in two-straight years as their starting B-gap technique DT. However, Houston has not had a good track record of successful, low-end defensive tackles (Marcus Harris and Kyonte Hamilton)
Overall Analysis
Once again, Houston will have an entirely new offensive line. Most likely, Bisontis and World will need to shift from the left side of the line to the right. That will take time and development, two things Houston isn’t great at utilizing. The addition of Love will bring a generational-talent to Houston for the first time since DeAndre Hopkins and take the pressure off Stroud to run the offense. Easily and unequivocally the steal of the 2026 NFL Draft.
On defense, Jake Golday is the key addition that will work his way into a starting role. He will need to fit in either as a situational rusher or full time linebacker. Where DeMeco Ryans puts him to start will in as intriguing as any development with this class.
The big issue is the lack of improvement the defensive line and secondary received. Three backup DTs don’t move the needle and will require Houston to find more free agent leaders. Zero additions to the secondary for the first time since 2021 will leave a sore spot open next to Calen Bullock. Hopefully the front office is relying on second-year Jaylen Reed to bounce back from his forearm injury.
