Fair or unfair, theHouston Texans should be looking at theNFL draft entering November.
Sitting at 2-5 and off to the bye week, Houston's nowhere near close to winning a Lombardi Trophy. The Texans are closer to the No. 1 overall pick than they are to a postseason berth. So much for an elite defense carrying the way while an offense just has to be middle of the pack for success.
Even if the Texans get the season back on track, their plans to win the whole thing are out the door. So, is it time for Houston to begin preparing for the 2027 season, ridding itself of bad contracts and finding some young, promising options to build around in the future?
Looking around the mock draft world, it's important to remember that some prospects could decide to head
back to school and others could surprisingly declare early. Also, just because a player is looking promising today doesn't mean they'll be a great fit when on the clock in April. Not to mention, the entire draft plan could change with the firing of a coach or executive, along with the location of the draft pick.
Currently, the Texans are projected to select eighth overall. Who do they target?
Let's go through some of the top mock drafts and determine which position is best for the struggling AFC South franchise.
ESPN's Field Yates: Texas OT Trevor Goosby
From Yates:"It's important to say that I am bullish on the Texans picking much later than this, as they're coming off back-to-back wins against AFC South opponents. But you are what your record says you are, and this is how it presently shakes out. Houston's offensive line has been a multi-year project to get right, which included selecting LT Aireontae Ersery and LG Keylan Rutledge early in the past two drafts. Goosby and LSU's Jordan Seaton are among the top offensive tackles in this class. But I'm giving Goosby a narrow edge in this scenario for his standout run blocking and overall power."
CBS Sports' Josh Edwards: South Carolina DE Dylan Stewart
From Edwards:"Similar to Washington, Houston has greater needs than a pass rusher. In this situation, they would likely entertain offers to trade down, which would allow them to further address the offensive line. As it stands, they construct an elite pass rush trio and bring in the heir apparent to Danielle Hunter. There was consideration for Indiana wide receiver Charlie Becker, but the franchise has invested so much into that position that it was a non-starter unless they move Nico Collins at the trade deadline."
Sports Illustrated's Gilberto Manzano: LSU OT Jordan Seaton
From Manzano: "This is a no-brainer for the Texans and a great chance to land one of the top two tackles. Expect to hear fierce debates about who’s the better prospect between Goosby and Seaton as we get closer to the draft. They’re both very good, but Seaton offers more athleticism as a 6'5", 307-pound agile lineman. Seaton can take over Houston’s right tackle spot, which has gone back and forth between Braden Smith and Trent Brown this season."
PFN's Jacob Infante: LSU OT Jordan Seaton
From Infante: "A former five-star recruit at Colorado, Jordan Seaton is in good hands after transferring to LSU this offseason. He had some rough patches early in his collegiate career, but his play evened out down the stretch in 2025, and he’s off to a fantastic start in 2026. He has prototypical size and length for an offensive tackle, showcasing ideal physicality and tremendous mobility for someone who was listed at 330 pounds."
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans mock draft round-up: Houston locked in on OT inside top 10
