Houston Texans Could Be The First Team In The 2026 NFL Draft To Take A Leap On Defense

Houston Texans Could Be The First Team In The 2026 NFL Draft To Take A Leap On Defense

The Houston Texans have been one of the most successful franchises over the last several seasons in the NFL, and General Manager Nick Caserio is looking to put the finishing touches on a Super Bowl-contending roster. Most fans would expect the Texans to address the offensive side of the ball during the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, but the Texans have a couple of options to consider.

It is no secret that the pass protecting and running game has been subpar for the Texans over the last two years. However, Houston addressed the offensive line a good amount in free agency that the organization can probably wait until its second round picks to address it again. Houston holds the 28th overall pick in the first round, and picking a defensive tackle should be something that is on the table.

The defensive tackle class in 2026 is not extremely impressive, and Houston could be the first team to consider drafting a player at the position. Houston needs depth and youth at the position, which is a problem that has been covered up due to how dominant the defense has been.

ESPN draft analysts Matt Miller, Field Yates, and Jordan Reid all contributed their thoughts to an article on Friday morning, and a variety of topics were discussed. One of which was which defensive tackle would be the first off of the board, and they all said the same name: Kayden McDonald out of Ohio State. And, the Texans could be the team to take him, "Just 21 years old, he had remarkable on-ball production for a nose tackle with 65 tackles, three sacks and nine tackles for loss. The arrow is pointing up on him enough in terms of potential that we might see a team grab him late in the first round. The last year without any first-round defensive tackle picks was 2021."

McDonald was one of the best players on a dominant Ohio State defense in 2025, and now he is poised to be the first defensive tackle off of the board during the 2026 NFL Draft. Houston could grab him at 28, especially with the expected run on offensive lineman that is supposed to happen prior to the franchise's selection.

Fans might be upset that the pick is not on the offensive side of the ball, but the Texans would still be addressing a current need while setting the team up for the future by drafting McDonald.