The Houston Texans are set to make the 28th pick in the 2026 Pride of Detroit Community Mock Draft, with various directions possible for their selection. The Texans aim to remain competitive in the AFC South against teams like the Jacksonville Jaguars and Indianapolis Colts.
AUSTIN, TEXAS - DECEMBER 21: Blake Miller #78 of the Clemson Tigers runs off the field after the Playoff First Round Game against the Texas Longhorns at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on December 21, 2024 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Jack Gorman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
AUSTIN, TEXAS - DECEMBER 21: Blake Miller #78 of the Clemson Tigers runs off the field after the Playoff First Round Game against the Texas Longhorns at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on December 21, 2024 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Jack Gorman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Houston Texans are on the clock in our 2026 Pride of Detroit Community Mock Draft, and it feels like they could go in a million different directions. Long gone are the days in which the Texans were a forgotten franchise in a pitiful division. The AFC South is suddenly competitive, and the Texans need to keep pace with a Jacksonville Jaguars team that may finally be figuring things out and an Indianapolis Colts team that looked like a true competitor before injuries completely derailed them in 2025.
In our mock, the Texans are represented by commenter BigJShaky, and theyâre ready to make their pick at 28 overall.
Before we get to the selection, head to our 2026 Pride of Detroit Community Mock Draft tracker. There youâll find the previous 27 picks, along with links to each article and a grade for each pick, as decided by you, the readers. Donât forget to cast your vote for each pick with the poll at the bottom of the articles.
Now, onto this pick:
With the 28th pick in the 2026 Pride of Detroit Community Mock Draft, the Houston Texans select Blake Miller, offensive tackle out of Clemson.
Hereâs BigJShaky explaining the pick:
The good news⊠the Houston Texans have made it to three-straight divisional games in the playoffs! The bad news⊠the Texans have lost all three of those games. In fact, the Texans are the only NFL team to never have reached a conference championship game. Whoops. Here are Houstonâs team needs that can potentially get them over that round two hump amidst an improving AFC South division.
Offensive line â After finishing 2025 with a 30th ranked pass-block win rate, a major OL overhaul is needed. That process has started with two free agent additionsâguard Wyatt Teller and tackle Braden Smithâalong with the re-signing of guard Ed Ingram, but long-term answers are still needed.
Defensive tackle â The Texans may boast the best duo of edge players in the league, but the interior of the d-line features Sheldon Rankins and ⊠Tommy Togiai? Naquon Jones?  Help.
Cornerback â Much like at edge, the Texans have an incredible CB duo in Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter. Beyond those stellar starters, the depth is thin.
With several of the top-ranked DT and CB players already off the board, this draft points nicely toward offensive line for Houston. Although the Texansâ biggest need may be on the interior (especially with stalwart Juice Scruggs now in Detroit [sarcasm font]), the top ranked offensive line player on our board is Clemsonâs Blake Miller.
Millerâs strengths lie in his tenacity, run blocking, and toughness. His addition at right tackle could help open lanes for David Montgomery and improve a rushing success rate that ranked 31st in 2025.  NFL Mediaâs Daniel Jeremiah notes that âMiller has the ideal profile for a starting NFL right tackle,â ranking Blake 19th on his big board. Todd McShay of The Ringer ranks Miller 15th, highlighting the OT as âan aggressive downfield blocker who overpowers defenders in space.â At pick 28, weâre excited about the value of this selection.
In Houston, Miller may not start immediately given the addition of Braden Smith. That said, Smith has played right guard in the past and could slide inside. Either way, Smith was just signed on a two-year deal, so a long-term answer is needed. Millerâs durability and dependability should help with the ongoing overhaul of the Texansâ weakest unit. Could that mean finally getting beyond playoff round two?
Time to grade the pick. Vote in the poll below and share your expanded thoughts in the comment section:
Q&A
Who are the Houston Texans competing against in the AFC South?
The Houston Texans are competing against the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC South.
What is the significance of the 28th pick in the 2026 mock draft for the Texans?
The 28th pick is crucial for the Texans as it allows them to strengthen their roster and keep pace with competitive teams in their division.
Who is representing the Texans in the 2026 Pride of Detroit Community Mock Draft?
The Texans are represented by commenter BigJShaky in the 2026 Pride of Detroit Community Mock Draft.
How can fans participate in the mock draft voting process?
Fans can participate in the mock draft voting process by casting their votes for each pick using the poll at the bottom of the articles linked in the draft tracker.
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