POD Community Mock: With the 28th pick, the Texans select…

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 they’re 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 you’ll find the previous 27 picks, along with links to each article and a grade for each pick, as decided by you, the readers. Don’t 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.

Here’s 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 Houston’s team needs that can potentially get them over that round two hump amidst an improving AFC South division.

• Offensive line – 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 additions—guard Wyatt Teller and tackle Braden Smith—along with the re-signing of guard Ed Ingram, but long-term answers are still needed.
• Defensive tackle – 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 – 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 Texans’ 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 Clemson’s Blake Miller.

Miller’s 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 Media’s Daniel Jeremiah notes that “Miller has the ideal profile for a starting NFL right tackle,” ranking Blake 19th on his big board.  Todd McShay of The Ringer ranks Miller 15th, highlighting the OT as “an aggressive downfield blocker who overpowers defenders in space.”  At pick 28, we’re 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.  Miller’s durability and dependability should help with the ongoing overhaul of the Texans’ 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: