2026 NFL Draft

28. Houston Texans: DL Lee Hunter, Texas Tech

The automatic assumption is that the Houston Texans will start building around quarterback C.J. Stroud instead of investing in what's already a top-notch defense.

However, the Texans' current contract situations make the defensive interior a priority until proved otherwise.

Texas Tech nose tackle Lee Hunter played as well as anyone not named Fernando Mendoza during the recent College Football Playoff. He's not a traditional space-eater. Instead, the 320-pound defensive tackle can be a disruptive force as part of a defensive front that already unleashes hell on opposing backfields.

"While the Texans featured a strong defensive line this past season, starting defensive tackles Sheldon Rankins and Tim Settle are about to hit free agency," Holder said. "This pick maintains the Texans' defensive dominance.

"With Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter working the edges and Hunter up the middle, no team will be running on Houston's defense for the foreseeable future."

 

Depending on who's on the board I could get on board with this.

Sign Jamaree Salyer/Kolar in FA and draft Dunker at 2-38 and Price at 2-58 and the run game gets much better. Drafting Hunter would make the Texans have a terrifying DL. I also would bring back Rankins and maybe Settle too depending on the cost.

 

We might need to take Emanuel Pregnon at 28. I don't know that he'll be around at 38 and I believe he is an elite guard that will make an immediate impact in our OL.

Draft Buzz summary:

Pregnon's tape screams day-one contributor with the blend of power, hand technique, and consistent performance that franchises covet when constructing their interior offensive line for championship runs. Teams running gap or inside zone schemes will love his ability to generate movement and create running lanes, while his pass protection reliability provides the foundation to step into a starting role without needing the developmental patience most rookies require before seeing significant snaps. The adjustment to NFL speed and the power-finesse combination that league defensive tackles bring every down will test him early, but his anchor handles pure power beautifully and his hand usage provides legitimate counters when defenders try to speed rush his edges.

The best interior rushers in the world marry strength with suddenness that can exploit his hip stiffness on redirection moves, which will be the primary area requiring immediate refinement at the next level. His intelligence picking up games and stunts should translate once he adjusts to the heightened pace, though his lack of positional flexibility limits his versatility compared to guards who can swing to multiple spots. Still, pure guards who can anchor and move people carry premium value when they've proven it against top-shelf competition over nearly 3,000 career snaps like Pregnon has, and that experience matters when evaluating pro readiness.

This is a mauler who brings toughness, reliability, and legitimate starting ability at guard from the opening kickoff. His journey from unranked recruit to consensus All-American reflects both rare physical gifts and relentless development that should continue under NFL position coaches. He won't blow you away with athletic versatility or scheme flexibility across multiple spots, but he'll give you dependable, physical football that keeps your quarterback upright and your run game on schedule. That's the kind of foundational piece teams build their offensive line around, and why Pregnon will be a valuable addition to whichever franchise selects him.

 

Pregnon played well against lesser competition.

When he played against top tier talent against OSU/Indiana etc... he looked very avg. No way I spend 1-28 on him.

 

https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2026/...-field-yates-first-round-predictions-32-picks

 

Fwiw his PFF grades were solid against quality teams.

 

Lee Hunter whipped up on him pretty good in that playoff game. Lee Hunter whipped up on a lot of guys last year though.

 

I think Proctor would be great because I believe he can play guard this year but move to tackle next. I sure hope we re-sign Trent Brown.

 

Found a new mock draft site that I really like. I doubt Love last that long, but everything else seemed pretty accurate and I really like how it evaluates trades offered for you. Layout is easy to use as well. Give it a try... https://mockdrafthero.com/



EDIT: I actually chopped off pick #244--Tyren Montgomery, WR, John Carroll for Cas!

 

Won't happen.
There is no Jayden in there.

 

This would be a dream draft

 

I told y'all about that site!! Also, yeah... no way Love lasts that long... I almost guarantee Cowboys or Chiefs or Vikes jump on him if gets past 17

 

yeah I think you mentioned this site to me and I've been using it ever since.

 

I must a missed your post. Sorry, not trying to steal your discovery.

 

I love your picks but I don't think we're getting all those awesome dudes!

 

That's great for us! The combine is going to be critical for those guys!

 

FWIW, I believe this mock draft site to be the most realistic and it's free and it doesn't have all of the pop-up crap like other sites.

https://www.profootballnetwork.com/mockdraft