2026 NFL Draft

jch1911 · Feb 11, 2026 at 4:03 PM

Shark44 said: ↑

I must a missed your post. Sorry, not trying to steal your discovery.
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No worries! You a real one!

Shark44 · Feb 11, 2026 at 4:26 PM

K9Texan said: ↑

I love your picks but I don't think we're getting all those awesome dudes!
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Agree! Love at #28 was too good to be true, but couldn't resist making the choice.

K9Texan · Feb 11, 2026 at 5:02 PM

Shark44 said: ↑

Agree! Love at #28 was too good to be true, but couldn't resist making the choice.
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I'll smoke to that!

raining threes · Feb 11, 2026 at 8:38 PM

Buck Turgidson said: ↑

Lee Hunter whipped up on him pretty good in that playoff game. Lee Hunter whipped up on a lot of guys last year though.
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1-28 Lee Hunter DT Texas Tech

sydmill · Feb 11, 2026 at 9:53 PM

My entire draft strategy at this point would hinge on re-signing Ed ****ing Ingram. Who would have thought???

Rockets34Legend · Feb 12, 2026 at 9:22 AM

Round 1, Pick 28: Monroe Freeling, OT - Georgia

Analysis: Freeling has the resume befitting of a first round draft prospect. He’s 6’7, has two+ years of starting experience at Georgia, and played both left and right tackle. His True Pass Set Blocking Grade from PFF is an exquisite 74.1 and his long frame offers extremely high upside at the next level. However, he must refine and coordinate his hand placement and footwork before taking over the starting role.

He’ll slot in at right tackle and should be Houston’s starting tackle for the next decade. He does have hiccups on tape where speed to power rushers blast through his frame, but his upside and athleticism offer high-end potential out of a late first-round pick.

Freeling is a better zone blocker than power and duo blocker, which is where the Texans trended later in the season. Whether the Texans prioritize the player or the system will impact who Houston selects at 28.

Freeling is a better zone blocker than power and duo blocker, which is where the Texans trended later in the season. Whether the Texans prioritize the player or the system will impact who Houston selects at 28.

Round 2, Pick 38: A.J. Haulcy, S - LSU

The original pick was Lee Hunter, DT - Texas Tech, but recent mock drafts have him going late first round. Plus, picking DT this high goes against Nick Caserio’s draft patterns as he’s never selected an interior defensive lineman before the SIXTH ROUND (Roy Lopez, 2021).

Haulcy is my favorite player in the draft class. Haulcy is a deep lying play maker whose bone-crushing hits and ball production are among the best in the class. He is at his best triggering downhill to meet routes than turning and running down the field. He slots in next to Calen Bullock in the secondary and provides immediate impact on defense to round out a young, athletic, and physical defensive back room.

Round 2, Pick 59: Connor Lew, C - Auburn

In this mock (and in many more mock drafts to come), Houston doubles down on the offensive line early in the draft. This time, they land the top center on the board. Connor Lew’s mid-season ACL tear will drastically impact where teams have him on their draft board.

Lew’s width, athleticism, and leverage are elite. His ability to shift between DTs is profound and is a skill QB C.J. Stroud desperately needs in front of him. He needs to improve his positioning when facing bull rushes, but there’s enough instances of correct technique on tape to feel comfortable using a second round pick on him. Houston can roll the dice on an injured center due to his production and athletic profile with the anticipation he’ll over midseason.

Round 3, Pick 69: Domonique Orange, DT - Iowa State

Houston continues to address its needs on defense by selecting on of the largest players in the draft. Orange is bigger than Houston’s prototypical defensive tackle, but his ability to stack-and-shed is rare this late in the draft.

Orange was asked to play nose tackle in Iowa State’s 3-3-5 defense. This forced him to play both A gaps, which made him raise up out of his stance and expose his 6’4 frame to blockers. Houston will only ask Orange to defend in four-linemen formations, which should unlock his ability to penetrate and clog rushing lanes.

He immediately slots into the rotation and will play early downs as a high-end run stuffer who over time can incorporate more pass rush skills into his repertoire.

Round 4, Pick 106: Joe Royer, TE - Cincinnati

Houston misses out on a bevy of running back options between the third and fourth rounds. However, there is a goldmine of capable tight ends available to begin the fourth rounds.

Houston’s entire arsenal of tight ends enter the offseason injured. They need both a backup plan and long-term solution. They find that in TE Joe Royer.

Royer is a catch-first, block-second type of tight end, but his 6’5 frame lends itself to inline blocking duties. He’s a natural catcher with some of the better after the catch skills in this class. Houston can integrate him into their red zone offense immediately and add another weapon to this offense.

Round 4, Pick 128: Trey Moore, LB - Texas

Trey Moore transitioned from defensive end to linebacker in 2025 and struggled in coverage, but presents an alluring athletic profile to develop. As a pass rusher, he bends around offensive tackles well to pursue the QB. He lacks the raw power to push through larger blockers, which necessitated the move to LB in his second year in Austin. As a LB, he’s better in man than zone as he looks lost falling back into a landing spot.

Houston adds depth at both DE and LB with the Spring Branch, Texas native. Moore could use a year backing up Henry To’oTo’o before making the transition to full-time linebacker. Whether Moore can learn to drop back into coverage will dictate his career trajectory at the next level.

Round 5, Pick 165: Mike Washington Jr., RB - Arkansas

Washington’s stock is rising and may be out of range by April, but for now he presents great value as a first and second down bruising back. At 6’2”, 220 pounds, Mike Washington Jr. is a fifth-year senior with previous stops in Buffalo and New Mexico State. He had a breakout campaign with the Razorbacks, rushing for over 1,000 yards and hauling in 28 catches.

He carries his large frame well and is a pure downhill rusher. He ran primarily outside zone and dive at Arkansas which should fit in well in Houston’s scheme. Washington needs to add a cutback move and counter to his repertoire and he’ll be ready to rotate in at the next level.

Round 7, Pick 243: Josh Moten, CB - Southern Miss

Houston rarely takes players with a litany of legal issues. Moten was arrested three times at Texas A&M between February 2021 and December 2022. However, Moten has been clean since transferring to Marshall and Southern Miss, where he was among the best cornerbacks in the Sun Belt in 2025.

I could see Moten moving inside to guard slot receivers with his mirroring skills and ability to turn and run.

11 career interceptions and 21 pass breakups is worth the seventh round flier. Houston could use the depth at CB and he’ll be in a room with enough big personalities to deter any misconduct off the field.

Round 7, Pick 244: Mason Reiger, DE - Wisconsin

Reiger’s catastrophic knee injury in 2024 derailed his entire senior year. He is already 23, but possesses high potential as he further recovers from his injury. His performance at the East-West Shrine Bowl indicates his pass rush acumen, something extremely valuable this late in the draft. At 6’5, 250 pounds, he has the frame to play DE at the next level and could find his way onto the roster if Houston fails to re-sign Denico Autry or Derek Barnett.

With this haul, Houston adds two immediate starters in Freeling and Haulcy, two players who should start mid-season in Lew and Orange, and a host of depth pieces to help bolster the roster.
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K9Texan · Feb 12, 2026 at 9:35 AM

BattleRedBlog dude is on some powerful hallucinegens, although I do like his 1st and 3rd picks.

zeeshan2 · Feb 12, 2026 at 11:22 AM

Blatz · Feb 12, 2026 at 11:49 AM

zeeshan2 said: ↑

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I would like to hear one of them for the Texans on draft night. I'm leaning more towards Iheanachor and then later, a center like Slaughter.

Tomorrow I may be back on the Dunker ticket.

zeeshan2 · Feb 12, 2026 at 12:03 PM

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