The 2026 NFL Draft has concluded, so it’s time to give out some grades. For the Texans, the goal here was to acquire cost-controlled assets at positions of need to offset the recent extensions of their premier defensive talent. It’s also clear that the team needs immediate contributors after once again falling short in the playoffs. The Texans realized this strategy, drafting help on the offensive line as well as the defensive tackle, linebacker, safety, wide receiver, and tight end positions.
Houston Texans NFL Draft Grades
First Round, 26th Overall – Keylan Rutledge, G, Georgia Tech
Rutledge is a very interesting evaluation in this spot for the Texans. They have made multiple additions to the offensive line group this offseason with two of them (Wyatt Teller and Evan Brown) coming at guard. The key here though is the one position they didn’t address – center. This is Rutledge’s most likely path to starting for Houston in 2026. Although he didn’t play center in college, he snapped for teams at the combine and is comfortable doing so in the NFL. At Georgia Tech, Rutledge was excellent, posting 75.0+ PFF grades for both pass and run blocking. The run is his specialty though as he consistently drives defenders back and uses his aggressiveness to finish strong. This is a good pickup for Houston at an area of need. However, getting cheaper at EDGE rusher may have been the better direction with how the board fell here. They also traded back 22 spots in the 3rd round to get this done, which feels like a lot.
Grade: B+
Keylan Rutledge NFL Draft Profile
Second Round, 36th Overall – Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
Kayden McDonald didn’t have to wait long to hear his name called after Round 1 concluded. This is as perfect of a fit as any for “McPounder” at the next level. The Texans already boast the best pass rushing duo in football with Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter, so focusing on run defense makes too much sense here. In terms of the cost, the Texans swapped picks with Las Vegas here and also moved back from the late 3rd round (91st overall) into the early 4th round (117th overall). Another pretty steep trade down, but this fit and value is too good to worry too much about the price.
Grade: A
Kayden McDonald NFL Draft Profile
Second Round, 59th Overall – Marlin Klein, TE, Michigan
For the first time in this draft, Nick Caserio decided to stick and pick. Marlin Klein factors in as another backup in the tight end room, joining Cade Stover in that regard behind Dalton Schultz. This is the best role for him considering his college experience, as he has limited experience as a starter. He has ideal size for the position and good athleticism, so perhaps there is something to tap into here. Despite that though, a developmental backup in round 2 is a little rich for a team with Super Bowl aspirations.
Grade: C
Marlin Klein NFL Draft Profile
Fourth Round, 106th Overall – Febechi Nwaiwu, G, Oklahoma
The offensive line movement continued in Houston, this time with Oklahoma’s Febechi Nwaiwu. Nwaiwu is a phenomenal pass blocker, grading out at 91.6 in 2025 per PFF. The opposite is true for run blocking, as he only had a 59.4 grade. He struggled when pulling and as a zone blocker in college. This checks out with his athletic testing as well, as he only ran a 5.35 40-yard dash at his pro day. He’s a good backup option for Houston though considering he excels at an important part of his position.
Grade: B-
Febechi Nwaiwu NFL Draft Profile
Fourth Round, 123rd Overall – Wade Woodaz, LB, Clemson
Linebacker depth was an underrated need for the Texans coming into this draft. They addressed it here with Wade Woodaz from Clemson. Mentally, Woodaz is as good as you can get on Day 3. He diagnoses run plays very well and is excellent in coverage, posting grades of over 73.0 in the last three seasons. The caveat is his physicality, as he needs to add more strength to his 6’3″ frame in order to beat blocks and finish plays. The Texans are known for being strong though, so Woodaz should be able to get with the program over the next couple of years. He’s also a great special teamer, which will be his primary path to a roster spot.
Grade: B
Fifth Round, 141st Overall – Kamari Ramsey, S, USC
Kamari Ramsey is the best value pick so far for the Texans. Ramsey is a smart player and a sound tackler, very similar to current Texan Jalen Pitre. Ramsey won’t start for the team, but adds value as a backup with his prowess in split-safety looks and run defense. He ended up in Round 5 primarily due to injury concerns, as he suffered some sort of injury in every season. He also only became a sound tackler in 2025, as he was quite inconsistent before last season. Whenever he gets on the field, he’ll continue to add to the tenacity of this Texans defense.
Grade: B+
Kamari Ramsey NFL Draft Profile
Round 6, 204th Overall – Lewis Bond, WR, Boston College
Lewis Bond was quite productive at Boston College, especially last season as he set the school’s single-season receptions record (88). He finished is tenure as an Eagle with 2,386 receiving yards and was a team captain for his final, record-setting campaign. He’s a pro-ready wide receiver when it comes to his ability at the catch point, but lacks the athleticism needed to stand out in the pros.
Grade: C-
Round 7, 243rd Overall – Aiden Fisher, LB, Indiana
This was a pretty shocking fall for the reigning national champion. Fisher was the leader of the Hoosier’s exotic defense under Curt Cignetti. The biggest reason as to why he fell this late would be his athleticism. Fisher is a player more known for his leadership and football IQ. These are the types of things that coaches covet in linebackers though. This is rare to say for a 7th rounder, but there’s a good chance Aiden Fisher gets on the field for Houston within the next couple of years.
Grade: B
