The Texans fortified the trenches to begin the 2026 NFL Draft, and using our board would have led to a similar haul in terms of the positions drafted—but in a much different order.

 

Actual selections

1.26: C Keylan Rutledge

2.36: DL Kayden McDonald

2.59: TE Marlin Klein

4.106: G Febechi Nwaiwu

4.123: LB Wade Woodaz

5.141: S Kamari Ramsey

6.204: WR Lewis Bond

7.243: LB Aiden Fisher

 

Wolf Sports selections

1.26: CB D’Angelo Ponds

2.36: WR Germie Bernard

2.59: G DJ Campbell

4.106: LB Harold Perkins Jr.

4.123: DL Zane Durant

5.141: TE John Michael Gyllenborg

6.204: QB Jalon Daniels

7.243: WR Deion Burks

 

Thoughts

As explained in previous articles, we obviously don’t have the benefit of moving up or down the board—so that sometimes leads to the best-player-available approach being an awkward fit. Houston is a great example of that with D’Angelo Ponds as the Round 1 selection stuck behind Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter, while the Round 2 selection of Germie Bernward would need to earn snaps behind Nico Collins alongside Tank Dell, Jayden Higgins, and Jaylin Noel. That said, Ponds could factor into the slot, and Bernard would make things a lot easier on C.J. Stroud; and most importantly, we wouldn’t pass on prospects we view as future stars to “reach” for a lower-graded option.

 

In real life, the Texans made a move for Keylan Rutledge with early indications being that he’ll begin his career at center, and it seems the organization put tremendous value on his toughness and mindset on the offensive line—which is set to have three new starters. Then, Houston moved up for Kayden McDonald as the top run-stuffing nose tackle in the class, and he’s an outstanding fit between Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter with the run defense showing some vulnerability in 2025 for as dominant as the unit was in general.

 

The second selection in Round 2 for the Texans was Marlin Klein as one of the first tight ends off the board (in what was a very deep class), and that was followed up by Febechi Nwaiwu as another option on the interior of the offensive line—with the expectation that he could eventually become a starter with signing Wyatt Teller turning 32 in November.

 

Based on our board, DJ Campbell got the edge over Jermod McCoy and Chris Brazzell II with similar grades, as wide receiver and cornerback were already addressed as positions that weren’t even a need before taking Ponds and Bernard. Ideally, a top-60 selection on Campbell would lead to him getting on the field early in his career, but that wouldn’t happen behind Teller and Ed Ingram—so it’s another spot where a trade down (or up) would have been ideal for us.

 

To begin the fourth round, our choice of Harold Perkins Jr. would have brought energy and versatility that fit well in DeMeco Ryans’ defense, but the Texans opted to take linebacker Wade Woodaz with their second selection on Day 3 instead. At that spot, we would have gotten a defensive lineman in Zane Durant—who is better versus the run than you might think at his size (290 pounds).

 

In the final three rounds, the Texans took Kamari Ramsey, Lewis Bond, and Aidan Fisher, while we would have taken some shots on offensive prospects with John Michael Gyllenborg, Jalon Daniels, and Deion Burks.