Sportsvival is fully rolling into the 2026 NFL Draft, and the Houston Texans feel like a team trying to keep a contender’s window open while still reshaping key parts of the roster. Houston owns the No. 28 overall pick after a 12-win season and playoff victory, and the Texans currently hold eight total selections in this draft.
Houston’s offseason additions and departures
The Texans were aggressive in reshaping the roster. Houston signed guard Wyatt Teller on March 19, added Reed Blankenship, Logan Hall, Jake Hummel, Dominique Robinson, and Braden Smith on March 13, and made trades for David Montgomery, Kai Kroeger, and Marte Mapu. Houston also signed Trent Brown, Danielle Hunter, Ed Ingram, Dalton Schultz, E.J. Speed, and M.J. Stewart to contract extensions.
The departures matter too. The Texans traded away Tytus Howard and Juice Scruggs, released Mario Edwards Jr. and Kurt Hinish, released Joe Mixon, and also moved on from Jimmie Ward. Those moves help explain why the trenches still feel like the biggest priority heading into Round 1.
Texans’ 3 biggest needs
1. Offensive line
Even with the additions of Braden Smith and Wyatt Teller, the offensive line still stands out as Houston’s biggest need. Moving on from Tytus Howard and Juice Scruggs created more uncertainty up front, and protecting C.J. Stroud has to stay at the center of this roster build.
2. Defensive tackle
Houston added Logan Hall and brought back Naquan Jones and Sheldon Rankins, but the Texans also released Mario Edwards Jr. and Kurt Hinish. There is still room for another young impact body inside, especially for a team that wants to remain strong in the front seven.
3. Secondary depth
The Texans added Reed Blankenship and re-signed M.J. Stewart, but there is still room to keep building depth on the back end. Houston has addressed pieces of the secondary, yet adding another young defensive back would still make plenty of sense for the long-term picture.
Sportsvival’s pick at No. 28: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
At No. 28, Sportsvival has the Texans selecting Caleb Lomu, offensive tackle, Utah. Lomu is listed at 6-foot-6 and 308 pounds, has played in 25 games with 22 starts, and started all 12 regular-season games at left tackle in 2025. Utah’s official bio also notes that he did not allow a sack in 357 pass-blocking opportunities in 2025, which is exactly the type of profile Houston should value late in the first round.
For Houston, this would be a very strong Sportsvival-style first-round fit. The Texans have already spent the offseason trying to stabilize the roster, but offensive line still feels like the biggest long-term issue. Adding Caleb Lomu at No. 28 would give Houston a young tackle with size, experience, and upside to anchor the front for years to come.