2026 NFL Mock Draft: Houston Texans take guard

Emmanuel Pregnon, OG, Oregon

The Houston Texans are the NFL’s youngest franchise, starting play in 2002, and their early years have been marked by regular rising pains. It took almost a decade for the group to search out postseason success, lastly breaking via in 2011 with their first playoff look. That recreation grew to become a milestone second, because the Texans defeated the Bengals 31–10, highlighted by rookie defensive finish JJ Watt—chosen eleventh general within the 2011 draft—returning an interception 29 yards for a landing.

After that preliminary rise, the franchise skilled one of many darkest stretches in its historical past from 2020 to 2022. Over these three seasons, the Texans posted a mixed file of 11–38–1 and cycled via 4 head coaches. While the COVID-affected 2020 and 2021 seasons performed a job, this era nonetheless represented the bottom level for the workforce each on and off the sector.

The trajectory shifted dramatically in 2023, pushed by three pivotal choices engineered by common supervisor Nick Caserio, broadly praised by the group as aggressive and progressive. The turnaround started with the hiring of DeMeco Ryans as head coach on January 31, 2023. That spring, the Texans chosen quarterback CJ Stroud with the second general choose within the draft, then boldly traded up with the Arizona Cardinals to safe the third general choose, utilizing it to pick out linebacker/edge rusher Will Anderson Jr.

The outcomes have been quick and hanging. In 2023, the Texans completed 10–7, gained the AFC South, and gained a playoff recreation. Stroud earned Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, whereas Anderson was named Defensive Rookie of the Year. The success continued in 2024 with one other 10–7 file, a second straight AFC South title, and one other playoff look and playoff win. By 2025, the Texans improved additional, ending 12–5, putting second within the division, and as soon as once more incomes a postseason win. Can they take the subsequent step and win a minimum of 2 playoff video games in a single 12 months?

DeMeco Ryans’ return to Houston as head coach carries particular which means in Texans historical past. He was himself a Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2006 for the Texans after being drafted within the second spherical, main the NFL with 126 solo tackles. Ryans spent his first 5 seasons with the Texans earlier than being traded to the Eagles in 2012, the place he loved two sturdy seasons earlier than an Achilles harm curtailed his 2014 marketing campaign. Across 4 common seasons in Philadelphia, Ryans amassed 334 tackles, 20 passes defended, and 5 interceptions, including a memorable playoff efficiency beneath Chip Kelly.

Nick Caserio, spent 20 years (2001-2020) with the Patriots group, earlier than becoming a member of the Texans as their GM in 2021. Caserio was deeply concerned within the Patriots soccer operations and has been thought of to be Belichick’s right-hand man. He has held many roles with Patriots together with Director of Player Personnel. His scouting, draft analysis, and cap-awareness assist play a major position within the sustained success of the Patriots throughout his time there. Can he do the identical for the Texans?

When Caserio arrived in Houston, the Texans have been in disarray. They had restricted draft capital, teaching instability, a weak roster, and cap points. It took two years for Caserio to utterly overhaul the workforce, which additional examined the endurance of the followers. But as was famous above, 2023 was a key turning level. And similar to Howie Roseman of the Eagles, Caserio is just not afraid of wheeling and dealing. In truth, the file for the best variety of trades inside a 7-round draft is eight, completed by the Patriots in 2018, the Texans in 2023, and the Eagles in 2024.

As one other instance of Caserio’s aggressiveness, you would possibly keep in mind that the Eagles jumped up two spots from 15 to 13 within the 2022 draft to pick out Jordan Davis. This began out as Cleveland’s 2022 13^th choose, however ended up with the Eagles by way of the next two trades:

That’s take away the draft property acquired by Caserio, one would possibly even name it Roseman-esque!

While the Texans’ followers have been initially skeptical of Caserio, their sentiment has utterly flipped. The prevailing view is that Caserio has a plan, that he would not panic, and wins extra trades than he loses. For the Texans to get to the promised land of a Lombardi trophy, the Texans’ followers would possibly barrow the part of the Eagles followers; “In Nick they trust.”

Now to the 2026 draft and the 28^th general choose. The Texans staying at this spot, similar to the Eagles staying at 23 is unrealistic. However, on this group mock draft trades will not be thought of. Caserio, very similar to Howie, tries to construct a whole roster earlier than the draft. That means the Texans can purpose to select the very best participant obtainable based mostly on their massive board no matter how the draft performs out. He did that by signing or buying a number of offensive linemen (Braden Smith, Wyatt Teller), working again (David Montgomery), security (Reid Blankenship), and even a punter (Kai Kroeger) amongst others.

However, when the Texans have been on the clock, they struggled with this choose. Despite signing security Blankenship in free company, security Emmanuel McNeil-Warren out of Toledo was nonetheless on the board and appeared engaging. Similarly, selecting a defensive deal with corresponding to Peter Woods from Clemson or Christen Miller from Georgia would have actually solidified an already sturdy line of defense with their dominant edge rushers of Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter. In the tip, they determined to do what Caserio had by no means completed earlier than throughout his time with the Texans, he went with an inside offensive lineman within the first spherical: Emmanuel Pregnon out of University of Oregan.

Pregnon is dense, thick participant (6’4″ height, 314 lbs) with strong arms, big hands, and good leg drive. He tested extremely well at the combine for a guard: 5.21 second in the 40, 35 inch vertical leap (best of all guards), 9’3″ broad, and 30 reps on the bench press for an general mix RAS rating of 9.1.

He began his faculty profession at Wyoming which included 2 redshirt years after which being named a Freshman All-American for the Cowboys in 2022 the place he began 11 video games. He then transferred to USC for 2 seasons. Starting in 12 video games in 2023 and all 13 video games in 2024 for the Trojans, with out permitting a sack. He was named second-team All-Big Ten in 2024. He as soon as once more transferred, this time to Oregon for his senior season. For the faculty soccer playoff Ducks, he earned First-Team All-American and First-Team All-Big Ten honors. After 3 faculties, 6 years in faculty, 51 video games, and over 3100 offensive snaps he has continued to develop and develop at every degree. Which brings us to his one massive knock: his age. He is 24 years previous. And one of many causes he’s sometimes projected as an early second spherical choose.

Pregnon has a great anchor in opposition to bull rushers. His massive palms, giant wingspan, and extensive base smothers any makes an attempt that defenders attempt with counter strikes or makes an attempt to disengage. His explosive decrease physique allows him to rapidly interact defenders on run blocking. He is a really athletic inside offensive lineman, the sort that the Eagles additionally prefer to draft.

Watching some movies on Pregnon, he’s a nasty monster who performs via the whistler. He will pull, choose up some velocity and bulldoze linebackers and defensive backs. It at all times seems that his purpose is to get the defender on his bottom. On double groups, he appropriately slips to the second degree to take on the linebackers. He works properly with teammates in go safety passing off rushers to select up the stunting defensive lineman. In 2024, his second 12 months with the Trojans, he gave up zero sacks and 0 QB hits. Some of his movies remind me of Mekhi Becton when he performed for the Eagles through the 2024 Superbowl profitable season. While projected as an eventual starter, I see him beginning as a rookie and persevering with to develop to maybe a possible pro-bowler.

While it could seem like a attain to take Pregnon, a 24-year-old within the late first spherical, the Texans may use an athletic guard to assist open holes within the run recreation and provides extra inside go safety. I may envision the Texans finally exercising their fifth 12 months choice and having a reasonable starter in the course of their offensive line for the subsequent 5 years. This is simply the kind of roster administration that Nick Caserio would think about.

2026 BGN Mock Draft Order

1) Raiders (Mailata_in_a_Miata): Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
2) Jets (Dr.MidnightGreen): Arvell Reese, EDGE, Ohio State
3) Cardinals (grantspectations): Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
4) Titans (DrBubbles): Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
5) Giants (ablesser88): Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
6) Browns (kjb304): Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Penn State
7) Commanders (Jerry Robinson 56): Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
8) Saints (VetStadiumSection358): David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
9) Chiefs (Hoosinole): Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
10) Bengals (chuckelberryfinn): Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
11) Dolphins (phillyfan): Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
12) Cowboys (ejdubya): Rueben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami
13) Rams (All_Hail_Howie): Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
14) Ravens (215T1LL1D1e): Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
15) Buccaneers (pascofljoe): Makai Lemon, WR, USC
16) Jets (Euegene11): Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
17) Lions (BCHaas): Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
18) Vikings (The Player Formerly Known as Mousecop): Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
19) Panthers (jaynase): Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
20) Cowboys (Cravin’ LeBlanc): Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
21) Steelers (iam4theBirdz): Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
22) Chargers (Aint1stULast): Kadyn Proctor, OL, Alabama
23) Eagles (Philly21): Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
24) Browns (FierceDisc65): Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
25) Bears (jazztafari): Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri
26) Bills (PhillyTexan): Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
27) 49ers (granthill7): Omar Cooper Jr. WR, Indiana
28) Texans (CrackTheEaglesNut): Emmanuel Pregnon, OG, Oregon
29) Chiefs (z)
30) Dolphins (Booth12)
31) Patriots (Niels Rosenquist)
32) Seahawks (J. Wil)

2026 BGN Community Consensus Mock Draft

Now it is YOUR TURN to vote for who you assume needs to be chosen with this choose.

1) Raiders: QB Fernando Mendoza
2) Jets: EDGE Arvell Reese
3) Cardinals: OT Francis Mauigoa
4) Titans: RB Jeremiyah Love
5) Giants: LB Sonny Styles
6) Browns: WR Carnell Tate
7) Commanders: EDGE David Bailey
8) Saints: EDGE Rueben Bain Jr.
9) Chiefs: S Caleb Downs
10) Bengals: CB Mansoor Delane
11) Dolphins: WR Jordyn Tyson
12) Cowboys: CB Jermod McCoy
13) Rams: WR Makai Lemon
14) Ravens: OT Monroe Freeling
15) Buccaneers: TE Kenyon Sadiq
16) Jets: OG Olaivavega Ioane
17) Lions: OT Spencer Fano
18) Vikings: S Dillon Thieneman
19) Panthers: OT Kadyn Proctor
20) Cowboys: EDGE Akheem Mesidor
21) Steelers: EDGE Keldric Faulk
22) Chargers: OT Caleb Lomu
23) Eagles: OT Max Iheanachor
24) Browns: OT Blake Miller
25) Bears: S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
26) Bills: DT Kayden McDonald
27) 49ers: WR Omar Cooper Jr.
28) Texans: