Houston Texans: B-
Picks: 8 | WAA added: 0.901 (Rank 21/32)
- Pick 26: G Keylan Rutledge, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
- Pick 36: DI Kayden McDonald, Ohio State Buckeyes
- Pick 59: TE Marlin Klein, Michigan Wolverines
- Pick 106: G Febechi Nwaiwu, Oklahoma Sooners
- Pick 123: LB Wade Woodaz, Clemson Tigers
- Pick 141: S Kamari Ramsey, USC Trojans
- Pick 204: WR Lewis Bond, Boston College Eagles
- Pick 243: LB Aiden Fisher, Indiana Hoosiers
Highest-graded pick (2025): DI Kayden McDonald, Ohio State Buckeyes (86.7)
2026 NFL Draft: Houston Texans Draft PicksDraft selections compared to Big Board Rank04999148198247296346395GKeylan RutledgeRANK74PICK26DIKayden McDonaldRANK28PICK36TEMarlin KleinRANK138PICK59GFebechi NwaiwuRANK349PICK106LBWade WoodazRANK395PICK123SKamari RamseyRANK82PICK141WRLewis BondRANK258PICK204LBAiden FisherRANK176PICK243OVERALL · PICK & BIG BOARD RANKStealBoard rank better than pick #ReachPicked before board rankEvenPick # matches board rankRutledge: Rutledge was a late riser in the pre-draft process — and offensive linemen tend to go earlier than expected in general — but it’s an interesting decision by Houston to move up to take him, as he ranked outside the top 50 on most consensus big boards. Rutledge earned PFF grades below 70.0 in his first three seasons — at Middle Tennessee State and Georgia Tech — before showing improvement in the run game in his final season (77.8 PFF grade).
McDonald: McDonald posted a career-best 86.0 PFF grade in 2025, fueled by elite run defense, where his 91.2 grade ranked first among qualifying FBS interior defenders. He backed that up with top-tier stability, landing in the 99th percentile in run-stop rate and 95th percentile in run-defense grade. The pass-rush profile remains limited, though, with a 63.1 grade and sub-15th percentile marks in both overall and true pass-rush situations.
Klein: Klein is an intriguing young prospect who is relatively new to football but shows the effort and mentality to develop into a difference-making in-line tight end. If he continues to add weight and strength, he projects as a strong TE2-type with blocking upside.
Nwaiwu: Nwaiwu was one of the nation’s most efficient pass blockers last season, allowing just two pressures across 505 pass-blocking snaps. That level of production, paired with his positional versatility, could help offset his struggles in the run game, where he ranked in the sixth percentile in positively graded plays.
Woodaz: Woodaz, No. 395 on PFF’s Big Board, is a long linebacker at 6-foot-3 and 236 pounds with 32¾-inch arms and strong speed for the position, as shown by a 4.56 40-yard dash (86th percentile) and a 1.55-second 10-yard split (93rd percentile). He earned a 70.9 PFF grade across 610 snaps in 2025, including a 75.5 coverage grade. In coverage, he allowed 35 receptions for 281 yards on 47 targets with no touchdowns and three pass breakups. He also recorded 23 defensive stops, including six tackles for loss or no gain on 231 run-defense snaps.
Ramsey: Ramsey provides versatility with the ability to play both safety spots and the slot, particularly in two-high looks. His lighter build and good — but not elite — athleticism cap his ceiling.
Bond: Bond has a limited catch radius at 5-foot-11 with sub-30-inch arms and below-average speed, as shown by a 4.59 40-yard dash, but he compensates with strong ball skills in contested situations. He produced a 69% contested catch rate over his career at Boston College and showed versatility with more than 1,000 snaps split between the slot and outside, which supports his projection as a possession target with alignment flexibility.
Fisher: Fisher is an experienced, high-effort linebacker but lacks ideal size and athleticism. He projects as a depth player and special teams contributor.
Houston Texans: Draft Grades SnapshotGradeB-Total WAA Added0.901(Rank 21/32)Avg. WAA0.11(Rank 22/32)Steals3Reaches5Need %75%Premium Positions1 / 8PickPlayerPosBoard #WAA2025 PFF gradeSteal / reachNeed?Premium?26Keylan RutledgeG740.17876.7Reach48 SpotsYesNo36Kayden McDonaldDI280.18786.7Steal8 SpotsYesNo59Marlin KleinTE138-0.00164.6Reach79 SpotsNoNo106Febechi NwaiwuG3490.09669.7Reach243 SpotsYesNo123Wade WoodazLB3950.09170.9Reach272 SpotsNoNo141Kamari RamseyS820.12272.5Steal59 SpotsNoNo204Lewis BondWR2580.174.5Reach54 SpotsNoYes243Aiden FisherLB1760.12868.1Steal67 SpotsNoNo