What is the Houston Texans' top need in the upcoming NFL draft?
According to NFL.com, it's the second-most popular position to address in free agency.
While targeting the top five positions to fix for all 32 NFL rosters, NFL.com's Dan Parr mentioned that the Texans must fix their trenches on both sides. While Houston could benefit from having some depth at tight end and on the edge, the two most important spots to fill were offensive line and defensive line.
When diving in more detail, Parr mentioned that the interior line was the top priority to address. Even after the free agent additions, Houston still could benefit from getting younger names involved in the lineup to help build stability long-term.
"GM Nick Caserio has made major changes to the offensive line for the second year in a row, piecing together what looks to be a respectable starting five, at least on paper," Parr wrote. "There’s still room to improve the entire unit, though, so the O-line remains at the top of the needs list for a squad that doesn’t appear to have many dire weaknesses. The defense has been the Texans’ bread and butter, so it would make sense to reinforce it, even at a spot like edge rusher, where they boast elite talent."
The question right now is, what direction do the Texans go when on the clock? Wyatt Teller and Braden Smith are both signed to two-year deals, but the duo has missed time because of injuries. Given that Houston still needs to address the defensive line depth, it might be limited to target either a right tackle or a left guard prospect within the first three picks.
Among the two positions of need, Houston should focus its attention on both spots within the first 40 picks. Among the players the Texans have been linked to in the roles include Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald, Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods, Auburn center Conner Lew, Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor, Clemson offensive tackle Blake Miller, and others.
It's hard to imagine the Texans not at least trying to address their trenches, even if the team returns names like Sheldon Rankins, Ed Ingram and Tommy Togiai. In a win-now mode, the Texans must be all-in on ensuring there's no stone left unturned in fixing the roster.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans: NFL.com names trenches on both sides top need in 2026 NFL Draft