Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald could be a good fit for the Houston Texans in the NFL draft.

Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald could be a good fit for the Houston Texans in the NFL draft.

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Everyone’s favorite week is finally here. 

The NFL draft begins Thursday, and teams have already started making major moves and re-positioning themselves. 

Because of that, draft boards have inevitably changed. 

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The Houston Texans, who hold the No. 28 pick in the first round, already have put the final touches on their draft board and are prepared for each and every scenario that could arise based on what happens in the picks ahead of them. 

There are plenty of possibilities.

Here’s what I would do if I were the Texans: 

See if the Cardinals want to come up to No. 28

Texans general manager Nick Caserio and Cardinals counterpart Monti Ossenfort are close, dating back to their days as New England Patriots scouts. If there’s someone Caserio can strike a deal with, it’s Ossenfort.

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They did so in 2023, when the Texans moved up from No. 12 to No. 3 to take edge rusher Will Anderson Jr.

That trade, though the cost was steep, has paid off for the Texans, who recently signed Anderson to a three-year, $150 million contract extension.   

Now Houston is in the driver’s seat. 

The Cardinals want — and need — a quarterback. Arizona’s pick at No. 3 may be too high for a quarterback in this year’s class, but the Cardinals could find a potential starter and better value at end of the first round. The Jets at No. 33 also could be in the market for a quarterback, giving Arizona  incentive to move up to No. 28. 

That creates an opportunity for Houston to gain additional draft capital while still landing a quality player at No. 34.

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A trade with the Cardinals could net the Texans a fourth-round pick (No. 104) and a future sixth-round pick that they could then use to move up or down in other areas. 

That would give Houston two early fourth-round picks that it could package to move into the third round or however the Texans see fit. 

I might even push for a 2026 third-round pick instead of the fourth-rounder given projections that next year’s class will be stronger, along with a sixth-round pick.

But the Cardinals could also move up to No. 31 with New England, which is likely looking to get extra draft capital for a potentlal trade for receiver  A.J. Brown. Moving up three spots would cost less than jumping six.

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I know Caserio thinks Texans fans will be mad if he trades out of the first round, but if he gets good draft compensation in return, I don’t think they will be upset.

Prioritize defensive tackle or guard with first two picks

Whether the Texans have pick No. 28 or No. 34, they should prioritize the best available defensive tackle or guard. 

Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald would be my choice if he’s available. The position lacks depth in this class, particularly early in the second round. McDonald is widely viewed as one of the top two defensive tackles and projects as an elite run-stopper.

If McDonald is off the board, I’d go with Texas A&M’s Chase Bisontis, who is widely considered the second-best guard in this draft class, with my first pick. The Texans also have pick No. 38 in the second round. I would then draft Georgia defensive tackle Christen Miller at that spot.

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If McDonald and Bisontis are gone, I’d look for another trade partner early in the second round and take the best available offensive tackle. 

If they were to take a tackle with that first pick, they could then take Georgia Tech guard Keylan Rutledge, who has an injury history but plays with a mean streak, at No. 38. Oregon’s Emmanuel Pregnon would be a solid option, too. 

Rutledge can also play center. So theoretically, he could start at center in his first season and move over to guard when Wyatt Teller’s contract expires. 

Regardless, I wouldn’t leave the first two rounds without a guard because the top four — Olaivevega Ioane, Bisontis, Pregnon and Rutledge — could come off the board rather quickly, leaving you with players who may take longer to develop. 

If McDonald and Bisontis are gone and no one agrees to a trade, which would be the worst-case scenario but not terrible, I’d take the best available tackle on the board at No. 28 and take one of those guards at No. 38. 

Get a receiving threat at No. 58 or move up to get one

It doesn’t matter if the Texans get a wide receiver or one of the top receiving tight ends, the Texans should get a receiving threat with their second second-round pick. 

We’ve seen this offense when Nico Collins or Tank Dell goes down. It happened the past two seasons, and it’s nowhere near as dynamic. 

The Texans need more dynamic weapons and ones with speed. I understand Dell is returning soon, but he also has an injury history and there’s always the concern he might not be the same coming off a major knee injury. I would not take the chance that he and Collins will be healthy come the playoffs. 

Depending on where they fall, I would move up a few spots to take either Alabama wide receiver Germie Bernard, Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers or stay at 58 and take Ole Miss receiver De’Zhaun Stribling or Notre Dame’s Malachi Fields. 

Bernard is a dynamic playmaker and can do a variety of things, catching it from the slot or out of the backfield. Stowers is a freak of nature, and could be gone in the first 50 picks. But his upside and athleticism is tremendous. The only issue is he probably won’t give you much in the run game, which is needed. 

Stribling is a good deep-play threat who can also block. 

Aside from defensive tackle, I would focus on offense early on Days 1 and 2. Offense was the Texans’ clear weakness in 2025.Â