What will the Houston Texans do when on the board at pick No. 28?
As analysts continue to send out their final mock drafts ahead of next Thursday's draft, it's becoming clear what direction each team is headed with its first-round pick. For Houston, the argument has come between either shoring up the interior pass rush at defensive tackle or bolstering the trenches by going after another offensive lineman.
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In the newest mock draft by The Ringer’s Todd McShay, Houston follows the latter approach. While adding in Braden Smith and Wyatt Teller was smart, there needs to be more stability long-term on either side of the offensive line.
Yes, guard is important, but so is the strength of the right tackle spot. Given that Smith, who signed a two-year deal, has dealt with injuries that sidelined him in the past and limited on the field, McShay has the Texans pivoting over from guard to tackle, netting Arizona State's Max Iheanachor as the future heir to Smith on the right side of the line.
"The Texans already have one of the most complete rosters in the NFL—now the focus is getting C.J. Stroud back to his rookie form," McShay wrote. "The best way to do that is by ensuring the protection and run game remain strong. Houston added RT/OG Braden Smith and RB David Montgomery to pair with Woody Marks, but bringing in a young tackle such as Iheanachor would help solidify the foundation long term.
Iheanachor gives Houston flexibility to get its best five offensive linemen on the field—potentially with him at right tackle and Smith kicking inside to guard—a competition that would sort itself out in training camp.
He’s still developing, particularly working on his hand placement and occasional lunging, which makes sense given that he’s relatively new to football after growing up in Nigeria and not playing high school football. But the traits are undeniable, and his progression in a short amount of time has been impressive."
Houston has swung and missed on nearly every linemen in the Nick Caserio era, but most were forced to start Week 1. Given that Iheanachor is still a work in progress, this would be a pick used more so for the future, thus giving the prospect time to adapt to the NFL lifestyle with little added pressure.
At 6-foot-6, Iheanachor might not need much time to take over as a legitimate threat to fight for reps at right tackle early in his Texans tenure. A junior college product turned D1 athlete, the former Sun Devil started 31 games over his three seasons in Tempe, including all 14 of their College Football Playoff run in 2024.
Iheanachor was also the team's most well-rounded blocker last season and improved as a pass-protector. In over 900 passing snaps, he allowed four sacks and less than a 10 percent pressure rate in back-to-back years. He is also expected to improve in run blocking if placed in an offense that will allow him to sit for a season.
On paper, guard and center feel like more immediate needs in Houston. Selecting Iheanachor, however, would be wise if he were the top name on the market. The Texans must hit on offensive linemen this draft cycle and he seems to be one of the safer options on the market.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans: Houston lands OT Max Iheanachor in Todd McShay mock draft
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