The 2026 season isn’t even close to wrapped, but the Texans’ rookie class has already laid down some serious markers, and honestly, it’s looking like a real mixed bag right out of the gate. We’re only six weeks deep, yet those two big second-round picks, Kayden McDonald and Marlin Klein, are barely showing up on the field. It’s early, for sure, but man, it’s wild to look back at who Houston *could* have snagged in that 2026 NFL Draft.
The Brutal Truth of the Early Rounds
Talk about a gut check for the Texans’ front office. In Round 1, Pick 26, Houston went with Keylan Rutledge, a guard out of Georgia Tech. Now, Rutledge hasn’t been a disaster, but he hasn’t exactly brought the raw power everyone expected. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Browns picked Austin Barber, a right guard from Florida, who was supposedly a third-round reach. A reach? Nah, Barber has absolutely crushed it for the Browns, elevating their offensive line and arguably becoming the best interior offensive lineman from this entire class. His run blocking? Houston could seriously use that right about now.
Then things got even dicier in the second round. At Pick 36, the Texans grabbed defensive tackle Kayden McDonald from Ohio State. The poor guy missed the first four weeks with a high ankle sprain, and in the two games he *has* played, he’s barely made a ripple. Just three picks later, Cleveland snatched Denzel Boston, a wide receiver from Washington, and this dude is a certified breakout star. Boston’s out there making plays downfield, stretching defenses with an incredible catch radius. Imagine him lining up next to Nico Collins, Jayden Higgins, and Tank Dell? That’s a dream scenario Houston missed.
It doesn’t get better at Pick 59 in Round 2. Houston invested heavily in versatile tight end Marlin Klein out of Michigan, but “Sideline Klein” is doing exactly that: not playing. The Texans are back to running six offensive lineman sets because they just can’t get production from him. And who did they pass on? Anthony Hill Jr., a linebacker from Texas, who went on to become the *defensive rookie of the month* for the Titans! His kind of game-saving production would have been huge for the Texans, especially with Henry To’oTo’o sidelined. Hill’s long-term potential is sky high, and you have to wonder if Klein will ever get close to that.
Later Picks, Same Painful Story
Even in the middle rounds, the misses sting. At Round 4, Pick 106, Houston took guard Febechi Nwaiwu from Oklahoma. He hasn’t logged a single snap since Week 3, and the lack of guard depth is a real problem for the squad. What if they had gone with Gracen Halton, a defensive tackle also from Oklahoma? Halton, drafted after Darrell Jackson Jr. was gone, won a starting role for his team after Alfred Collins and C.J. West hit injured reserve. The Texans are definitely missing his defensive line production, especially in the pass rush.
And finally, at Pick 123, Houston went with linebacker Wade Woodaz from Clemson. Kansas City, though, picked Emmett Johnson, a running back from Nebraska, and this guy is a “my guy” for a reason. Johnson has been a fantastic change-of-pace back, putting up 19 carries for 62 yards, but it’s his seven catches for 92 yards that are making a real impact. Houston’s offense could absolutely use that kind of depth and pass-catching ability right now.
The season is still rolling, but after six weeks, it’s clear the Texans are feeling the burn of these early draft decisions. You just gotta wonder how different things would look on the field if they’d made some different calls on draft day. We’ll see if Klein or McDonald can eventually turn things around, but for now, the what-ifs are piling up fast.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Battle Red Blog.
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