Houston needs help on the offensive line, but the best available prospect in this scenario could be a defensive lineman. McDonald is an ascending talent with the "SWARM" mentality DeMeco Ryans looks for.

Miller probably isn't a first-rounder in the 2025 draft. But in a 2026 class that lacks a high number of prospects with a first-round grade, drafting a rock-solid right tackle with a ton of experience (54 starts) and just two sacks and two blown run blocks allowed last season seems like good value. Miller would slide into the starting lineup opposite Aireontae Ersery, last year's second-rounder, to form a young bookend duo that can help protect C.J. Stroud well enough to elevate his game as his rookie contract nears expiration. Considering the Texans finished 30th in pass block win rate (55.5%), they could use the help. Miller received a lot of love from scouts I talked to at the Senior Bowl, something that could push him up boards.

Thieneman was the quarterback of the Oregon secondary, showing quickness, great instincts and playmaking. The Texans have one of the league's best defenses, and Thieneman would slide in quickly as a strong safety.

Woody Marks was a fourth-round revelation in last year's draft, but Nick Chubb is a free agent and Joe Mixon's future is uncertain. Despite splitting carries with Jeremiyah Love, Price has starting NFL traits and scored 11 touchdowns last season while averaging 6.0 yards per carry.

Hunter is a heavy-handed presence in the middle who consistently makes life miserable for interior offensive linemen by eating up double teams and shedding blocks to swallow up running backs. While he's still developing as a pass rusher, his ability to collapse the pocket with raw power and chase down plays from the backside shows he's much more than your garden-variety two-gap space-eater.

Best Pick: Second-round receiver Jayden Higgins is a good player and will help at a position of major need. Taking him made a lot of sense with Tank Dell coming off injury.

Worst Pick: Trading out of the first round with a chance to help the offensive line is a questionable decision. They did address the line in the second round by taking Aireontae Ersery, but they had a chance to get another in the first.

The Skinny: They did a lot of moving around and added two receivers, a guard-tackle, a corner and basically with their first five picks. It didn't really do a lot for me, even if I do like Higgins. They must really like running back Woody Marks since they traded up to get him in the fourth. Seventh-round defensive tackle Kyonte Hamilton is a sleeper.

Top needs entering the draft: Wide receiver, offensive tackle and guard

Quarterback C.J. Stroud took a step back last season, which is why the theme of Houston's draft always had to be getting him more support. His top three receivers -- Nico Collins (eight games), Stefon Diggs (10) and Tank Dell (three) -- all missed time because of injuries in 2024. Dell's return timeline from a significant knee injury is uncertain, and Diggs is now in New England. Stroud was also sacked 52 times, second most in the NFL, behind a poor offensive line. Houston retooled the unit in free agency, but I'm not sure anyone would say it absolutely improved it. The Texans swapped out Laremy Tunsil, Kenyon Green and Shaq Mason for Cam Robinson, Ed Ingram and Laken Tomlinson.

You get the point, and it's the reason my top needs for Houston all came on offense. This front office can't let Stroud's rookie contract slip away, especially in a winnable AFC South. But rather than attack the holes with its early picks, Houston kept trading back for more draft capital, including selections in future years. The Texans entered Thursday with seven picks but ended up making nine. In all, they made seven trades in the draft.

The Texans dealt their first-rounder in one of those moves, but they made four Day 2 selections. Two of them were Iowa State receivers. Jayden Higgins brings 6-foot-4 size and explosion outside; Jaylin Noel brings speed and after-the-catch burst to the slot. They were both top-seven receivers on my board. As for the offensive line, Aireontae Ersery is 6-foot-6, 331 pounds and can handle speed or power off the edge. He might not step into a starting role right away, but he could develop into a starting left tackle in time.

The Texans took Jaylin Smith -- my CB25 -- at the end of the third round, but there's upside in his game. They traded a future third-rounder to move up from No. 179 to No. 116 to take my RB17 early in Round 4. (I like Woody Marks, though -- he squirts through traffic to break free.) The two picks in the seventh round are interesting fliers. I moved defensive tackle Kyonte Hamilton up my board late in the process, and tight end Luke Lachey has some strong blocking traits.

No guard here, but Houston did the most important thing for its draft: improve the offense around Stroud.