ClutchPoints
It was a tough finish for Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud. And now the team must begin roster building for 2026. Part of that process will be the NFL Draft, and here are the Texans’ top three targets after the playoff defeat to the Patriots.
A miserable turnover-fest sent the Texans packing in a 28-16 loss to the Patriots. Stroud turned in an awful performance with four first-half interceptions.
But the Texans must ride forward with Stroud, who has helped them make the playoffs in all three of his NFL seasons. And DeMeco Ryans’ Texans have won a playoff game each year.
However, other needs include running back, center, guard, and interior defense.
That makes their first-round pick a no-brainer in terms of position. The Texans must grab the best-available offensive lineman. It’s best if the player is a center or guard, but even a stout tackle would help. Then they could move pieces around.
One player that should be available is Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa. Pro Football Focus tagged him as the most-often selected in its draft simulator.
“Mauigoa is a strong and sturdy offensive tackle prospect with a lot to like,” Gordon McGuinness wrote. “He doesn’t shy away from taking the fight to pass-rushers and dictating contact to throw them off their timing. (And) he keeps his weight on his inside foot when kick sliding to neutralize inside moves. (Mauigoa) plays with a good motor through the whistle. He appears to have adequate arm length to stick at tackle.
“With his thick lower body, he can be a people mover in the run game. His weight can be a bit too heavily on his toes, and an imbalance moving forward seems to be the root of many of his negatively graded plays. Mauigoa possesses the size and skills to be a starting offensive tackle in a man- or gap-blocking scheme.”
Another direction the Texans could go is defensive interior standout Christen Miller of Georgia, according to Pro Football Network.
“The Houston Texans have arguably the best edge-rushing duo in the NFL in Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter,” Jacob Infante wrote. “As good as their defense has been this season, their interior defensive line is arguably the unit’s biggest weakness. They could use a massive space-eater to complement their stars rushing off the edge.
“There were always tools with Christen Miller, but he put it all together in a bigger role for Georgia in 2025. He’s a powerful run defender with a low center of gravity, good hand usage, and great gap awareness working off of blocks. Miller demonstrates some upside as a pass rusher with his first-step acceleration off the ball, too.”
While it makes sense to add the next little piece to the defense, ignoring the offensive line with the first pick doesn’t seem to make sense. The Texans didn’t lose to the Patriots because their defense didn’t stand up. They lost because Stoud turned into a rookie-like...
