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The NFL Draft is over, and the Houston Texans made multiple new additions, specifically on the offensive side of the ball. How do NFL analysts see the Texans' draft playing out? Here are grades from around the NFL mediasphere.
Eric Froton, NBC Sports: B
"Houston banked a 2026 1st from the Giants to move from 25-to-34, which was an unconditional victory. They revamped their passing attack by targeting a pair of hyper-productive Iowa State wideouts in search of a dependable WR2 which they desperately need opposite Nico Collins. Ersery is a massive OT who has Christian Darrisaw-lite vibes at #48, and all-purpose RB Woody Marks should be able to carve out some of the passing down work from aging vet Joe Mixon. Jaylin Smith had a nice season at USC while Jaylen Reed is a totally reasonable shot at #187. While it’s not a particularly eye-popping draft class due to the trade-down, the Texans played their hand well and will benefit from their trade down in 2026."
Chad Reuter, NFL Media: A-
"The Texans did well to add two more Iowa State Cyclones to their receivers room, with Higgins and Noel joining former teammate Xavier Hutchinson to support C.J. Stroud. I thought they might take Ersery in the first round, so the trade up for him in Round 2 made sense to me, as did the swap that led to the acquisition of the versatile and tough Smith in Round 3. Marks is not just a strong runner but can be another target for Stroud as a receiver. We'll see if patience would have been wiser than giving up a third-round pick next year to move into Round 4 for him. Mertz has some positive attributes but was inconsistent and suffered injuries in college. Hamilton meets a need for young depth at tackle. Lachey lost a step due to injury but could prove to have been a steal in the seventh."
Rob Rang, Fox Sports: B+
"Sure, it was frustrating for Texans fans to watch the first day of the draft come and go without a pick being made, but GM Nick Caserio's patience will be rewarded next year with Houston now owning two first-round selections in a class expected to be much richer than this one. And let's be real — that 2026 New York Giants pick could be a high one. Even better, Caserio put together an intriguing class this year, filling the need for an athletic tackle with the Big Ten's blocker of the year in Aireontae Ersery and adding former Iowa State teammates Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel in the second and third rounds, respectively. Polar opposites in style, the duo offer size, speed and reliable hands, greatly improving Houston's depth at receiver. The Texans added another duo of college teammates in cornerback Jaylin Smith and Woody Marks (both from USC), with the latter arguably the best receiving back of this class."
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