2026 Houston Texans Mock Draft: 7-Round Projection

By StickToTheModel Draft Team | Published: December 08, 2025 | Updated: July 27, 2026 | 4 min read

Category: Mock Drafts

2026 Houston Texans Mock Draft: 7-Round Projection

Draft Capital: 6 picks | Overall Grade: B Last Updated: July 27, 2026

Overview

Houston Texans enter the 2026 NFL Draft with 6 selections. Biggest needs: Defensive Line, NT, Defensive Line.

Complete Draft Class:

Round 1 (#21): Ahmad Hardy, Running Back,

Missouri

— Grade A-

Round 2 (#53): Sammy Brown, Inside Linebacker,

Clemson

— Grade B-

Round 3 (#85): Princewill Umanmielen, Edge Rusher,

LSU

— Grade C+

Round 4 (#121): Taylor Wein, Defensive Line,

Oklahoma

— Grade C

Round 6 (#185): Terry Moore, Safety,

Ohio State

— Grade C-

Round 7 (#243): Emmanuel Oyebadejo, Defensive Line,

Florida

— Grade C-

View Full 3-Round Mock Draft →

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Complete Pick-by-Pick Analysis

Pick #21 - Houston Texans: Ahmad Hardy, Running Back,

Missouri

Rank: #19 overall | Grade: A- Why This Pick:

Addresses key depth concern. While Running Back wasn't the top priority, Ahmad Hardy's talent at #19 overall was too good to pass up. Sometimes value trumps need.

The Fit:

Ahmad Hardy brings immediate impact to Houston Texans. Ahmad Hardy has rocketed up 2027 draft boards after arguably the best FBS running back season of 2025, and some evaluators have gone as far as comparing his prospect profile to Ashton Jeanty. A junior transfer from Louisiana-Monroe, Hardy detonated E... His best trait—elite contact balance with exceptional lower-body drive to break initial tackles—fits perfectly with what this team needs. Projects as a Ashton Jeanty (similar contact balance and finishing power in a compact frame)-type player at the NFL level.

Strengths: Elite contact balance with exceptional lower-body drive to break initial tackles

Weaknesses: Recovering from May 2026 gunshot wound to upper leg requiring surgery with unclear return timeline

NFL Comp: Ashton Jeanty (similar contact balance and finishing power in a compact frame)

Full scouting report for Ahmad Hardy → | See Houston Texans 7-round draft →

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Pick #53 - Houston Texans: Sammy Brown, Inside Linebacker,

Clemson

Rank: #53 overall | Grade: B- Why This Pick:

Best player available. Houston Texans needed Defensive Line help, but Sammy Brown (ranked #53) represents elite value here. You can't pass on top-tier talent when it falls to you.

The Fit:

Sammy Brown brings immediate impact to Houston Texans. Sammy Brown is a downhill box linebacker who arrived at Clemson as the 2023 High School Butkus Award winner and a consensus five-star, and he has played up to the billing. He claimed ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2024 with 87 tackles, 11.5 TFL... His best trait—elite production for a true freshman and sophomore: 194 tackles, 25.0 tfl and 10.0 sacks across 27 games—fits perfectly with what this team needs. Projects as a Trenton Simpson (fellow athletic Clemson LB with downhill burst)-type player at the NFL level.

Strengths: Elite production for a true freshman and sophomore: 194 tackles, 25.0 TFL and 10.0 sacks across 27 games

Weaknesses: Coverage is the clear developmental area, with PFF grading him 61.8 in that phase and coverage scores grading out to just 58 percent

NFL Comp: Trenton Simpson (fellow athletic Clemson LB with downhill burst)

Full scouting report for Sammy Brown → | See Houston Texans 7-round draft →

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Pick #85 - Houston Texans: Princewill Umanmielen, Edge Rusher,

LSU

Rank: #90 overall | Grade: C+ Why This Pick:

Addresses key depth concern. While Edge Rusher wasn't the top priority, Princewill Umanmielen's talent at #90 overall was too good to pass up. Sometimes value trumps need.

The Fit:

Princewill Umanmielen brings immediate impact to Houston Texans. Princewill Umanmielen is an ascending edge rusher coming off a breakout 2025 at Ole Miss after two developmental seasons at Nebraska, and the younger brother of Carolina Panthers edge Princely Umanmielen. He ranked among the top players in the 2026 t... His best trait—long, explosive get-off with strong, active hands—fits perfectly with what this team needs. Projects as a Princely Umanmielen, his brother, with a similar build but more development needed-type player at the NFL level.

Strengths: Long, explosive get-off with strong, active hands

Weaknesses: Lean frame still lacks functional power and needs to fill out

NFL Comp: Princely Umanmielen, his brother, with a similar build but more development needed

Full scouting report for Princewill Umanmielen → | See Houston Texans 7-round draft →

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Pick #121: Taylor Wein (Defensive Line,

Oklahoma

) - Grade C. Day 3 value pick. Depth addition with special teams potential.

Pick #185: Terry Moore (Safety,

Ohio State

) - Grade C-. Day 3 value pick. Depth addition with special teams potential.

Pick #243: Emmanuel Oyebadejo (Defensive Line,