Taking a look at the top Houston Texans draft targets with the 28th pick, including tackle Max Iheanachor.
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While the third year of the DeMeco Ryans era in Houston led to their third straight AFC Divisional round loss, there was still plenty of reason for optimism heading into the 2026 NFL offseason. The Texans’ defense blossomed into one of the most dangerous units in the NFL, and their playoff loss was a narrow road loss to a New England Patriots team that would go all the way to Super Bowl LX. Coming off a 12-5 record and arguably the best season in franchise history, a successful NFL Draft is imperative to Houston’s continued success moving forward.
Here are three Houston Texans draft targets to take with the 28th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Want more draft analysis? Check out our final 2026 NFL Mock Draft here!
Houston Texans Draft Targets at No. 28
Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
What this draft lacks in skill players, it definitely makes up for in offensive linemen. Arizona State product Max Iheanachor is just one of many examples of this. After testing well at the NFL Combine, Iheanachor has skyrocketed up draft boards. He started out playing basketball and didn’t start playing football until junior college. Even though he is still raw, the flipside to that is he has an incredibly high potential. He has good footwork and is a smooth mover in space.
Iheanachor needs to go somewhere where he can be coached and brought along to continue learning the position the right way. While he could start Week 1, his value comes in his natural improvement over the next few years. That is why his fit in Houston makes sense. The Texans need help now, while also needing help down the line as well. Iheanachor may be raw, but he is already good enough as is to start in this offense. While his play may be shaky against better opposition to start, he’ll only continue to grow and will be one of the better tackles in the league quicker than you’d think.
Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
For as good as the Houston Texans’ defense was last year, they could’ve used some help at the defensive tackle position. Not only are they thin at depth, but the talent is not as good as it should be. Drafting a solid defensive tackle would make a dangerous defense lethal, which is why Florida product Caleb Banks would be a great pick at 28th overall.
Simply put, Banks is a wide load. Standing at 6’6″ and weighing 330 pounds, he is a tough player to move. He’s strong, has long arms and has a quicker first step than many would expect for a man that big. The one big issue with his game is his lack of skill outside of his physical abilities, which would make landing in Houston the perfect fit. Not only would he be coached by one of the best defensive minds in the league in DeMeco Ryans, but he’d also have low expectations out the gate with the amount of trouble the rest of the Texans’ defense is for offenses to handle.
Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
As previously mentioned, the Texans need some beef on the interior of their defensive line. If they don’t believe that Caleb Banks is their guy, they still have another really good option in Peter Woods out of Clemson. While he is not as big as a guy like Banks, he is still extremely athletic. His athleticism allows him to get off the blocks quickly and slip past offensive linemen. Not only did he test well at the combine, but he has an incredible motor as well, something DeMeco Ryans certainly values on defense.
A slip in production last year saw him slide slightly down draft boards and there are certainly things he can work on in his game. Fortunately for Woods, the Texans organization would be one of the very best at working on those issues with him and turn him into one of the better defensive tackles that comes out of this draft class. For a team that doesn’t have many glaring concerns, getting a project that could transform into a nice starting piece is a win this late in the first round.
