B
Houston Texans
The Texans robbed the room for Slaughter. Final grade: B.
by Romega74 ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 8 picks
· 5 steals
· 0 reaches
Somewhere a general manager is explaining how Jake Slaughter got past him. The Texans do not have to explain a thing at pick 106. It does the job without flash, and the B reflects it.
The edge rusher spot stays a question, and it was the one they most needed an answer at. Job largely done: running back settled and 6 of 8 of the wish list covered. They trusted the board more than the depth chart.
Not a headline-grabber, but a perfectly good weekend's work.
Pick-by-Pick
In slot 28 they get a red-zone target to build around, and a steal at that.
A tidy bit of business in pick No. 38, where Sonny Styles graded well above the range. A need, and now a little less of one.
Steal is underselling it; Caleb Banks at the Round 2 slot is a heist with the alarm still ringing. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
A top-tier offensive lineman at a bargain, Gennings Dunker in the 69th pick, plain and simple. The roster fit checks out.
Jake Slaughter in Round 4, Pick 6 is the kind of fall that makes a whole class. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
Charles Demmings in the 141st overall pick is exactly on the number, no argument either way. Useful body for a position without much behind the starter.
Kevin Coleman Jr. at No. 167 nudges the ledger their way without any fuss. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
They took Desmond Reid at par in pick 243, which is nothing to complain about. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.