B
Houston Texans
The Texans robbed the room for Williams. Final grade: B.
by Hitman ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 8 picks
· 6 steals
· 0 reaches
Somebody in the 106th overall pick was going to get robbed, and it turned out to be the rest of the league. The Texans sat still while Antonio Williams, the No. 68 name on the board, slid all the way to them, then sprinted to the podium.
If this class has a fault line, it runs straight through edge rusher. The trade work was a quiet net positive. Job largely done: running back settled and 6 of 8 of the wish list covered.
In short, they left a little better than they arrived, which is the whole idea.
Pick-by-Pick
Peter Woods at pick 38 is money in the bank, a interior defensive lineman taken below his worth. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
A clean, defensible pick in pick No. 45 with a little surplus value in Emmanuel Pregnon. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
A linebacker of that caliber at slot 59 is the definition of value, full stop. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
They stopped a slide they were happy to see, landing Jake Slaughter in the 69th overall pick. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
They read the board right and Eli Stowers was the payoff at the Round 3 slot. It fills a real need, too.
Mike Washington Jr. slid further than he should have, and Round 3, Pick 16 is lovely value for the running back. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
You do not let a wide receiver like Antonio Williams reach No. 106 and blink. They did not. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Louis Moore in the 173rd pick is fine work, a shade of surplus and no downside. Useful body for a position without much behind the starter.