One of the most enjoyable and interesting weeks of the NFL calendar is upon us, as the 2026 NFL Draft begins on Thursday night, and continues for the next two days after that. It’s always more fun when your team has more than their fair share of picks in the drafts and that’s exactly the situation the Texans find themselves in.
They have their own picks in the first (28th overall) and second round (59th overall), and thanks to the Laremy Tunsil trade with Washington, they own the Commanders’ pick in the second round, as well, the 38th overall pick. They are without their own third round pick, but they do have the Giants’ third rounder (69th overall). Additiionally, they have two fourth round picks, their own and the Commanders’. All in all, the Texans currently hold eight selections.
If there is one thing we know about Nick Caserio, though, it’s that he loves to move around the draft board. While the Texans currently own those premium picks of 28th, 38th, and 59th overall, chances are they will move up or down from one or more of those spots. It’s what Caserio does. Trades are oxygen to him.
For now, though, let’s pretend they sit tight with all three of their first and second round picks. It’s here where I provide my annual history lesson, with the three most intriguing names taken at each of those spots since the 2000 draft. The intrigue is based largely on geography — Houston or Texas ties — with the occasional wild card. So, here we go for picks 28, 38, and 59:
28th overall
PAYTON TURNER, DE, Houston (Saints, 2021)
On my radio show “Payne & Pendergast,” my cohost, former Texans defensive tackle Seth Payne, likes to adopt a Houston Cougar draftee each year. In 2021, it was Turner, who was a mild surprise pick in the late first round to the Saints. It was an injury-marred four seasons in New Orleans, followed by a 2025 season on IR in Dallas. Turner signed a one-year deal with the Lions this offseason.
LAKEN TOMLINSON, G, Duke (Lions, 2015)
I know that Texan fans may have a hard time believing that Tomlinson was once a first round pick, given that his one season in Houston ended with him getting cut midseason, but there was a time where Tomlinson was very much on the rise. Ultimately, he became a journeyman, playing for about a half dozen different NFL teams. He is currently a free agent.
MARK INGRAM, RB, Alabama (Saints, 2011)
Another former Texans defensive tackle, the former Heisman Trophy winner from Alabama had a stellar NFL career with the Saints, Ravens, and briefly in 2021, the Houston Texans. You can now find Ingram on FOX on Saturday mornings as part of the Big Noon Kickoff show.
38th overall
XAVIEN HOWARD, CB, Baylor (Dolphins, 2016)
Howard was one of the many NFL players that began to come out of Baylor during the rise of the Art Briles Era. We, unfortunately, know how that era of football ended for Baylor, but Howard was one of the good stories, eventually becoming one of the highest paid cornerbacks in the NFL.
MANTI TE’O, LB, Notre Dame (Chargers, 2013)
We could do 10,000 words easily on Te’o, who doesn’t really have any ties at all to Houston, other than taking home the Houston-based Lombardi Award in 2012. Also, the runner up for the Heisman that season (finishing second to Johnny Manziel), Te’o is probably best known for the surreal story of his getting catfished in college, and thinking he was conducting an online relationship with a cancer-stricken woman. The person on the other end turned out to, in fact, be a man.
STANFORD ROUTT, CB, Houston (Raiders, 2005)
Routt was a second round pick, who, like Howard, was also a product of an Art Briles coached team, when Briles was the University of Houston head coach. Routt ran really well at the combine that draft season, and ended up having ing a nice NFL career, including a stop in Houston with the Texans in his later years in the league.
59th overall
BLAKE FISHER, T, Notre Dame (Texans, 2024)
ED INGRAM, G, LSU (Vikings, 2022)
Indeed, a couple of current Texans offensive lineman were products of the 59th overall pick in the draft, Ingram in 2022 and Fisher in 2024., Of course, Ingram wasn’t selected by the Texans, but they did trade for him last season, and it worked out so well, they inked him to a three year, $37 million extension a month ago. As for Fisher, it’s not gone nearly as well. He is fighting for his football life with the Texans this training camp, and depending on who they draft this week, he might be a trade candidate this summer.
DENZEL MIMS, WR, Baylor (Jets, 2021)
It’s hard to find much more in the history of the 59th overall pick that would titillate Houston folks, so I’ll go with Mims, who was a product of Baylor coming out of college. He was thought to be a first round talent, but dropped deep into the second round. He currently plays for the Dallas Renegades of the UFL.
