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C.J. Stroud #7 of the Houston Texans celebrates after a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans.
With the 2026 draft just one day away, the Houston Texans have garnered strikingly different mock draft projections from plugged-in sources, including one for Blake Miller that bodes particularly well for quarterback C.J. Stroud.
The Texans’ largest undertaking this offseason–aside from Will Anderson Jr.’s historic contract extension–has been along their offensive line. This is the second offseason overhaul in a row.
The Texans need a long-term solution, and Miller could be one of the options available.
Texans Predicted to Land Blake Miller in Intel-Based Mock Draft
ESPN’s Peter Schrager projected the Texans would swing a trade with the Carolina Panthers to move up nine spots for Miller, formerly of the Clemson Tigers.
In exchange, the Texans would surrender their first-rounder and a second-round selection.
Texans get:
- 2026 first-round pick (No. 19 overall/Blake Miller)
Panthers get:
- 2026 first-round pick (No. 28 overall/KC Concepcion)
- 2026 second-round pick (No.69 overall)
“With three offensive tackles already off the board and a few OT-needy teams coming up, Houston can flip its early Round 3 pick to move up nine spots in Round 1 and get an experienced, reliable right tackle,” Schrager wrote on April 22. “Miller is steady. And after another OL remake for the Texans, that’s what they need. Miller is an immediate starter who can help open run lanes and keep C.J. Stroud clean.”
The Texans signed former Indianapolis Colts starter Braden Smith in free agency, even after re-signing 2025 starter and Super Bowl champion Trent Brown and retaining 2024 second-round pick Blake Fisher.
Houston resolved their left tackle woes last year, using a second-round pick on Aireontae Ersery after trading out of the first.
Smith has already been pegged as the starter.
Brown figures to operate as the Texans’ swing tackle, while Fisher is on hand in a deep reserve role, and could be a cut or trade candidate before the season. All of that is without the Texans having added Miller–or another OT–in the draft.
Schrager previously projected that the Texans would select Arizona’s Max Iheanachor 28th overall in his previous intel-based mock on April 7.
Texans Get Conflicting Draft Projection
GettyPeter Woods #11 of the Clemson Tigers warms up before the game against the LSU Tigers.
As is often the case with information at this time of season, the other mock goes with a trade back rather than up, with the Houston Chronicle’s Jonathan M. Alexander projecting the Texans will select Miller’s college teammate, Peter Woods, in the second round.
Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald is expected to be gone, but would have been the first choice.
“Drafts rarely ever go exactly as you plan them, especially when you’re as far back as No. 28,” Alexander wrote on April 22.
“In that case, the Texans trade back from No. 28 to No. 34 with the Cardinals — who want to come up for a quarterback — and get the best available player on their draft board at the time: Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods.
Texans get:
- 2026 second-round pick (No. 34 overall/Peter Woods)
- 2026 fourth-round pick (No. 104 overall)
- 2027 sixth-round pick
Cardinals get:
Notably, though, Alexander listed Woods as his alternative selection for the Texans.
Josh Buckhalter covers the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. He has covered both leagues since 2016, including bylines at FanSided, Last Word on Sports and Clocker Sports. He’s based in Villa Park, Illinois. Follow Josh on Twitter and Instagram: @JoshGBuck More about Josh Buckhalter
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