The Texans have given fans plenty to worry about heading into the bye week, and the focus has already started drifting toward 2027. Houston sits at 2-5 after an overtime loss to the Giants in Week 7, and the idea of a run similar to last season is fading fast.
That kind of start has naturally pushed some attention toward the draft. Right now, Houston owns only four selections ahead of the 2027 NFL Draft after using its second-round pick in the deal for Marvin Harrison Jr. and moving fifth- and sixth-round picks in earlier trades. The Texans still have their most valuable pick, though, and with the current projection pointing to the fourth overall selection, they could either make a premium choice or move back for more capital.
Using the PFF mock draft simulator, here’s one way that could play out for Houston.
The first pick in this scenario is a big swing on the defensive side of the ball, with the Texans taking Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore. Corner might not look like an obvious need at first glance, since Derek Stingley Jr., Jalen Pitre, and Kamari Lassiter are all under contract for 2027. Even so, there’s always room to add another elite player, especially one with Moore’s ceiling.
Moore is widely viewed as the top cover corner in the class. He’s comfortable in man coverage, but he doesn’t fade in zone, either.
He can challenge receivers at the line, break up passes, and finish plays with interceptions. There’s real top-of-the-draft upside here.
His season has had a wrinkle, though. Moore suffered a concussion on October 3rd and missed the Stanford game before returning against BYU and looking pretty solid.
His medical report at the NFL Scouting Combine could matter a lot when draft season heats up. Still, the fit is easy to see: pair him with Stingley and let Houston’s defense keep building on a strong foundation.
The next defensive addition comes on the interior with Oregon’s A’Mauri Washington. At 6-foot-2 and 322 pounds, he looks like a blend of nose tackle and defensive tackle. He’s smaller than a pure monster like Vita Vea, but he brings real size and strength.
Washington’s draft appeal is tied mostly to his run defense. He has shown some pass-rush flashes, but that’s not why Houston would take him.
He’s the kind of player who can hold up at the point of attack and make life difficult on early downs. As a rookie, he probably wouldn’t see much work on third down unless the situation clearly calls for a run-stopping body.
Put him next to Kayden McDonald, and the Texans would have two interior defenders to lean on.
In the fourth round, Houston turns to the backfield and takes Auburn running back Jeremiah Cobb. It’s not exactly the kind of pick that gets fans buzzing, but the Texans need another runner.
David Montgomery hasn’t met expectations in 2026 and might only remain next season as a depth option. Woody Marks has been solid, but he looks more like a rotational player than a true lead piece. If Houston wants to keep using a committee, Cobb gives them a power option.
Cobb has been efficient this season, averaging 5.6 yards per carry. PFF has also graded him well, giving him an excellent rushing grade that ranks among the best in the country.
The question is why that production hasn’t shown up more consistently across his college career. He may decide to return to school for another year to improve his stock, but if he enters the draft and is still on the board in round four, Houston could decide it’s worth the shot.
Even with Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter already on the roster, the Texans aren’t done adding to the edge. Looking ahead to 2027, Sabastian Harsh is the only depth piece under contract behind those two, so the team will need more help there one way or another.
That’s where Oregon edge rusher Teitum Tuioti comes in late. He’s a name worth watching because he’s flashed real potential for the Ducks, nearly reached 10 sacks last season, and is on pace for similar production this fall.
He’s not just a finisher, either. Tuioti gets after the quarterback by creating pressure, and that trait matters, especially for a Houston defense that already has proven pass-rush talent.
He’s also strong against the run.
Getting him this late would be a steal, and in this mock, the Texans walk away lucky enough to land him in the seventh round.
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Nelsons comments land with extra weight because he is speaking from inside knowledge, after a tenure in Houston that he still points to as a productive stretch. For a defense already under scrutiny, criticism from a former starter who knows the system from the inside only sharpens the questions about where this group is headed and whether the current approach is getting the Texans closer to the standard they expected. [Read more 🡒]