The Houston Texans are heading into the season with a harsh label attached to their offensive line. Sharp Football Analysis has them pegged at No. 31 in the NFL for 2026, and the number comes with a brutal six-out-of-100 score.
That ranking, shared by Warren Sharp on X, places only the Cleveland Browns behind Houston in the full list. At the top sit the Denver Broncos, followed by the Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Los Angeles Rams.
Sharp Football Analysis explained its process this way: "score based on average ranks of positional unit (on a 100-point scale) for all 32 teams, from Sharp Football staff voters. If all voters had a team at #1, that score would be 100."
The Texans’ placement is tied to a unit that already struggled badly in 2025. Houston finished 30th in pass-block win rate at 56% and last in run-block win rate at 68%.
That kind of production is hard to ignore, especially when the team is trying to build around C.J. Stroud.
Sharp Football Analysis also pointed to the Texans’ offseason additions, including rookie Keylan Rutledge and veterans Wyatt Teller and Braden Smith. The concern there is obvious: Teller and Smith have missed a combined 17 games over the last two seasons.
The staff wrote, "It’s going to be tough for C.J. Stroud to make the necessary strides playing behind this offensive line.
Houston added rookie Keylan Rutledge and veterans Wyatt Teller and Braden Smith, who have missed a combined 17 games over the last two seasons, in hopes of turning things around quickly."
Still, the ranking may be leaning heavily on reputation and last year’s numbers rather than what this group could become over time. Rookies usually grow, communication gets cleaner, and another offseason can go a long way toward building cohesion.
That’s also the case Ross Tucker made in a recent interview with Texans analyst Garret Williams, known as "Houston Stressans." Tucker said, “This is the second year in a row where Caserio has thrown a lot of volume at the position.
Right now, they have 10 guys that have played, or first round pick. 10 guys that you’d like to think if they were out there would be good enough to not be the reason why the Texans lose & give them depth for injuries. It’s debatable how much Wyatt Teller has left, I thought he did some really positive things last year.
Keylan Rutledge is going to be the key. They’re going to test Rutledge early both physically and mentally.”
Houston has clearly poured resources into the front, and the hope is that the group looks much better than a bottom-tier ranking suggests. The Texans are also expected to lean more on the run, use more gap-scheme blocking than wide-zone concepts, and benefit from the addition of All-Pro talent and veteran presence in Teller and Smith. Offensive coordinator Nick Caley and offensive line coach Cole Popovich also bring more experience into the mix.
Sharp acknowledged that Houston could prove the projection wrong. Time will tell how much this squad truly makes an impact.
In Other News...
Texans Tied To A Risky Cornerback Move Fans Will Debate
The Texans are among four teams that have checked in on former Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold, a former first-round pick whose NFL path has been interrupted by off-field trouble. Houston has already brought Arnold in for a workout, and he has another visit lined up, putting the team in the middle of a situation that blends roster need with plenty of caution.
The Colts, Jets and Seahawks have also shown interest, which suggests there is still a market for Arnold despite the circumstances surrounding his release in Detroit after his arrest. He is facing serious legal issues and has already posted a $1 million bond, with a court appearance coming in June, so any team weighing a move will have to balance the talent with the uncertainty that comes with it. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Linked To Troubling Terrion Arnold Interest During Legal Drama
Terrion Arnolds court appearance this week added another layer to a situation that has already put his football future in a holding pattern. Arnold was back before a judge for a hearing on whether he must wear a GPS monitor while on house arrest pending trial on felony charges, and his agent used the moment to signal that interest around the league has not gone away even as the legal process continues. For now, Arnold remains confined to his home except for work and meetings with his attorneys.
The legal uncertainty is what makes the next step so tricky for any team that might be considering him, including Houston. His agents testimony suggested there is still a real market for Arnold, but the unresolved question of how the NFL handles the case could shape whether that interest turns into something more concrete. For a player trying to get back on the field, the football side and the legal side are still moving on very different timelines. [Read more 🡒]
Henry To'oTo'o Just Became More Important To Texans Than Ever
Henry To'oTo'o has quietly become one of the more important pieces on the Texans defense heading into 2026, thanks to the steady play he has given over the past two seasons and the way the linebacker room has thinned out around him. Houston has continued to add depth at the position this offseason, but the bigger picture is hard to miss: To'oTo'o is positioned for a much larger workload than he had when the roster was healthier.
He is also entering a contract year, which adds another layer to his season beyond the weekly demands of the defense. For a player ranked 17th in the Texans top-25 impact list, this feels like a pivotal stretch, one that could shape both Houstons middle of the defense and To'oTo'os standing with the organization well beyond this fall. [Read more 🡒]