The Houston Texans’ 2026 draft class has been characterized by its toughness. That includes Texans first-round pick Keylan Rutledge, and their trade up to get him makes more sense as time passes and new information emerges.
It corroborates previous reports about the former Georgia Tech standout. It also further vindicates Texans general manager Nick Caserio’s typical aggressiveness.
For his part, Caserio said that the Texans had even grander trade plans in mind during the draft.
Texans Draft Trade Gets Telling New Context
GettyThe Houston Texans’ decision to trade up in the draft for Keylan Rutledge looks wiser after new intel.
Caserio has been open about his willingness to trade as needed in the draft, so the Texans’ activity was not surprising in a vacuum. However, Rutledge–whom the Texans traded up 28th to 26th in a deal with the Buffalo Bills to select–was.
That is, until the post-draft commentary around him emerged.
Rutledge was the Texans’ target from early on. Moreover, they have once again been validated for trading ahead of other interested clubs.
“Georgia Tech guard Keylan Rutledge was considered a sleeper first-rounder, but Houston was always his ace in the hole. The Texans identified him as a favorite during the process,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wrote on April 30. “One NFC executive called Rutledge the OG1 of the draft — yes, ahead of Penn State’s Olaivavega Ioane.”
Fowler noted the presence of Rutledge’s fellow former Yellow Jacket, Texans assistant GM James Liipfert. Texans offensive line coach Cole Popovich also got together with him for a “private workout … in the days leading up to the draft.”
The Athletic’s Dane Brugler previously lauded the Texans upon learning of interest in Rutledge.
“I liked the Keylan Rutledge pick, especially after talking to other teams that were not happy he went before they could get him,” Brugler wrote on April 27.
Texans Get High Marks on Back-to-Back Picks
GettyThe Houston Texans are receiving more praise for selecting Kayden McDonald.
While some of their later picks have been scrutinized–fourth-round linebacker Wade Woodaz is one example–the Texans have drawn praise for picking Kayden McDonald after Rutledge.
In fact, the argument has been made that switching their draft slots (the Texans traded up to 36th overall in a deal with the Las Vegas Raiders) would alter perceptions of their class as a whole.
There are very few doubts about McDonald, though.
Brugler lauded the 2024 national champion, McDonald, as his “favorite pick” of the Texans’ 2026 draft class.
“McDonald was my favorite here because of his potential impact on an already impressive defense,” Brugler wrote after noting the interest in Rutledge. “He has dominant run-defending qualities.”
Fowler added of the Texans’ selection that “GM Nick Caserio, one of the league’s most avid traders, worked on multiple scenarios to get Kayden McDonald at No. 36. He was prepared to trade to No. 33 to get him, and on the draft’s first night, he explored a late first-round trade-in after picking 28th.”
Nick Caserio Had More Trades in the Works
GettyHouston Texans general manager Nick Caserio speaks to the media during the 2025 NFL Combine.
Caserio has built one of the NFL’s best rosters with the Texans. He has utilized every avenue available to him to do so, including the trade market. According to the fifth-year GM, the Texans’ three deals were just the ones they completed.
Kay Adams joked with Caserio, whose three trades during the draft were down from his career average of 5.0, prompting the executive to offer a candid response.
“We tried. There were multiple scenarios that we had on the board at different points,” Caserio said on “Up & Adams” on April 30. “Around pick [No.] 59, there was about two or three trades that were pretty close to materializing, but they kind of fell through. Team either moved above us or moved around us, or they made a trade behind us. So, just the way that it works sometimes. But it’s not for lack of effort or lack of trying.”
Six of the 10 picks ahead of that 59th spot were involved in trades.
The Texans drafted tight end Marlin Klein 59th overall. It is unclear who they were targeting, but Caserio said they stuck to their board. To that end, tight ends Eli Stowers (Philadelphia Eagles) and Nate Boerkircher (Jacksonville Jaguars) went 54th and 57th, respectively.
The Texans used the 59th pick to select Klein. It is the only one Caserio and the Texans used in this draft that was not obtained via trade.
Insider Intel Confirms Texans Rumor After Trade to Land ‘Favorite’