The Houston Texans and general manager Nick Caserio have struck again, this time making a trade up a couple of spots in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft to land Keylan Rutledge.
Caserio and the Texans traded with the Buffalo Bills to get their guy.
Rutledge joins an offensive line that has been remade in back-to-back offseasons, but profiles as their second long-term piece in as many tries.
Texans Trade With Bills to Draft Keylan Rutledge
GettyKeylan Rutledge #77 of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets is seen against the Syracuse Orange.
“#Texans OL coach Cole Popovich recently worked out new first round guard Keylan ‘Big Red’ Rutledge, per a league source,” KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson reported on X on April 23. “Now, he is their pick.”
The Texans swapped the 28th overall pick, sending it along with picks Nos. 69 and 167 for the 26th overall selection and the 91st to go with it from the Buffalo Bills.
Texans get:
- 2026 first-round pick (No. 26 overall)
- 2026 third-round pick (No. 91 overall)
Bills get:
- 2026 first-round pick (No. 28 overall)
- 2026 third-round pick (No. 69 overall)
- 2026 fifth-round pick (No. 167 overall)
“#Texans were intrigued by physicality and serious approach of their new first-round guard Keylan ‘Big Red’ Rutledge throughout #NFLDraft process. The recent private workout shortly before #NFL draft with OL coach-run game coordinator Cole Popovich reinforced their conviction about him as a player, per league source,” Wilson said in a follow-up post.
“Now, Rutledge is a Texan as he joins overhauled line that includes left tackle Aireontae Ersery, left guard Wyatt Teller, center Jake Andrews, right guard Ed Ingram, right tackle Braden Smith and former Pro Bowl swing tackle Trent Brown.”
Keylan Rutledge a ‘Solid Blocker’ Amid Red Flags
GettyKeylan Rutledge of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets speaks to the media during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine.
The Athletic’s Dane Brugler noted that the newest Texans player, Rutledge, is a “solid blocker who will fight for early playing time — if his medicals are clean.”
His evaluation only got more concerning from there.
“Rutledge will have trouble at times protecting his edges, but his aggressive mindset and competitive toughness are the roots of his success,” Brugler wrote in his “The Beast” draft guide. “If his medicals are clean, he will compete for immediate playing time at either guard or center (he has been snapping for teams during the pre-draft process).”
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein compared Rutledge to former Green Bay Packers third-round pick Sean Rhyan. He has started 28 of the 34 games that he has played in over the past two seasons.
“Rutledge is a burly, experienced right guard with excellent contact pop and a rugged field demeanor that will appeal to offensive line coaches,” Zierlein wrote in his pre-draft profile on the 6-foot-4, 316-pound guard. “His pass protection range is average, and edge leakage could be a concern against NFL athletes. Rutledge has the toughness to earn a role as a good backup with starting potential.”
The Texans re-signed Ingram before free agency, and then added Smith and Teller once the transaction window opened.
Brown has experience at center and guard.
Moreover, the Texans still have Jarrett Patterson and Sidy Sow, both of whom started games for them last season. That is in addition to having last season’s starter at right tackle and a Super Bowl champion, Brown, behind Smith.
However, the O-line ultimately shakes out, the Texans eventually need Rutledge to join Ersery in the starting lineup.
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Texans Trade up in 2026 Draft to Select Georgia Tech IOL Keylan Rutledge