The Houston Texans remained one of the busier teams in the 2026 draft into Day 3, coming away with Febechi Nwaiwu and Wade Woodaz, the latter of whom they secured after a trade back with the Los Angeles Chargers.
At this point of the draft, it is all about finding quality, cost-controlled depth, and the Texans surely believe they have done just that.
Remember: this is a team that was one touchdown away from the AFC Championship Game.
Texans Add Febechi Nwaiwu, Swing Trade to Secure Wade Woodaz in 2026 Draft
GettyHouston Texans general manager Nick Caserio is seen before a game between the Auburn Tigers and the Texas A&M Aggies.
KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson reported on the Texans’ trade with the Chargers first, with the broadcast failing to keep up with social media throughout the three-day event.
Texans get:
- 2026 fourth-round pick (No. 123 overall/Wade Woodaz)
- 2026 sixth-round pick (No. 204 overall)
Chargers get:
- 2026 fourth-round pick (No. 117 overall/Travis Burke)
This is just the latest Texans trade of the draft, with three of their four selections coming via picks they did not originally own. Second-round pick and tight end Marlin Klein is the only selection made with a pick that began as property of the Texans.
That will be the case for the entirety of the class, with their other eight picks coming via trade.
The Texans added Keylan Rutledge and Kayden McDonald (along with Klein) on Days 1 and 2 of the draft. McDonald is the only one who figures to have a path to early playing time.
Even then, the Texans are deep along their defensive interior, skewing this draft even more toward depth and insurance rather than looking to upgrade any positions, which they believe they have done in free agency.
Texans Follow Through on Interest in Clemson LB
GettyWade Woodaz #17 of the Clemson Tigers interacts with the crowd during the Tiger Walk before a game against the Troy Trojans.
While Woodaz was the Texans’ second pick of the day, his landing with Houston stands out following their interest during the pre-draft process. Several other teams, including the Chargers, showed interest in Woodaz, too.
“I had formal interviews at the NFL Combine with the Houston Texans,” Woodaz told NFL Draft on SI’s Justin Melo in March. “I met with the Texans for a second time virtually.”
He will slide in somewhere behind Azeez Al-Shaair, Henry To’oTo’o, and E.J. Speed.
“Woodaz is a disciplined run defender who reads and keys well. He takes good angles and will come downhill to fill the hole. Woodaz does a good job engaging and keeping defenders off of his chest while flashing some quickness to beat blockers to their gaps. He makes solid form tackles but doesn’t have the pop to really punish ball carriers,” Scouts Inc. wrote before the draft.
“Length allows him to get his hands up and bat down balls in coverage. He displays effective cover skills in man coverage when matched up versus tight ends. Overall, Woodaz is a well-rounded player who didn’t show game-wrecking ability in college.”
The Ringer’s Todd McShay ranked Woodaz LB24 and the 292nd-best prospect overall.
Febechi Nwaiwu Joins Rebuilt Offensive Line
GettyFebechi Nwaiwu of the Oklahoma Sooners participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine.
Nwaiwu’s addition stands out for different reasons, as the second interior offensive lineman the Texans have selected in this draft through four rounds, and their third, including free agents.
McShay ranked Nwaiwu seventh at his position and 133rd overall.
“Nwaiwu displays good power and strength when he plays squared up with defensive linemen. He makes good contact, though he has some trouble latching on and sustaining blocks. As a run blocker, Nwaiwu can pull and work in a straight line,” Scouts Inc. wrote in their pre-draft profile.
“However, he has some trouble redirecting in space. While Nwaiwu took most of his snaps at guard for Oklahoma, he held his weight at center during the Sooners’ first two games in 2025. That positional versatility could be useful in the NFL.”
Texans Add Wade Woodaz to Febechi Nwaiwu in Draft After Chargers Trade