The Houston Texans advanced further in the playoffs than the Jacksonville Jaguars. However, they finished second in the AFC South and remain a flawed team. Specifically, their offensive line had a hard time protecting quarterback C.J. Stroud and opening holes in the running game. This is why it's not particularly shocking to see them try to beef up the line of scrimmage. What's surprising is that the Jags' division foes are doing their best to botch their attempts.
On Day 1 of the NFL Draft, Houston traded picks No. 28 and No. 167 to the Buffalo Bills for the 26th and 91st overall selections. With pick No. 26, the Texans chose Georgia Tech offensive guard Keylan Rutledge. On paper, this isn't necessarily a bad move, as it solidifies an area of need.
Having said that, Houston gave up assets to overdraft a player it could have easily landed late in Round 2 or early in the third round.
Why the Jaguars shouldn't lose any sleep over the Texans drafting Keylan Rutledge
The consensus big board had Keylan Rutledge as the 51st-best prospect. Sure, he's a mauler who tries to impose his will at the line of scrimmage. However, his overall technique leaves much to be desired. In particular, his pad level prevents him from gaining leverage. On top of that, his hand placement needs refinement.
When you add it all up, Rutledge seems more like a project rather than a hog molly ready to contribute on Day 1. Make no mistake, he could develop into a fine starter down the road, but the Texans need help right now.
Houston signed offensive guard Wyatt Teller and right tackle Bradon Smith in free agency. Both have previously shown that they can play at a high level, but they're coming off unremarkable seasons. Similarly, Houston brought back Trent Brown, but the often-injured veteran probably won't move the needle.
And that's the thing. Despite the Texans' commitment to beefing up the offensive line, they haven't gotten a meaningful return on their investment. Last year, they signed former Jaguars disappointment Cam Robinson to start at left tackle, but he was quickly phased out in favor of then-rookie Aireontae Ersery.
Maybe Houston will have an improved offensive line with Rutledge in the mix, but nobody will bat an eye if they don't.
The Texans remain a threat to the Jaguars in 2026
Now, just because the Texans don't have a good offensive line doesn't mean they're a bad team. Far from it. Even though they finished second in the AFC South, they remain a threat because of their dominant defense.
Even with C.J. Stroud playing at an underwhelming level and the offensive line failing to set the tone, the defense carried the team on its shoulders. And as productive as their offense is, the Jaguars could run into a wall when they face off against their division rival next season.
The Jaguars and Houston split the series last year. If they want to pull off a sweep in 2026, they must exploit the Texans' weakness in the offensive trenches.
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