The Houston Texans have likely the premier defense in the NFL, but the offensive side of the ball has been their undoing in recent years. If Houston plans on becoming a legitimate Super Bowl threat heading into next season onwards, they will need to get better on the offensive side of things. Quarterback CJ Stroud is heading into year 2 with his offensive coordinator who was also a rookie in the role this past season which contributed to the offense stagnating. However, the personnel that Houston has on the offensive side of things will also loom large next season for the team. Here I will go into detail assessing the Texans’ personnel on the offensive line as the 2026 season approaches.
Set to start at left tackle is 2025 2nd rounder Aireontae Ersery who had a mostly forgettable rookie season although he was still decent. Ersery ranked below average in terms of pass protection, run blocking, and as an overall player in his rookie season according to Pro Football Focus. Ersery however was a rookie, and those struggles are understandable and he still could live up to his high draft potential heading into next season. Ersery is set to start at left tackle as he heads into year 2, he could become a very good starter at left tackle for the Texans given how highly he was taken and given his solid play at times in year 1.
Set to start at left guard is newly acquired veteran Wyatt Teller who has a very high ceiling but is too inconsistent as of now. Teller, a 2018 5th rounder, struggled in his first two seasons in the NFL but then rounded into form. In year 3 in the NFL Teller was actually graded as the best overall guard in the NFL and the best run blocking guard in the NFL as well. Teller continued his elite play the following season ranking in the top five among all guards according to Pro Football Focus, Teller also graded in the well above average range the following two seasons. However, the concerns surrounding Teller revolve around his lackluster 2024 season where he graded slightly below average at his position and then the following year where he graded in the middle of the pack. Teller is coming over from the Browns who have been known to have perhaps the poorest offensive circumstances in the NFL which likely negatively affected his on the field performance. Now that Teller is in more ideal offensive circumstances perhaps we can see him live up to his potential which is being an elite player at the position.
Set to start at center is 2026 1st rounder Keylan Rutledge. Rutledge was a first team All-American during his last season in college being recognized as one of the premier offensive lineman in the nation. Rutledge as of now remains the weak link on the Texans’ offensive line as he will likely see his rookie growing pains, but perhaps as the season progresses, he can come into his own and live up to his high draft billing and prove to be a fine starting center for Houston.
Set to start at right guard is 2022 2nd rounder Ed Ingram who has had his ups and downs but can be a very good player when on his A game. Ingram during the 2025 season, which was his first with the Texans, graded in the well above average range as an overall player while being graded as one of the premier run blockers in the sport as well. In two of four seasons in the NFL, Ingram has graded above average twice and below average twice in terms of an overall offense grade among qualified players at his position according to Pro Football Focus. However, one of those seasons was his rookie year where he was obviously going to struggle and in the other season, he missed almost half the year due to injury and was likely not playing at 100%.
Set to start at right tackle is newly acquired former 2nd rounder Braden Smith who also is a very good to a great player when on his A game but struggles to remain consistent. Smith in his first six seasons in the NFL consistently graded in the well above average to elite range among players at his position but has since had two straight seasons grading below average in that regard. Smith will play next season at only thirty years old so he still should be in or around his prime and could certainly return to the very strong year he had in years prior.
From a depth standpoint on the offensive line the Texans have one of the deepest offensive lines in the NFL with several capable starters present in their reserve unit who could provide the team with some depth and/or become a starter if need be. 2024 2nd rounder Blake Fisher was drafted very highly and has shown potential in the NFL thus far and could breakout as a high-level player starting next season. Interior offensive linemen Jarrett Patterson, Jake Andrews, Sidy Sow, and Evan Brown are all capable of being starters as well. While tackle Trent Brown has produced at a high level for long stretches in the NFL while playing at a borderline elite rate from time to time as well.
The Texans have a good but not great starting offensive line that is likely the deepest offensive line in the sport. However, I do not feel as if it will be a great line although it certainly could be if young/inconsistent players are on their A game. A breakdown of the Texans’ offensive line heading into the 2026 season can be found below.
2026 Projected Starting Texans’ Offensive Line
LT – Aireontae Ersery – C to C- as rookie, 2025 2nd rounder, will be expected to live up to high draft billing starting next season
LG – Wyatt Teller – B+, A level player when on his A game, lacks consistency
C – Keylan Rutledge – 2026 1st rounder, one of premier college offensive line
RG – Ed Ingram – C+ to B-, very good player when on his A game, lacks consistency, but inconsistent play may have been due to youth/health
RT – Braden Smith – B to B+, was consistently borderline elite player up until last few seasons, can potentially recapture form in year 1 with Houston
2026 Notable Texans Offensive Line Reserves
T – Blake Fisher – 2024 2nd rounder, B- so far, still improving and could live up to high draft pick potential starting next year
G – Jarrett Patterson – C+
C – Jake Andrews – B-, could become A level player
T – Trent Brown – B to B-, can be borderline elite
G – Sidy Sow – B to B-, borderline elite as rookie in 2023, failed to see field much in next two seasons, could become A level player if he builds off rookie season
G – Evan Brown – C+ to B-
