HOUSTON (AP) 鈥� The Houston Texans addressed their biggest needs in this year鈥檚 by shoring up their interior offensive and defensive lines with their top picks.
The Texans traded up two spots to take guard Keylan Rutledge with the 26th overall pick in the draft. It marked the first time they鈥檇 taken a player in the first round since selecting quarterback C.J. Stroud and defensive end Will Anderson Jr. second and third overall in 2023.
Rutledge will compete immediately for a spot on a line that has struggled in the interior. They have veterans Wyatt Teller and Ed Ingram at the guard positions, but Rutledge could provide a more long-term solution. General manager Nick Caserio believes his physical style of play will help improve the team鈥檚 running game after their offseason trade for running back David Montgomery.
While the Texans are set at defensive end with stars and Danielle Hunter, they addressed their need at defensive tackle by trading up to take Ohio State鈥檚 Kayden McDonald with the fourth pick in the second round. Caserio felt fortunate to get McDonald, who he was a consensus All-American, in the second round.
He was the Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year after he had 65 tackles, including nine for losses and three sacks last season.
鈥淲e felt McDonald was probably the best run defender in the draft,鈥� Caserio said. 鈥淗ad a really productive season. Defensive tackle that was involved in … 60-plus tackles, it鈥檚 pretty impressive.鈥�
The 6-foot-2, 326-pound McDonald said will motivate him to prove people wrong.
鈥淓verybody that went before me, that fuels me,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 not one player better than me in this class. I鈥檓 going to show it. I鈥檓 coming in to work.鈥�
Coach DeMeco Ryans is thrilled to have added McDonald to a defense that was among the best in the NFL last season.
鈥淢cDonald is the guy we all 鈥� scouts, coaches, everybody, the collective group, everybody liked the talent,鈥� Ryans said. 鈥淎 young player, but he鈥檚 grown. He shows the strength in the run game. He shows the ability to get off blocks and finish.鈥�
The Texans added another player that could help on the offensive line with fourth-round pick Febechi Nwaiwu. The Oklahoma standout was a second-team All-SEC selection by the league鈥檚 coaches after starting 11 games at right guard and two at center for the Sooners last season.
Adding a tight end
The Texans added a big target for Stroud by picking Michigan tight end Marlin Klein with the 27th pick in the second round. The 6-foot-6, 248-pound Klein grew up in Germany and played his first two high school seasons there before moving to the United States to finish high school in Georgia.
Klein is known as a strong blocker but also had 24 catches for 248 yards and a touchdown for the Wolverines last season.
鈥淢arlin was kind of a no-brainer,鈥� Caserio said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a player we really liked.鈥�
Caserio joked that the addition of Klein could get the Texans an international game in Germany in an upcoming season.
鈥淕et your passport ready,鈥� he said.
GM: Nico isn鈥檛 going anywhere
Caserio became annoyed this weekend when asked about reports that the Texans could be interested in trading star receiver Nico Collins.
鈥淭eams call teams all the time and ask about players,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e not trading Nico Collins. Whoever reported it or whatever information that they had, they can take it and shove it. We鈥檙e not trading Nico.鈥�
The rest of the draft
Houston added Clemson linebacker Wade Woodaz in the fourth round and USC safety Kamari Ramsey with the first pick in the fifth round. They wrapped up their draft by getting Boston College receiver Lewis Bond in the sixth round and took Indiana linebacker Aiden Fisher in the final round.
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