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How NFL experts graded the Texans' selection of OL Keylan Rutledge
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- How NFL experts graded the Texans' selection of OL Keylan Rutledge
Big Red?
A Big Problem for opposing defensive linemen coming to Reliant Stadium in 2026.
The Houston Texans didn't wait for Georgia Tech offensive lineman Keylan Rutledge to fall into their lap at pick No. 28. They knew he was destined to be a part of the long-term plan, which is why they traded up two spots to get him.
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“This guy is all ball,” Texans general manager Nick Caserio said. “Doesn’t care about anything else. He wants to punch you in the mouth and that works here.”
Initially, fans thought that Houston planned to move on out of Round 1 with the Arizona Cardinals to make the pick for Ty Simpson , but that plan fell apart after Los Angeles shocked the NFL world with the pick of the Alabama starter at No. 13.
Once the run on offensive linemen began, Houston knew it needed to settle on its top pick. The name: Rutledge, a mauler in the trenches who excelled in run blocking during his lone season in Atlanta . The 6-foot-4, 318-pound lineman didn't allow a sack in over 400 pass-blocking reps last season and has position flexibility, having tested at guard and center, helping the Yellow Jackets secure a 10-win season.
How did the experts grade the pick?
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Here’s a collection of outcomes from various media outlets, where experts believe this was a promising pick, though perhaps unnecessary to trade up two spots and move back 22 spots in Round 2 to land perhaps the best interior run blocker in the class.
USA Today: B-
From Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz: "Nick Caserio looked to the trade market once again to add yet another piece to Houston's ever-evolving front. Rutledge is an absolute pest in the run game with jarring power when he latches onto a defender. His aggressive mindset can work against him at times, but Houston clearly can weaponize his skill set as it looks to pave open holes for new lead running back David Montgomery ."
NFL.com: B
From Chad Reuter : "Rutledge will certainly bring toughness to the Texans’ offensive line. Houston swapped third-round picks and gave up a fifth-rounder to the Bills to move up two picks for the powerful and athletic Rutledge, which is not a deal-breaker for me. I can’t say for certain that they would have found similar value later on.
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CBS Sports: A
From Mike Renner: "Rutledge fits exactly what the Texans' offense morphed into down the stretch last season. He's a hard-nosed guard who you'll never have to worry about playing through the whistle. He's a people mover at the point of attack and physical in pass protection. The Texans get a building-block piece to protect C.J. Stroud ."
Texans Wire: B+
From Cole Thompson: "Moving back 22 spots in Round 3 to move up two spots in Round 1 isn't ideal, but from a scheme standpoint, Rutledge fits exactly what the Texans' offense is looking to become under Nick Caley. Rutledge is the type of player you know isn't afraid to spend his weekend bare-knuckle boxing while working on his footwork for pass-blocking set. The hard-hitting guard is someone destined to protect his quarterback by throwing people out of the way. He one time got upset with officials for forcing him to leave the field because his face couldn't stop bleeding after he headbutted a defender. This is a people mover in run blocking with the upside to improve with each snap. That's all that matters when looking to win now and build for the future."
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Yahoo Sports! - C
From Yahoo! Sports: "This is a sensible pick for the Texans here, even if the prospect is still a little bit surprising. Rutledge is a mean, athletic offensive guard who helped pave the way for one of the toughest offenses in all of college football last year. This is a bit higher than he was projected to go, but taking him here is sensible for sure.
Sporting News - D
From Vinnie Iyer: "The Texans make a curious pick after also trading up a couple of spots. There's nothing wrong with going for an interior offensive lineman, but this feels like their version of the Patriots taking Cole Strange . There were several better options at the position than Rutledge, more of an early Day 3 prospect, including Texas A&M's Chase Bisontis."
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ESPN - B
From ESPN: "The Texans made their first pick at No. 26 after trading up two slots to select guard Keylan Rutledge (Georgia Tech). Texans general manager Nick Caserio said Rutledge has an 'elite' makeup and was the one prospect that all the scouts were unanimous on."
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: How NFL experts graded the Texans' selection of OL Keylan Rutledge
