– 🏈 Ed Ingram’s future looks promising: He started 14 games at right guard in 2025 and has a strong case to stay after a breakthrough season. He’s 27, coming off a four-year rookie deal, and has started 55 of 62 career games. PFF gave him his best year yet in 2025. The question is cost, as he won’t be cheap, but Houston is strongly considering bringing him back to anchor the line.
– 📊 Financials and fit: Ingram was paid about $3.4M in the final rookie year and could land around $38.9M over three seasons if re-signed—likely not a top‑tier deal, but enough to keep him as a stable piece for C.J. Stroud. The Texans will weigh that against other OL options and cap considerations.
– 🧱 Draft chatter for 2026: The plan to bolster the line continues in the 2026 draft. Two notable names in the mix:
– Olaivavega Ioane (Penn State) brings natural power and reliability to fortify protection for Stroud.
– Kadyn Proctor (Alabama) could also be the pick, offering versatility to play guard or tackle. Proctor has 40 career starts at left tackle and could slide inside or across to help the right side. He’s a massive “plug-and-play” option at 6’7″, around 366 pounds, with potential to replace veteran Trent Brown on the right side.
– 🔥 Why this matters: The unit was 30th in pass-block win rate last season, and the sack count dropped significantly after a midseason shift. The bigger priority remains getting capable blockers in front of Stroud, on both the left and right sides, to unlock the offense.
Bottom line: Houston will likely pursue a careful mix of re-signing Ingram and adding high-impact linemen in the 2026 draft to solidify the trenches, boost protection for Stroud, and elevate the entire offense 🏈📊🔥
