Battle Red Blog at the 2026 NFL Draft: Day Three

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 23: A general view of the draft tent is seen prior to Round One of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium on April 23, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images And just like that, the 2026 NFL Draft is over! After months and months of hype, draft prep, pro days, the entire NFL Combine… ketchup interviews …and more leading up to this moment, everything ends after just three days.

This is the third and final part of my “Battle Red Blog at the 2026 NFL Draft” series, where I’ve been chronicling Battle Red Blog writer Nickschwager’s and my experience covering the NFL draft on-site. I’m concluding the three-part series with the third day of the NFL Draft, covering rounds 4-7. There unfortunately weren’t any Texans draftees on-site for this day on the draft, but it was still an eventful one nonetheless.

Day One of my 2026 Draft coverage Day Two of my 2026 Draft coverage The first night, Houston traded up two picks to get OG/C Keylan Rutledge from Georgia Tech , a mauler in the middle of the o-line that will (hopefully) solve Houston’s quandary at the line of scrimmage. Some fans, including a few I talked to at the draft itself, were a bit surprised by the pick and thought it may have been a “reach,” but were ultimately still supportive of the pick. With the 26th pick, the Houston Texans select… 📺: NFL Network pic.

twitter. com/ia0mGC1YNV — Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) April 24, 2026 On day two, the Texans traded up two picks yet again, going from pick #38 to #36 to select Ohio State DT Kayden McDonald! McDonald was a very coveted prospect across the NFL cognoscenti, and the fact he fell out of the first round was both shocking to many and seen as a prime opportunity for a football team to double-dip on nabbing starting-caliber players.