Houston Texans' Veteran Could See A Diminished Role In 2026
Rookie tackle Kayden McDonald’s arrival creates a crowded defensive interior, forcing breakout veteran Tommy Togiai to fight for snaps and adapt his role within Houston’s ferocious rotation.
The Houston Texans made a clear statement in the draft when they selected defensive tackle Kayden McDonald—a move that could have ripple effects across their defensive line rotation in 2026. While much of the attention has been on how McDonald strengthens an already imposing front, his arrival may quietly cut into the role of veteran Tommy Togiai. Togiai emerged as one of the more surprising contributors on Houston’s defense in 2025.
Known primarily as a depth piece earlier in his career, he flashed consistency and physicality, particularly as an interior run defender. His ability to occupy space and disrupt blocking schemes between the guards made him a valuable asset in DeMeco Ryans’ system. However, the addition of McDonald introduces legitimate competition in a near exact role.
Ben Solak of ESPN dove into how McDonald's arrival could impact Togiai: “Togiai was so good last year that McDonald might end up biting more into Rankins' snaps than Togiai's reps. But Togiai spent far more time lined up between the guards than Rankins did, and those snaps figure to go to McDonald, a premier run defender who will strengthen the spine of the Texans' already ferocious defense. Togiai could in turn take some of Rankins' snaps at 3-technique, but it isn't guaranteed that he continues his shocking splash play from last season.
Ideally, this is a rotation of three quality players, each with slightly different skill sets. ” Solak acknowledged the balancing act Houston now faces. On paper, McDonald’s skill set overlaps most directly with Togiai’s.