Houston kept building on defense on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft, taking Clemson linebacker Wade Woodaz with the No. 123 overall pick. It was the Texans’ second pick of the day, and it came after the team had already used earlier selections to address other spots on the roster.
Woodaz arrives from Clemson with the kind of production that usually travels. In 51 games, he piled up 201 tackles, 28.5 tackles for loss and 9.0 sacks, while also adding 11 passes defensed, three interceptions, four forced fumbles and a blocked punt. One of those interceptions went back for a touchdown. He was named to Phil Steele’s 2025 Third Team All-ACC and checked in at 6-3 and 236 pounds, giving Houston a linebacker with size, speed and a long record of disruptive plays.
The speed stood out, too. At Clemson’s Pro Day, Woodaz ran a 4.52-second forty, a time that would have tied for third among all linebackers at the NFL Combine. That kind of burst helps explain why he moved onto the draft board in a class where teams were looking for defenders who can keep up in space and still finish plays near the line.
Woodaz’s background at Clemson also points to a player who was trusted in every part of the program. He was a three-time All-ACC Academic Team honoree and graduated with a degree in marketing. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney described him as “a baller,” adding that he was a fun player to coach and watch because he played the way every team wants its players to play.
The pick fit into a busy stretch for Houston, which had already moved around the board earlier in the draft. The Texans traded up for a two-time First Team All-ACC guard, selected a physical tight end with the 59th pick and then took a guard at No. 106 before turning back to defense at No. 123. Houston also sent the No. 117 pick to Los Angeles in one deal and swapped sixth-round picks with Denver and fourth-round picks with Miami as it shaped the rest of its draft capital.
For Houston, the Woodaz selection looks like another bet on speed, production and versatility rather than a project. He leaves Clemson with a resume that includes impact plays, academic honors and enough range to make the Texans think he can help soon.
