Texans trade key starter before free agency to make glaring weakness an even bigger need this offseason
The Texans have traded a starting offensive lineman for the second offseason in a row, and now they need to find protection for C.J. Stroud.
The Houston Texans came up short in their 2025 season, but they finished the year well aware of their biggest weakness.
After having a historically great defense last year, the offense continued to let them down, and it has to be addressed in the offseason. The Texans wasted no time making drastic changes on offense by trading a starting offensive lineman for the second offseason in a row, and now they have to find quarterback C.J. Stroud protection in free agency and the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Houston Texans traded starting RT Tytus Howard to the Cleveland Browns.
The Texans are in the negatives when it comes to salary cap space, with free agency just a week away, and they had to free up space and prepare for key extensions on their team, like EDGE Will Anderson Jr.
Their first move is a familiar one, and they’re sending away yet another starting offensive lineman in a trade. The Texans are sending starting RT Tyrus Howard to the Cleveland Browns for a fifth-round pick.
The move frees up $4.2 million of cap space and a dead cap hit of $23.6 million, while the Browns extend Howard for a big payday that the Texans weren’t in a position to do.
The Texans traded LT Laremy Tunsil to the Washington Commanders last season for a haul of picks, and now Howard heads elsewhere, and it’s time to find replacements all across the offensive line. Both moves are considered bold, given how well they each performed in pass protection, and now the Texans have to get their offensive line right.
The Texans need to overhaul the offensive line
Howard played all over the Texans’ offensive line over the last seven seasons, but the former first-round pick played his best at right tackle and had to step in at left guard as well. He didn’t allow a single sack at any position last season on 609 pass-blocking snaps and just 21 pressures, but struggled in the run game.
The Texans drafted Aireontae Ersery to be their franchise left tackle, but now they have to fill out and solidify the rest of the offensive line. Right tackle Trent Brown is a free agent this offseason, but they may need to re-sign him as an affordable bridge option. Blake Fisher filled in nicely when Howard went down with an injury, and he could be the long-term option as well, but he’s still inexperienced.
The bad news is that the Texans lack salary cap space, but the good news is that they now have 10 picks to work with in the 2026 NFL Draft. Keep an eye on Oregon LG Emmanuel Pregnon and Clemson RT Blake Miller at Pick No. 28 or No. 38 overall.
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