Browns Reportedly Trade for Starting RT Tytus Howard, What Did Texans Get in Return?

The Cleveland Browns are acquiring offensive tackle Tytus Howard from the Houston Texans, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Cleveland is sending a fifth-round pick to Houston, and the team already agreed to a three-year, $63 million extension with Howard. He was set to become a free agent in 2027.

The Browns allowed the seventh-most sacks (51) in 2025, and they're facing a complete overhaul to their offensive line. Joel Bitonio, Wyatt Teller, Cam Robinson and Ethan Pocic are all free agents.

Bringing everybody back is pretty much out of the question when the team is $25.8 million above the salary cap.

With this trade, Cleveland is getting a jump on addressing one of its biggest offseason needs.

Howard is a particularly savvy target because he has experience lining up at guard and tackle.

"I kind of embraced the versatility aspect of it, knowing that I'm very valuable and I can help a team out in a lot of ways," he told the Houston Chronicle's Sam Warren in January. "It's just who I am now. So, I kind of took ownership in that knowing that if I could play most positions, why not try to be the best at all of them? And no matter where I'm at, my play didn't drop off."

For now, Howard projects as a starting tackle for the Browns. Depending on who else they add to the line, he could ultimately slot in as a guard in Week 1.

The Texans, meanwhile, are looking past 2026.

The benefits of trading Howard are negligible for right now. His departure doesn't create much in new cap space.

Instead, general manager Nick Caserio is planning ahead for some of the extensions he'll eventually hand out.

Defensive end Danielle Hunter, linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair and tight end Dalton Schultz are all free agents in 2027. Quarterback C.J. Stroud, wide receiver Nico Collins defensive end Will Anderson Jr. are eligible to hit the open market the following offseason.

Keeping the Texans' current core together will be expensive, and Caserio will need to prioritize some key contributors over others.

Trading Howard, who started 93 games over seven seasons, reflects that.