Cleveland Browns
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Browns acquire star RT to address O-Line.
The Cleveland Browns have made a bold trade to acquire their offensive line.
Cleveland has all five starting offensive linemen as pending free agents, so the Browns were going to overhaul their O-line. On Monday, NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported on X that Cleveland has acquired right tackle Tytus Howard from the Houston Texans for a fifth-round pick. The Browns also handed Howard a three-year, $63 million extension as part of the trade.
“Sources: The Texans and Browns have agreed to terms on a trade to send starting RT Tytus Howard to Cleveland in exchange for a fifth-round pick. Much-needed OL help. Plus, Howard gets a new 3-year, $63M extension in a deal done by @malkikawa and Ethan Lock of @FirstRoundMgmt,” Rapoport wrote on X.
Howard had spent his entire career with the Texans. Houston selected him in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Alabama State. The star right tackle has started 93 games over 7 seasons in the NFL and started 16 games in back-to-back seasons.
In 2025, Howard was flagged just 4 times for holding and 1 false start, while in 2024, in 16 starts, he wasn’t flagged once for holding and was flagged just twice. He was named to the 2019 NFL All-Rookie Team.
Howard will be the Browns’ starting right tackle, replacing Jack Conklin.
Browns Had a Plan to Address O-Line
Entering the offseason, Cleveland knew it had to address its offensive line.
The Browns have all five starting offensive linemen as free agents, and could have five new starters next season. At the NFL draft combine, Browns general manager Andrew Berry hinted at following the Chicago Bears‘ plan to address their O-line.
“I actually think what Chicago, what (GM) Ryan Poles did last year is a really nice model,” Berry said. “If you think about it, they did a combination of internal development, veteran additions and draft.
“You had Darnell Wright, who he really came into his own at right tackle this past year. They traded for (guard) Joe Thuney, they traded for (guard) Jonah Jackson, they signed (center Drew) Dalman in free agency and they drafted (tackle) Ozzy Trapilo in the second round. So it’s a nice mixture of youth and experience and we would look to take a similar approach if the player markets line up for us.”
The Browns have begun their offensive line overhaul by acquiring Howard on Monday.
Joel Bitonio Likely to Leave Cleveland
One of the offensive linemen that Cleveland wants to retain is star left guard Joel Bitonio.
However, Bitonio is expected to either retire or sign elsewhere, according to Zac Jackson.
“Berry said that veteran guard Joel Bitonio, who’s played in more games than any other player for the new-era Browns, “deserves the time and space” to make a decision on his football future,” Jackson wrote. “The sides have remained in contact. And Bitonio is eligible for free agency for the first time if he chooses to play a 13th NFL season. …
“I think Bitonio will choose to retire (75 percent) or play elsewhere (25 percent), but that’s just my gut feeling. He seemed to waver in early 2025 while deciding his football future. So it’s entirely possible he’s still deciding and may want to return to the Browns.”
Bitonio has spent his entire NFL career with the Browns. He’s a seven-time NFL Pro Bowler and will be tough to replace for the Browns.