Tytus Howard #71 of the Houston Texans was traded to the Cleveland Browns.
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Tytus Howard #71 of the Houston Texans was traded to the Cleveland Browns.
Now that the Cleveland Browns have settled their coaching staff under new head honcho Todd Monken, it’s time for the rubber to hit the road with actual transactions. And the Browns, with more than a week to go before the opening of free agency got started with a surprise trade to add offensive lineman Tytus Howard from the Houston Texans.
Howard was a first-round pick in 2019 by Houston and has been a mainstay on the line for the Texans for seven seasons. He has mostly played right tackle, but has also played guard in his career, welcome versatility for a Browns team that has five free agents on its offensive front.
Howard, who turns 30 in May, has been mostly healthy throughout his career, except for a patellar tendon injury that ended his 2023 season early. But he has played at least 14 games in four of the past five seasons, and has played 18 games (including two playoff games) in both 2024 and 2025.
Tytus Howard Not Surprised by Trade
Howard said he had a feeling a trade was coming, as he was entering the final year of his contract and the Texans have been making a push to replenish their offensive line in recent years.
“They’re trying to get younger and pay some guys,” he said, via Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston. “I ain’t mad. I kind of knew it was going to happen. … I just appreciate the support over the last seven years. I’ll always be a Texan forever. I’m excited to go to Cleveland and turn the city up and help change the program and win some games.”
The Browns will send the No. 139 overall pick–a fifth-rounder–to the Texans in the deal. They’re also giving Howard a three-year, $63 million extension as he joins the roster, which could potentially reduce his 2026 cap hit, currently estimated by Spotrac to be $18 million.
Howard finished 2025 with a grade of 62.8 from Pro Football Focus which was 56th out of 84 tackles in the NFL. Positionally, he actually played two games at right guard and six games at left guard last season. He played eight games at right tackle and in the playoffs, he played at left guard in the wild-card round and right tackle in the divisional round.
Browns Will Draft OLs
The move for Howard is just the start of the remaking of the Browns’ offensive line, as there are still four spots that need filling. Certainly, his ability to fill three different spots on the line will help, as it give the team flexibility in using its draft picks and seeking to add in free agency.
The team is still uncertain what will happen with Joel Bitonio, the veteran guard who has played 12 seasons and is weighing retirement. The Browns have already been resigned to losing guard Wyatt Teller, who penned a farewell letter to Cleveland last month.
The Browns have picks No. 6 and 24 in next month’s NFL draft and could use one–or maybe even both–on offensive linemen.