Jake Andrews, Houston Texans
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Jake Andrews #60 of the Houston Texans runs to the field before a game against the Seattle Seahawks.
The Houston Texans have addressed multiple potential areas of concern with their roster, and can put another to bed with Ethan Pocic.
A veteran with plenty of starting experience, Pocic could be the final piece for a revamped offensive line that already added Braden Smith and Wyatt Teller to fellow projected starters Aireontae Ersery and Ed Ingram, the latter of whom re-signed in free agency.
Of course, the Texans also have other viable options they could explore.
Ethan Pocic Floated as Final Piece for Texans in Free Agency
Ethan Pocic
GettyEthan Pocic #55 of the Cleveland Browns takes the field before a game against the Miami Dolphins.
Smith and Teller bring extended track records to the Texans, who benefited from Ersery being a fast learner and Ingram having a resurgent season, but could also still use Pocic.
“Adding a center to the fold would do C.J. Stroud some good,” CBS Sports’ Zachary Pereles wrote in an article on March 23, calling it the “biggest remaining need” for Houston. “Pocic played solidly last year in what was a brutal year for the Cleveland offense.”
A former second-round pick, Pocic was taken 58th overall in 2017 by the Seattle Seahawks.
He has started 97 of the 114 games that he has played in his career, including all 57 of his contests with the Browns as Teller’s teammate.
There are durability concerns the Texans would have to overcome, since Pocic has missed at least one game in every season since his rookie campaign. He played in 13 contests for Cleveland this past season.
Pocic is coming off a three-year, $18 million contract with $26.8 million in career earnings.
Spotrac projected his market value at $10.6 million annually, using a three-year, $31.8 million deal as an example.
The Texans fueled the speculation about options like Pocic with their interest in other members of the class. However, the lack of interest so far could also prove telling of the Texans’ plans for the position.
They have several candidates to man the starting center spot on the roster.
Texans Have Multiple Center Options
CLEVELAND, OHIO - DECEMBER 07: Ethan Pocic #55 of the Cleveland Browns is carted of the field during the fourth quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Huntington Bank Field on December 07, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
GettyEthan Pocic #55 of the Cleveland Browns is carted off the field against the Tennessee Titans.
Pocic would presumably step into a starting role for the Texans, who already have two other players with starting experience at the pivot.
Incumbent starter Jake Andrews is said to be a favorite of Texans offensive line coach Cole Popovich. However, the Texans signed veteran Evan Brown in free agency amid their offseason overhaul.
Brown can play center and guard.
With Ingram and Teller at guard, and 44 starts in as many appearances over the past three seasons, Brown would seem like Andrews’ replacement.
He is signed to a bargain, one-year, $2.5 million contract, though, leaving plenty of flexibility about which direction the Texans want to go. They opened the 2025 season with Cam Robinson and Laken Tomlinson at left tackle and left guard, respectively.
Ersery made Robinson expendable in a trade to the Browns, and the Texans cut Tomlinson.
They traded Tytus Howard, who played left guard and right tackle–the latter in place of Trent Brown–to the Browns this offseason.
The two teams have an extended history of dealing with one another. Moreover, Teller could be a useful recruiting tool for the Texans. That is, if the Texans believe Pocic can further elevate their group for the 2026 season.