Former Cleveland Browns guard Wyatt Teller signed with the Texans in free agency.
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Former Cleveland Browns guard Wyatt Teller signed with the Texans in free agency.
After seven seasons with the Cleveland Browns, Wyatt Teller opened up about what went wrong during the team’s recent slide after departing in free agency.
Teller joined the Texans on a two-year deal worth up to $23 million. He started 13 games for the Browns in 2025 and has started 101 of 109 career games dating back to his rookie season.
Teller opened up to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson about the frustration that built during his final two years in Cleveland. He didn’t sugarcoat his experience during Cleveland’s recent stretch of dysfunction.
“I feel like the last two years in Cleveland have been tough,” Teller said. “We went through a lot of growing pains, through quarterbacks, running backs and a lot of offensive positions and stuff. Personally, I feel like there was some good ball out there, but there’s also stuff that I could’ve done better at, or been better at.”
The Browns cycled through multiple starters at quarterback and other skill positions over that span while posting just eight wins in the last two seasons. Teller himself dealt with a calf injury late in 2025 and rotated with Teven Jenkins, losing his starting role at the end of the year.
Wyatt Teller Gushes Over Texans
Teller pointed to Houston specifically — and the 2024 playoff matchup between the two teams — as a benchmark for what Cleveland fell short of reaching.
“It feels like it’s been a blank,” Teller said. “Two years ago, or really three years ago we were in Houston playing y’all in the playoffs, and hearing that loud stadium and everything like that. It’s right there, we were right on the cusp of being a really talented team. And we had a winning streak going in there. But a team like the Texans, they had so much talent — great quarterback, great running back, people to build off of. So much stability, great culture, great coaches.
“We were right on the edge in Cleveland two years ago — we were right there. And you guys are already there.”
The 31-year-old was candid that his play dipped from his peak. Teller was a second-team All-Pro in 2020 and 2021 and made three consecutive Pro Bowls from 2021 to 2023.
“A couple of plays this last year, there are glimpses of it,” Teller said. “Kind of being a consistent player again — an All-Pro, Pro Bowl player that can help the Texans win.”
Browns Rebuilding Offensive Line After Exodus
The Browns are rebuilding their offensive line nearly from scratch. Multiple starters hit free agency, including Teller, center Ethan Pocic, and tackles Jack Conklin.
The one lingering question is Joel Bitonio. The seven-time Pro Bowler’s contract voided at the start of the new league year, making him an unrestricted free agent as he weighs whether to return for a 13th NFL season. A return to Cleveland isn’t impossible, but is growing more unlikely by the day.
But Cleveland has done some significant work to rebuild the unit. The Browns traded a fifth-round pick to Houston for tackle Tytus Howard and signed him to a three-year extension.
Cleveland also added guard Zion Johnson (three years, $49.5 million) and two-time Pro Bowl lineman Elgton Jenkins (two years, $24 million) in free agency.