An initial Houston press take:
HOUSTON – The Texans traded a cornerstone of their offensive line for the second year in a row.
One year after trading five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil to the Washington Commanders, the Texans have agreed to trade versatile starting offensive lineman Tytus Howard to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick, per league sources.
He is signing a three-year, $63 million extension with $45 million in new money and an average per year of $21 million in new money, per a league sources. Howard is coming off a strong season. He allowed a 4.8 percent pressure rate, according to Next Gen Stats.
“I wasn’t surprised,” Howard told KPRC 2 in a telephone interview following the trade after the NFL scouting combine. “They’re trying to get younger and pay some guys. I ain’t mad. I kind of knew it was going to happen.”
The Texans are expected to use a combination of free agency and the NFL draft to overhaul their offensive line. The expectation is they will prioritize the offensive line and attempt to upgrade it through several methods. Without Howard, they’ve let go of a valuable blocker, though.