DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Browns Trade for RT Tytus Howard

Apparently, it is the 5th rounder we got for trading Kenny Pickett.

Curious if they’re thinking tackle or guard. Thing I read said he was most recently a guard. Either way, a 5th for a starter is pretty awesome. Didn’t realize we had that much money tbh.

I'm surprised they went back to Houston for their OL castoffs... but beggars can't be choosers. If he can make us feel at least a little bit more comfy when we let Conklin off the roster, then we are better for it.

We need monster guards for the run game. but this helps.

I already think Watt is one of the more overrated players, but here you go anyways....

With so many open positions on the OL it helps. It's the first drop in the bucket. They still need more drops.

If they don't see a legitimate LT high in this draft, you certainly don't select a G at #6. That would leave the door open for a dynamic play maker like Jordyn Tyson, Carnell Tate or a trade down.

Texans clearing the way for their other big ticket contract extensions, Howard wanted to be paid like a T and not a G, and the Browns get a versatile starter on the OL.

Biggest benefit is that Howard has been healthy and played in 16 games in each of the past two seasons.

I still hope they trade back and get another 1st next year and maybe collect more picks in the 2-5 rounds where the guards/ center and tackle depth usually land. God I hope they don’t reach for Simpson. I’ll be especially ok in that scenario if they take a WR with the 1st pick.

Cheaper in money? No.
Cheaper in draft capital? Most certainly, yes.

I like the fact they closed the RT position. Draft can focus on a trade down, draft Freeling at LT, then focus on this really good guard and WR draft class.

Edit: If they re-sign Bitonio, this will already be a better O-line than 2025. Injuries sucked the like out of last year, but if this guy is solid, injury free, it's a big boost.

Don't mind giving up a 5th round pick but I don't like paying starter money for a player whose best roll would be as a backup swing OT. The guy is a terrible run blocker plus he will 30 years old in a couple of months. Not impressed.

I didn't see anyone say that's "his best roll". He's been starting RT most all the time. That's his main position. What it says is he is a versatile enough to fill a G position if the need arises. I was always taught that versatility was a positive and not a negative.

I said his best role is as a backup swing OT, I've watched the guy play and while he is a pretty good pass protector for a RT he is a liability in the run game which is not good for a team that wants to run the ball.

Howard is probably better than anyone we had to play RT. It's an upgrade IMO.

And I was just telling you that the Browns signed a starting RT in the NFL and not a swing tackle.................

Tytus Howard has primarily played right tackle in the NFL, acting as a consistent starter for the Houston Texans from 2019 to 2025 before a 2026 trade to the Browns. He has played 3,788 career snaps at right tackle over his first seven seasons, which accounts for the vast majority of his 93 career regular-season starts.

Nothing about this substantiates your claim that "his best role" would be as a swing tackle.

Did I not say that I've seen the guy play? Yes, I know he's been a starting RT for Houston but he's also been one of the lowest graded starting OTs in the league and his best role would be as a swing OT on any team with a decent Oline.

I'm assuming you meant "have" instead of "had" because up until last year Conklin was far superior player.

Agreed. He just could never stay healthy.

Look, I will agree with you that there are better all around tackles in this league. What we are looking for from the T spot is to keep the QB clean while he is learning, something last years units could NOT do.

Though he dips in running game, like you already mentioned, he played 1,021 snaps last season and gave up ZERO sacks and ONE QB hit.... I don't know if that can really sink in. There were 20 NFL offensive line players to play 1,021 snaps in 2025. I don't know if there was another lineman that gave up less touches on a QB in the league, I will have to dive a little deeper.

In short, this guy is a helluva lot more than just a swing tackle.

Need to vastly improve the interior of the line, which is where the strength is in this draft.

Do that and the oline all around will be improved.

To break down his diversity and what he meant to the Texans last year:

1,021 snaps
609 pass plays
412 run plays

555 RT, obviously his best position
334 LG because of injuries
132 RG because of injuries

Conklin can't be a better player because he was almost NEVER AVAILABLE. Bitonio is 34 and we want him back, our new guy isn't washed up, he's a definite upgrade and cost was minimal. Berry stole one.

What I am salivating over, if we have the money, is Tyler Linderbaum. The Ravens gave their offer and he said no thanks. It would have made him the highest paid player, which is currently Creed Humphrey at $18M per year. He has said he wants $25M per year, which is going to be steep for a Center. My best guess is, they said they would make him the highest paid center at $19M per year and he came back with, give me $25M or I am testing the market. They said.. test the market. Now, Humphrey's contract was in 2024, so a $1M bump probably won't be the current market, but it, in my best guess, will probably be more like $21M per year, not $25M. Highest paid guards are currently at $23.5-24M, so if he is good enough to go play a guard spot, he could get more money. Problem for him is, he's built like a center, not a guard. One of the best centers in the league though. HE called the protections, not Lamar Jackson. When Lamar tried to change a protection, he would either go with it, or turn around and tell him no and correct it.

Monken knows him well. He might let Haslem and Berry know that he is the fastest way to improve this offensive line.

If that happened, then we would be down to re-signing Joel Bitonio, which would now give you (3) veteran starters. Then find a way to draft Monroe Freeling and a dominant guard to go along with Bitonio and Linderbaum.

Offensive line complete....

Linderbaum would be great, obviously. I think Berry went on record that they would be more aggressive in FA this year (I'm assuming this meant trades as well, not just signings) than compared to last. Not sure what that means in overall spending but getting a couple starters in FA (already added one) and the draft, a team can rebuild their line in one offseason. Linderbaum would go a long way in doing so.

I didn't say Conklin was the better player now, Homewood Dawg made the following statement "Howard is probably better than anyone we had to play RT. It's an upgrade IMO." I assumed he meant have and not had but if he meant had than Conklin was clearly a better RT in our past than Howard is now.

I'm not denying that Howard is a big improvement over what he had in pass protecting I just can't get around giving that much money to someone who is a 1 dimensional player, his run blocking is on par with Cam Robinson's last year which was terrible.

Did they ever say how much of the contract was guaranteed? It could give the team an out after year 2. He is 29 and they were not going to fix the entire line and receiving core in 1 off season. That means they will need some stop gaps. I would assume he competes with Dawand Jones for the RT job and gives the team flexibility in the draft because he can start at Guard if need be. I do not think this is the Browns long term answer at Right Tackle, but he is someone that provides starter level play at either Right tackle or guard until they find a long-term answer. I would assume Left Tackle is the priority. Also, the Browns went thru 2 starting tackles in the first month of the season. Whether he starts and Dawand comes off the bench or vice versa it is an upgrade to 2024 and 2025 Browns tackle play. Maybe Dawand who played left tackle this season is the swing tackle for 2026? I would expect the Browns to sign a couple more free agents either their own Tevin Jenkins and/or Joel Bitonio who they admitted they are having conversations with about returning and not retiring, or someone else outside the organization. Then in the draft 2 to 3 more Oline additions.

You're exactly right .......the details matter.

I feel like people are expecting us to be able to snap fingers and recreate the line from 3-4 years ago. When you have to do a COMPLETE rebuild, you're not going to do it in 1 draft and a bunch of the people you sign and trade for are likely not going to be top tier. You're looking for B's that are durable and versatile. He fits the bill. I'd be willing to bet we have a lot of action to look forward to in free agency in a few weeks. And that X post about this move saying something about the quality of the tackles in the draft is dumb. We're going to need so many new faces on OL and starting 3 or more rookies is just super risky. I sincerely hope we draft 5 or 6 OL. I truly hope we are not starting 3 or more rookies.

Well bone, I believe our OL was ranked 31st or last so there's no way to go but up.

I will admit that I haven't seen him play,
but I am not optimistic about trading for a reject from one of the worst o-lines in the NFL.
I think I would rather use that 5th on Farmer, Rutledge, or one of the centers

j/c

There's something to be said for getting an NFL proven OL position filled with a 5th round pick.

I'll wait and see how he plays - when we traded Newsome away for Campbell I thought it was going to be a wash, but Campbell exceeded my expectations. With that said - he's graded as one of the poorer performing OL in the NFL so all the hype I see focussing solely on how many sacks he allowed seems more koolaid than reality. Especially if we are paying him top 15-18 tackle money. We'll see. Being healthy and available would make him an upgrade to what we had in 2024 so that's a plus.

Any way you cut it, it is an improvement. Especially for a 5th round pick. We still have two more.

What I see is a guy that has started every NFL game he wasn't injured over a 7 year career with the same team, including 32 games the past two seasons. Despite the PFF talking head grades, the one thing that is really measurable is number of plays and how clean was your QB. How much he factored into a 3.9 ypc carry is a hell of a lot more difficult to measure.

Browns rushing over the last two years 2025 97 yards/gm, 2024 94 yds/gm. The line sucked, but it was an even bigger indicator that the team was playing from behind and they were passing way too much.

Texans rushing yards per game? 2025 109 and 2024 117, so hell, by this assessment, he is going to improve the run game also. I know that's not true, but come one, neither does saying this guy sucks because he was taken from one of the worst lines in the NFL.

At the end of the day, we all know the Browns line has performed horribly since Callahan left. Despite that, Bitonio is still one of the better guards in the NFL, he doesn't suck because the rest of the line did.

We have a major positive to talk about the new RT for the Browns, he doesn't get the QBs jersey dirty. Isn't that a great thing when we are trying to develop a young QB with a penchant for holding the ball too long?

It isn't Koolaid, it is a mere fact that was shared with the group, he doesn't give up sacks. Let's focus on the more depressing fact... We are 1 down and 4 to go to having a full line come opening day. Whether Bitonio fills one of those spots is still in the air, so there is a lot of work to do. It has to start somewhere and you aren't going to get All Pro players in every spot, let's fall back to earth.

I agree. This was a starting right tackle on a playoff team. Let that sink in for a while. Starter on a playoff team. Traded to free up cap space and not for performance issues.

j/c...

Another perspective. From Seth Walder...

2026 NFL trade grades:
Seth Walder Mar 2, 2026, 01:25 PM ET

Texans trade OT Howard to Browns

Browns get: OT Tytus Howard
Texans get: 2026 fifth-round pick

Browns grade: D+
Texans grade: A-

One starting offensive lineman down, four more to go for the Browns. In acquiring Howard, an offensive tackle who has occasionally kicked inside to guard in his seven NFL seasons, Cleveland starts the massive rebuild of its offensive line. But was it worth it? I have a hard time seeing how.

With six offensive line free agents, the Browns are going to look significantly different in the trenches in 2026, and they're right to jump on this right away. There's a good chance the Browns will have a young, developing player at quarterback -- be it Shedeur Sanders or someone else -- and it's critical to keep that player upright.

Howard's exact role is unknown due to his flexibility and how the Browns' address their other holes upfront, but right tackle seems like the safest bet since it's where he has most frequently played.

Howard ranked in the 24th percentile in pass block win rate at tackle and the 31st percentile in run block win rate at tackle last season. He was also below average in both in 2024. That hasn't always been the case -- Howard ranked in the top 10 overall in pass block win rate at tackle in 2021 and 2022. But we're several seasons removed from that, and he scored poorly in run blocking in each of those seasons.

So the Browns are likely getting a below-average starter. And he isn't cheap. Howard is slated to make $17.5 million in 2026 (the final year of his deal) and is now signing a two-year, $45 million extension, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The Browns sat at less than $1 million under the 2026 cap prior to this deal, per OverTheCap.com, though their cap obligations lighten quite a bit in 2027. But is this where they want to spend their resources, dealing a fifth-round pick to pay what might be an over-market deal for a below-average starter? That's not how I'd want to kick off the offseason.

This continues a recent pattern of offensive line turnover for the Texans, but I don't mind this move for them. Houston needs better blocking, both to protect quarterback C.J. Stroud and generate a running game to support him. It was last in the NFL (32nd) in run block win rate, 30th in pass block win rate and 26th in yards gained before contact on running back rushes last season.

Howard played both right tackle and left guard for the Texans, who have plenty of open spots along the offensive line, with both Ed Ingram and Trent Brown set to be free agents. They'll need to add offensive line help at some point and must set aside money to pay edge rusher Will Anderson Jr -- and probably Stroud, too. So getting a fifth-round pick to not pay Howard seems like good business.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id...es-latest-best-worst-deals-draft-outlook

I don't get all caught up in the slide-rule mechanics of psycho-analyzing contracts against cap space and the other "blah, blah, blah"; on the surface this contract seems "high", but all new contracts and extensions will probably seem high while teams adjust to the new cap number.

That said, we got a versatile starter that our guys obviously believe can improve; the Texans got an 8% chance to find an NFL starter. That doesn't seem like a A-/D+ scenario to me. j/s

I agree 100%

The Texans did it because they don't do contracts the way Berry does them. He is one of a few GMs with owners willing to spend cash to optimize and manipulate the salary cap. He has a lot of control in improving this team. Now, he needs to succeed in winning or Haslem is going to eventually understand that he knows numbers, but not players, but until that happens Berry can take advantage of a lot of situations that other GMs don't have control of cash. Hell, some teams are strapped to staying above the cap floor in order to not get penalized and that is all the leeway they have.

I know most people can't stand Jimmy Haslem, but when it comes to spending money to help this team improve, the guy gives management a blank check.

I agree FATE, I would rather take a guy with 93 career starts at the age of 29 than resting in the hands of a 5th round draft pick. You can still take that 5th rounder to develop, but he sure as heck won't be ready to step in day 1 of the 2026 season. We had (3) 5th round draft picks, there are still (2) for those developmental guys. We don't have enough picks to fill all 5 spots in the first two rounds of the draft where the success rate rises enough to risk it.

One of the lesser told stories this off season is that a LOT of teams are looking to the draft and free agency for OL makeovers.

Browns, Giants, Patriots, Raiders, Lions, Broncos, Bills, Panthers, Chargers, Eagles, Rams, and Texans are all potentially looking for 2 (or more) new starters. Several of these are looking for 3 or more.

Colts, Vikings, Dolphins, Cardinals, Bears, Bengals, Packers, Cowboys, Titans & Chiefs (who just cut their pretty terrible RT this morning) are all looking for at least 1.

That's well more than 1/2 the league looking for new starters. Some of these teams will re-sign their own FA's that they're NOT in love with or are old simply because of slim pickin's, but they're actively looking. I read a few pieces last season about the trend of DL's owning the OL's pretty much league-wide last year. We certainly saw it in the Superbowl, did we not? All of it adds up to this being very much a sellers market and we might see early runs on OL in this draft. Given our need at WR early, and likely a few of them, I think we're going to be turning over a lot of rocks, maybe kissing some frogs. FA tackles are a thin group every year, even just depth guys. Ones that are just durable are worth a lot more than they probably should be.

Incidentally, if they go to an 18 game season after next year this will only get worse. Of all the position groups that I worry about injury with the addition of games, it's the OL that concerns me most. They're going to have to allow expanded team depth and more time for OL rotations or lots of teams' OLs are going to start looking like the 2025 Browns. The longer they make the seasons, the more defensively dominant they become, and not a small part of that is because those big OL bodies break down.

True. It’s so bad Jedrick Wills will probably sign with someone!

If he's healthy he'll definitely get another shot. He's only 27. He wasn't terrible, just mediocre and over drafted. If he was 3rd or 4th round pick people would have had a very different take. As a depth guy, he'd be a great pickup. As a starter he left a lot to be desired but don't forget that he was a part of an awesome OL as a unit. Yes, maybe the weakest member but he wasn't an abject liability. Just sorta ok for most of his tenure.

Well as I said, I will see how he plays . Being available is a plus, something we haven't had the pleasure of enjoying from most starting OL for 2 or 3 years. Not giving up a sack is great but it doesn't tell the whole story, and while you and others embrace that metric I don't think it's quite fair to then dismiss PFFs metric out of hand, they are a well respected analysis tool that I believe every team in the NFL pays for and uses.

Makes sense. There are a ton of Guards set to hit FA, while the picking at LT are looking rather slim.
The crop of Centers set to hit FA looks like it might be kinda good.

We won't be able to get our OL fixed completely in one offseason but if we can go from a 32nd ranked OL to somewhere between 15-20 we should have a much better team next year. Just staying on the field longer and sustaining drives will help.

Disagree.

1. Trade for T. Howard (RT)
2. Sign Lindebaum (C)
3. Bring back JB (LG)
4. Draft Monroe Freeling at #6 (LT)
5. Draft Emmanuel Pregnon At #24 (RG)

Easy peasy...

Trade for Marvin Harrison
Start Watson at QB.


Super Booooooooowl.....Super Browns......Yeah!

Easy peasuy x2.

There for the taking.

1. Trade for T. Howard (RT)
2. Sign Lindebaum (C)
3. Bring back JB (LG) OR if he retires, draft Chase Bisontis at #39.. though you might have to move up to the top of round 2 to get him. Seems like his status is rising.
4. Draft Monroe Freeling at #6 (LT)
5. Draft Emmanuel Pregnon At #24 (RG)

I wouldn't be afraid to start these (3) rookies with Lindenbaum making the protection calls. That would be the kingpin for this to actually work year 1. No Linderbaum, not (3) rookie start.

I would much rather trade back to #12 or 13 to get Freeling.

I have a feeling Jurrah is going to be enamored with one of these defensive players. If that particular player is there at #6, I could see a trade of #6, #70 and a 2027 3rd or 4th for #12 and #20. Jurrah gets his guy and doesn't lose mutliple picks, they merely move down from 20 to 70 to get the guy they covet, plus an extra pick next year.

We could then go:
1. Trade for Howard
2. Sign Linderbaum
3. Draft Freeling at #12
4. Draft Ione at #20, or if gone, draft Pregnon at #24
5. Draft Binsontis at #39

Then you still have either #20 or #24 to take a WR. I just ran a mock twice on nflmockdraftdatabase with this scenario and came home with #12 Freeling, #20 Jordyn Tyson (Ione was still available, went #22 to Chargers), #24 Emmanuel Pregnon, #39 Chase Bisontis. The second time I ran it, I took Ione at #20 with Makai Lemon available and Lemon went the next pick to the Steelers, so I took Pregnon at #24 to finish out the line, expecting to take Brazzell at #39, but he went to the Bills at 26.

Not that anyone cares, but the rest of the first draft went like this:
#107 Drew Allar 4th round
#145 Taurean York LB 5th
#148 traded for #150 and #226
#150 Michael Taaffe S 5th
#206 Eli Raridon TE 6th
#226 De'Zhaun Stribling WR/PR 7th
#247 Jaren Kanack TE/FB

My first choice is to re-sign Bitonio

I agree with you that if I had my choice I would like to see Botonio play for another year. But it seemed it was a tough call for him to make coming back last year. I would think it would be even tougher for him to come back again this year with an entire new offense, a new HC and OL coach knowing we're in a rebuild of the O before he even commits to playing. To me that sounds like a tough sell. But I guess we'll see.