The Browns kicked off the new league year by continuing to address the needs on their offensive line.
Cleveland has acquired T Tytus Howard in a trade with the Texans in exchange for a 2026 fifth-round pick from the Raiders.
"I'm excited for a fresh start," Howard said. "Being in a city with such a love for football, and just excited to get here and make an impact – especially on the offensive line, to give Shedeur (Sanders), Deshaun (Watson), all these quarterbacks as much time as possible, to make an impact every day and win some games."
Howard is entering his eighth NFL season, joining just his second team since he was drafted. He was originally drafted by the Texans in the first round as the 23rd overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. He spent his first seven years in the league with Houston, starting all 93 games played.
Last season he started 16 games with starts at right tackle (nine), left guard (five) and right guard (two). With the Texans, he helped protect two quarterbacks that earned Pro Bowl honors in Deshaun Watson (2019-20) and C.J. Stroud (2023). In 2024, he helped open holes for RB Joe Mixon, who was selected to the Pro Bowl. In 2019, Howard was selected to the PFWA All-Rookie team.
Howard adds a key veteran piece to the offensive line as the Browns work to rebuild the position group. With the beginning of the 2026 free agency period, Cleveland had six offensive linemen hit the market. Executive Vice President of Football Operations and General Manager Andrew Berry said the offense – and in particular the offensive line – would see turnover during the offseason.
Now, Howard starts the new additions to the offensive line as they look to revamp the offense. During the 2025 season, Howard took snaps at right tackle, right guard and left guard and can bring position versatility if needed.
The Browns acquired T Tytus Howard in a trade with the Texans. Howard was drafted in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, and spent the first seven years of his NFL career with Houston, starting all 93 career games.
Houston Texans offensive tackle Tytus Howard (71) defends during an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Maria Lysaker)
Houston Texans offensive tackle Tytus Howard (71) runs on to the field with a flag before an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Houston Texans offensive tackle Tytus Howard (71) walks to the locker room after an NFL preseason football game against the Los Angeles Rams Friday, Aug. 19, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
South offensive tackle Tytus Howard of Alabama State (58) during the first half of the Senior Bowl college football game, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Houston Texans offensive tackle Tytus Howard (71) exits the field at the end of the first half against the Detroit Lions during an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov 10, 2024 in Houston. The Lions defeated the Texans 26-23. (AP Photo/Maria Lysaker)
Houston Texans offensive tackle Tytus Howard (71) in action against the Arizona Cardinals during an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov 19, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/Maria Lysaker)
Houston Texans offensive tackle Tytus Howard leaves the field after the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Houston Texans offensive tackle Tytus Howard (71) reacts in the second half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Sep. 28, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Maria Lysaker)
Houston Texans offensive tackle Tytus Howard takes the field prior to an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024 in Houston. (AP Photo/Maria Lysaker)
Houston Texans offensive tackle Tytus Howard (71) enters the field during introductions prior to an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Maria Lysaker)
Houston Texans offensive tackle Tytus Howard (71) in action during an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Nov 26, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/Maria Lysaker)
Houston Texans offensive lineman Tytus Howard (71) signals a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, December 18, 2022, in Houston. (AP Photo/Matt Patterson)
Houston Texans offensive tackle Tytus Howard (71) and offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil (78) run to the field before an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Houston Texans offensive lineman Tytus Howard (71) during an NFL game against the Washington Commanders on Sunday, November 20, 2022, in Houston. (AP Photo/Matt Patterson)
Houston Texans offensive tackle Tytus Howard (71) enters the field prior to an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, in Houston The Texans defeated the Chargers 32-12. (AP Photo/Maria Lysaker)
Houston Texans offensive tackle Tytus Howard (71) leaves the field at the end of the first half against the Jacksonville Jaguars during an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024 in Houston. The Texans defeated the Jaguars 24-20. (AP Photo/Maria Lysaker)
Houston Texans offensive tackle Tytus Howard (71) leaving the field after an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
Houston Texans offensive tackle Tytus Howard (71) drops back to block during the first half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, Oct 23, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Houston Texans offensive tackle Tytus Howard warms up before an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
South offensive tackle Tytus Howard of Alabama State (58) before the start of the Senior Bowl college football game, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Houston Texans offensive tackle Tytus Howard (71) on the field during a time-out in an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
Houston Texans offensive lineman Tytus Howard (71) points during an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, September 11, 2022, in Houston. (AP Photo/Matt Patterson)
Houston Texans offensive lineman Tytus Howard (71) walks off the field after pregame warmups before an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Matt Patterson)
Houston Texans guard Tytus Howard (71) blocks against Jacksonville Jaguars outside linebacker Myles Jack (44) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Alabama State offensive lineman Tytus Howard runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 1, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Houston Texans guard Tytus Howard (71) at the snap during the second half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Jacksonville, Fla. Texans defeated the Jaguars 30-16. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
Houston Texans offensive lineman Tytus Howard (71) during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Matt Patterson)
This is a 2019 photo of Tytus Howard of the Houston Texans NFL football team. This image reflects the Houston Texans active roster as of Thursday, May 9, 2019 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Houston Texans tackle Tytus Howard (71) runs onto the field before an NFL football game against the Houston Texans on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Zach Bolinger)
Houston Texans offensive lineman Tytus Howard (71) lines up for the snap during an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Matt Patterson)
Houston Texans offensive tackle Tytus Howard (71) walks off the field at the end of the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
Houston Texans offensive tackle Tytus Howard (71) during an NFL preseason football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Saturday, Aug 21, 2021, in Arlington, Texas. Houston won 20-14. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
Houston Texans offensive tackle Tytus Howard walks off the field after a 31-21 loss to the Cleveland Browns in an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Houston Texans offensive tackle Tytus Howard (71) blocks Indianapolis Colts defensive end Tyquan Lewis (94) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Houston Texans offensive tackle Tytus Howard (71) during pre-game activities before the Kansas City Chiefs versus Houston Texans NFL football game, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Houston Texans offensive tackle Tytus Howard (71) warms up before an NFL preseason football game against the Detroit Lions Saturday, Aug. 17, 2019, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Houston Texans offensive lineman Tytus Howard (71) looks to block during an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Houston. (AP Photo/Matt Patterson)
Houston Texans rookie tackle Tytus Howard during a press conference after a NFL football Organized Team Activity workout Tuesday, May 21, 2019, at the team practice facilities in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Alabama State offensive lineman Tytus Howard runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, March 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Alabama State offensive lineman Tytus Howard runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 1, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Howard is also reunited with his former offensive line coach George Warhop now in Cleveland, as Warhop was the offensive line coach for the Texans in 2022.
"He's a great coach," Howard said. "He's my favorite coach since I've been in the league. He's going to bring the most out of his players. He's high energy guy. He's going to demand a lot, and he's going to coach everyone the same way. And he'll demand the best out of you; he'll get the best out all his players."
Howard's impact will reach past just the 2026 season, as he also signed a three-year deal in conjunction with the trade – cementing him as a core piece of the Browns' offensive line for the next few years.
"It means a lot to be able to sign an extension here, a start fresh and be able to build my name up here in Cleveland," Howard said. "I'm excited for the future. I know that it's great things to come, and hopefully I can be here even longer than the extension to continue to make a positive impact on the city."
