Keylan Rutledge to start at guard

The deal is worth $19.276 million and includes a $10.479 million signing bonus. Rutledge was viewed as an athletic, interior mauler in the pre-draft process. NBC Sports Houston’s Aaron Wilson describes Rutledge as “a quick study,” and adds that the Texans are excited about Rutledge’s versatility.

Houston moved up two spots. They gave up picks 69 and 167 but returned pick No. 91. A 2025 first-team All-American for a Georgia Tech rush offense that ranked third nationally with a 52 percent rushing success rate, Rutledge (6’4/316) is a burly interior mauler whose combination of power and movement skills makes him one of the more intriguing guard prospects in the 2026 class. He brings a 9.54 Relative Athletic Score, backed by a 5.05s forty, 4.54s shuttle and 7.54s three-cone, translating to surprising fluidity and range when climbing to the second level or working in space. Rutledge thrives as a drive and combo blocker, generating consistent displacement with heavy, purposeful hands while showing the timing and body control to stay connected through contact. He plays with a nasty demeanor and strong finishing mentality, pairing core strength and balance with enough athleticism to execute across multiple run schemes. Tight hips and heavy feet can limit his recovery ability once beaten, particularly against quicker interior rushers who win early in the rep. With high-end athleticism, brutish physicality and positional versatility, Rutledge projects as a potential long-term starter at guard whose toughness and movement skills give him scheme flexibility.

Teller will likely be tasked with playing left guard in Houston. The 31-year-old simply didn’t seem to generate much interest in free agency other than the Texans. His market didn’t materialize. He’s a stopgap starter at this point, and it wouldn’t be surprising if the Texans drafted someone in the first few rounds to push him for snaps at guard.

Browns was released by the Cardinals on Thursday and quickly finds a new home in Houston, where he could push for a starting role on the interior offensive line. The seven-year veteran bounced around the league his first two seasons before starting 68 games between 2021 and 2025. The low contract valuation appears to be a steal for the Texans.

Brown signed a one-year deal in Arizona in 2024 and re-upped with the team for two years last offseason. With a new regime taking over, the team chose to cut him with a year left on his $11.5 million deal. Brown is a replacement-level player, but he has 68 career starts and experience at all three interior offensive line positions. He should have no issues finding work in 2026.

Wilson is quick to note that nothing is “pending or imminent there.” A calf injury ended Teller’s 2025 season prematurely. The veteran offensive guard, now 31 years old, remains a moderately capable run blocker, having earned a 65.7 PFF run-blocking grade last season.

Cleveland’s long-time guard will hit free agency and has already announced he won’t return to the Browns after being benched at points towards the end of the season. Teller finished with a 62.2 PFF offensive grade, his second season in a row under 70 as he struggled through injuries. It’s possible he’s not a star guard anymore, but it certainly seems like NFL teams believe he has something left in the tank.

Teller made a heartfelt post to the city of Cleveland and its fans on social media to say his goodbyes. All five starting offensive linemen for the Browns are set to hit free agency, and now at least one of them will not be back. At 31 years old, the three-time Pro Bowl guard should have plenty of suitors in free agency.

Teller returned from the calf issue last week but only played a handful of snaps before leaving the game. His season is now over. The team signed Kingsley Eguakun in a corresponding move. Eguakun comes from the Lions’ practice squad.

It’s never a good sign when a player is added to Friday’s injury report, but Fannin told reporters on Sunday that he plans to play. In addition to Fannin, backup QB Dillon Gabriel (shoulder) was also added to Friday’s injury report and is listed as questionable. CB Myles Harden (shoulder), DT Sam Kamara (elbow), and OG Wyatt Teller (calf) are also listed as questionable for this weekend.