The Texans scoffed at chatter about a trade involving quarterback C.J. Stroud last week, but they have agreed to move another member of their roster once the new league year opens next month.
According to multiple reports, the Texans have agreed to trade offensive lineman Tytus Howard to the Browns. Cleveland will send a fifth-round pick to Houston in return for the veteran blocker.
Howard is heading into the final year of his current contract and was set to make $18 million in salary and bonuses with a cap number of nearly $28 million. Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that he will get a three-year, $63 million extension as part of the trade.
Howard started at left guard in Houston last season and played right tackle for the Texans earlier in his career. The Browns have six offensive linemen on track for free agency, so the Howard trade represents a big move to begin remaking the offensive line in Cleveland.
Teams making decisions about picking up the fifth-year options on the contracts of their 2023 first-round picks now know how much that will cost.
The NFL revealed the values on Friday afternoon. There are four levels of compensation at each position. Players who have made multiple Pro Bowls as an original selection are at the top followed by players with one Pro Bowl selection and players who have hit playing time milestones before reaching the lowest level.
Panthers quarterback Bryce Young and Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud were the first two picks of that draft and both of them reached the playing time level of compensation. That will leave them with fully guaranteed salaries of $25.904 million if the teams decide to exercise the options, but longer-term extensions are also a possibility now that they have finished their third seasons.
The full list of 2023 first-rounders — there were 31 that year because the Dolphins were stripped of their pick — and their fifth-year option salaries appears below:
1. Panthers QB Bryce Young — $25.904 million (playing time).
2. Texans QB C.J. Stroud — $25.904 million (playing time).
3. Texans DE Will Anderson — $21.512 (Pro Bowl).
4. Colts QB Anthony Richardson — $22.483 million (base).
5. Seahawks CB Devon Witherspoon — $21.161 million (multiple Pro Bowls).
6. Cardinals OT Paris Johnson — $19.072 million (playing time).
7. Raiders DE Tyree Wilson — $14.475 million (base).
8. Falcons RB Bijan Robinson — $11.323 million (Pro Bowl).
9. Eagles DT Jalen Carter — $27.127 million (multiple Pro Bowls).
10. Bears OT Darnell Wright — $19.072 million (playing time).
11. Titans OG Peter Skoronski — $19.072 million (playing time).
12. Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs — $14.293 million (multiple Pro Bowls).
13. Packers DE Lukas Van Ness — $14.475 million (base).
14. Steelers OT Broderick Jones — $19.072 million (playing time).
15. Jets DE Will McDonald — $14.475 million (base).
16. Rams CB Emmanuel Forbes — $12.633 million (base).
17. Patriots CB Christian Gonzalez — $18.119 million (Pro Bowl).
18. Lions LB Jack Campbell — $21.925 million (Pro Bowl).
19. Buccaneers DT Calijah Kancey — $15.451 (playing time).
20. Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba — $23.852 million (Pro Bowl).
21. Chargers WR Quentin Johnston — $18 million (playing time).
22. Ravens WR Zay Flowers — $27.298 million (multiple Pro Bowls).
23. Vikings WR Jordan Addison — $18 million (playing time).
24. Giants CB Deonte Banks — $12.633 million (base).
25. Bills TE Dalton Kincaid — $8.162 million (base).
26. Jets DT Mazi Smith — $13.391 million (base) Smith was traded to the Jets by the Cowboys.
27. Jaguars OT Anton Harrison — $19.072 million (playing time).
28. Bengals DE Myles Murphy — $14.475 million (base).
29. Saints DT Bryan Bresee — $13.391 million (base).
30. Eagles LB Nolan Smith — $13.752 million (base).
31. Chiefs Felix Anudike-Uzomah — $14.475 million (base).
The Texans and quarterbacks coach coach Jerrod Johnson have parted ways, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
The one-sentence tweet from Schefter leaves plenty of questions: Was the parting mutual, or did the Texans fire Johnson? Why now, in the middle of the Scouting Combine?
The Texans kept offensive coordinator Nick Caley despite C.J. Stroud’s struggles this season, notably in the divisional playoff loss to the Patriots.
Johnson interviewed for offensive coordinator positions over the past two hiring cycles, and now, with the Texans’ late move, most coaching jobs around the league are filled.
He was the Texans’ quarterbacks coach for three seasons after one season as the Vikings’ assistant quarterbacks coach.
The Texans are expected to add quarterbacks coach to Jerry Schuplinski’s title, Jonathan Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports. He currently is senior offensive assistant/pass game coordinator.
Joe Mixon didn’t play last season, due to an off-field injury to his foot. It’s an injury that remains a mystery.
General Manager Nick Caserio revealed the running back underwent surgery for his injury this offseason but would not elaborate on the injury.
“He didn’t do anything off the field,” Caserio told Aaron Wilson of KPRC. “It wasn’t like he was riding a snowmobile or anything like that. I would say it was more of a medical condition or situation that didn’t really improve as much as everyone would hope.
“I’m not trying to evade the question. I think that’s the reality of the situation. He didn’t jump off a building. He wasn’t cliff diving or anything like that. He wasn’t doing anything irresponsible. It was a freak thing. Honestly, I’ve never seen it. It’s just the condition.”
Caserio has had conversations with Mixon’s agent, Peter Schaffer, but the Texans are expected to release Mixon with a failed physical, per Wilson. Releasing Mixon would save the team $8.5 million.
Mixon’s future is unknown.
“I’ve said this multiple times: I’m not trying to be evasive; it’s a moving target,” Caserio said. “So, we’ll kind of see what the availability is going to be, what the prognosis is for the season, and then ultimately try to figure out what makes sense for everybody involved.”
Texans General Manager Nick Caserio did his best on Tuesday to shut down chatter about the team considering a trade involving quarterback C.J. Stroud.
Stroud is heading into his fourth NFL season and the Texans have advanced to the divisional round in each of his first three years, but Stroud performed poorly while throwing four interceptions in Houston’s playoff loss to the Patriots last month. That helped fuel talk about a possible trade that Caserio emphatically refuted while in Indianapolis for the Scouting Combine.
Caserio said, via multiple reporters, that speculation about the Texans trading Stroud is “moronic” and that the quarterback is “not going anywhere” ahead of the 2026 season.
The Texans will have choices to make about how long they want to commit themselves to Stroud this offseason. He is eligible for a contract extension, but the team could opt to exercise their option on his contract for 2027 while waiting to make moves toward a longer deal at some point in the future.
