Houston ships out linemen then commits $7 million to veteran tackle Trent Brown, raising eyebrows ahead of free agency.
The Houston Texans need to be focused on the offensive line, as it has been a clear weakness for the franchise over the last several seasons. The free agency class during the 2026 offseason is not that strong when it comes to skill positions, so the organization should be able to find some decent offensive linemen to round out the roster. That will also be a goal of General Manager Nick Caserio during the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Texans currently have a decent amount of draft capital near the top of the draft. Houston holds the 28th overall selection, one of four selections in the top 70 of the event. At least two of those picks should be used on the offensive line, which is what the fans hope for, as better play there should open up the entire offense.
Caserio and the other decision-makers in Houston have been busy during the week leading up to free agency. The general manager has traded away two offensive lineman, and on Thursday, he signed tackle Trent Brown to a new extension.
Brown is a tackle with a ton of NFL experience, but it is easy to say his best years are behind him. He played in and started 7 games during the 2026 season after signing with the organization as a free agent. He was released during final roster cuts but brought back to the practice squad before being elevated to the active roster in October.
Brown initially signed a one-year, $3 million deal with Houston during the 2025 offseason, and he has now agreed to a new one-year, $7 million deal. He more than doubled his salary by getting cut, brought back, and playing in seven games. This was potentially viewed as a necessary move, as the organization traded away tackle Tytus Howard on Monday, but the fan base should not be too excited about the organization just giving out $7 million for the 2026 season. Houston has many holes, and now the franchise has less financial flexibility heading into free agency.
The tackle could get his career back on track, and Caserio would look like a genius by signing him to an extension before allowing him to make it to free agency. However, Brown is 32 years old. It should still be a priority to find a young, talented tackle in the 2026 NFL Draft. That would set the organization up nicely for the future.