Houston eyes a veteran infusion to protect C.J. Stroud. An All-Pro guard nearing free agency could solidify the Texans' struggling offensive front.
It is no secret that the Houston Texans need to improve on the offensive side of the ball. The key to winning a Super Bowl is playing complementary football, and the Texans are in a spot where the defense is carrying most of the weight far too often. Houston must prioritize developing quarterback C.J. Stroud while simultaneously improving the offensive line. Doing both of those things should help the Texans take a step forward and potentially get over the hump that is the Divisional round of the playoffs.
Upgrading the offensive line should be a priority for Houston. Doing so would help Stroud, and it should also help the running game improve. Both of those things will get the offense closer to playing on the defense's level, which would be an ideal outcome for the franchise. The Texans should be doing a ton of homework on the offensive linemen that will be available in free agency, as well as in the 2026 NFL Draft.
One name to keep an eye on is guard Joel Bitonio. He was tabbed as a free agent that should be connected to Houston by CBS Sports' Zachary Pereles, "Bitonio's remarkable run of seven straight Pro Bowl selections (which included five All-Pro honors) ended in 2025. He's not what he once was, but he can still be a serviceable interior option."
Bitonio is now 34 years old, and he is certainly approaching the end of his career. He might not be an All-Pro anymore, but he is still performing at a high level. He should want to win at this stage of his career, which is why he might look to enter free agency before thinking about signing a new deal with the Cleveland Browns. He has spent his entire career in Cleveland, and it might be time for change.
Tytus Howard played some left guard for Houston in 2025, and he played well. However, he is a right tackle, and bringing in Bitonio at left guard could be a good way to optimize the offensive line. Bitonio would not be too expensive of an option. According to Spotrac, his current market value sits at roughly $12 million annually. At his age, it would be hard to imagine him signing a multi-year deal in free agency, and he could even take a cheaper deal if he feels he has a good chance to do some winning.
Bitonio would be a temporary fix on the offensive line as he is nearing the end of his career, but his high level of play would give the organization a better chance to truly evaluate Stroud while giving the team its best chance to win.