The Houston Texans were in the news cycle over the past two days for their connection to free agent guard Wyatt Teller, but clearly had other plans in mind, namely Evan Brown.
Brown is coming off a tenure with the Arizona Cardinals as a starting pocket protector.
He arrives in Houston with plenty of experience. He is joining a group that has little of that in terms of playing together as a unit, with as many as three new starters set to line up in front of quarterback C.J. Stroud.
Texans Sign Former Cardinals Starter Evan Brown
GettyEvan Brown #62 of the Arizona Cardinals during a game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
“Former #AZCardinals G Evan Brown, who was released late this week, lands quickly with the #Texans on a 1-year deal for up to $3.5M, per The Insiders,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on X on March 14
“Deal negotiated by Sean Kiernan & Tommy Povinelli from @AthletesFirst.”
Brown turns 30 in September. He started all 28 games that he appeared in for the Cardinals over the past two seasons.
Brown began his career as an undrafted free agent out of SMU in 2018 with the New York Giants. He has also played for the Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, and Seattle Seahawks in seven seasons.
“He’s played 750+ snaps in each of the last 5 seasons with 3 different teams with most of the snaps being at LG/C,” Texans Jacob posted on X on March 14. “He was on the 2019 Dolphins for a month with [Texans QB coach] Jerry Schuplinski and 2020 Lions which have Patriots connections with Matt Patricia.”
Brown has started 68 of his 85 career games played.
He is coming off a two-year, $11.5 million contract with the Cardinals, which remains his most substantial deal to date.
The Texans have now spent north of $65 million on new contracts for offensive linemen this offseason. The Texans might still have plans at guard or center, even after adding Brown into the discussion.
Texans’ OL Remains in Flux
GettyBraden Smith #72 of the Indianapolis Colts against the Tennessee Titans.
Brown’s arrival likely means fellow free agent signing Braden Smith will indeed man the right tackle spot as opposed to a transition inside, pushing Trent Brown to the bench after he started the latter part of the season.
Brown re-signed with the Texans before free agency, with right guard Ed Ingram re-upping during the legal tampering period.
The Texans have 2025 second-round pick Aireontae Ersery at left tackle.
That leaves center and left guard as the only two uncertainties, and the Texans still have 2025 starter Jake Andrews under contract. That has not stopped them from exploring potential upgrade options.
It does, however, cast some uncertainty about where the Texans will play Brown, who played in the pivot his entire NFL career before the 2022 season and has gone back and forth since.
The 2026 draft also remains wide open for the Texans.
Offensive linemen can play well into their mid-to-late 30s, but the Texans could trot out up to three players who will be 30 or older during the 2026 season if Evan and Trent Brown start at center and RT, respectively, and Smith moves inside.
Even if Trent Brown moves to the bench, the Texans will still want to find long-term solutions behind Smith and Evan Brown.
Texans Reach Deal With Former Cardinals Starter After ‘Late’ Free Agency Decision