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Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio on the field before a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
It has been one deal after another for the Houston Texans, and the league is still several days away from the official start of the 2026 offseason and free agency. In their latest roster move, the Texans secured the services of a massive presence in Trent Brown.
Brown is a journeyman at this point in his career, but he may have found his next long-term NFL home in Houston.
That is, if what he put on tape in 2025 carries over into 2026.
Texans Reach Deal With Super Bowl Champion OL
GettyTrent Brown #77 of the New England Patriots lines up against the Baltimore Ravens.
The Texans’ offensive line is in flux, with two trades in the past week, one of which dealt away a starter. So, Browns return to the Texans’ roster offers some semblance of stability.
“OT Trent Brown and the Houston Texans reached agreement today on a one-year extension worth up to $7 million, per his agent Drew Rosenhaus,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on X on March 5.
Brown’s impact was felt for the Texans on the field and in the locker room.
“#Texans won every game Trent Brown started last season, including #Steelers playoff game,” KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson posted on X in reaction to the deal. “Slated for full offseason, as Bastrop native has been working out and rehabbing ankle injury from playoffs at NRG Stadium. Mentored Aireontae Ersery and other younger players.”
Brown missed the start of last season while recovering from a knee injury, but general manager Nick Caserio revealed he was always expected to start when healthy.
Trent Brown’s Evaluation Explains Decision
GettyTrent Brown #77 of the Las Vegas Raiders wears a face mask featuring a raised fist design during warmups before facing the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Texans know better than anyone, save for Brown himself, about where he is coming off the 2025 season, which would explain their acting fast to secure him for 2026. However, the Texans also ensured there would be no level of bidding war for the veteran.
That does not mean Brown’s game is without warts.
“After tearing his patellar tendon in 2024, Brown started seven games for the Texans this past season at right tackle. He has a massive frame and is very capable when he is on the field. He is a brick wall in pass protection and a bulldozer in the running game,” The Athletic’s Daniel Popper wrote in February.
“It is tough to rely on Brown as a full-time starter given his injury history. He has played more than 11 games one time since 2019. In 2025, he missed the final two regular-season games and the divisional-round loss to the Patriots with an ankle injury.”
Popper ranked Brown as the 114th-best free agent on the market overall and the 10th-best option at his position.
Trent Brown Beats Expectation
GettyTrent Brown #77 of the Las Vegas Raiders looks on against the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Texans are Brown’s fifth team. He began his career as a seventh-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers in the 2015 draft. Brown has also played for the Cincinnati Bengals, Las Vegas Raiders, and New England Patriots, winning a Super Bowl with the latter in 2018.
Spotrac projected Brown, who has earned $72.9 million in his career, would have a market value around a one-year, $2.5 million contract in free agency.
Brown beat that with his deal from the Texans.
The Texans still have plenty of work to do, with their three interior spots in even more flux than right tackle remains now that Brown is back as an option to bookend Ersery, a second-round pick in the 2025 class.
Josh Buckhalter covers the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. He has covered both leagues since 2016, including bylines at FanSided, Last Word on Sports and Clocker Sports. He’s based in Villa Park, Illinois. Follow Josh on Twitter and Instagram: @JoshGBuck More about Josh Buckhalter
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