Texans Trade Brock Osweiler To Browns For 2017 Fourth-Round Pick

The Houston Texans are sending quarterback Brock Osweiler to the Cleveland Browns in a trade that will also give the Browns a 2018 second-round pick.

Texans Trade Brock Osweiler, 2018 second-round pick to Browns

In exchange, the Texans will receive Cleveland’s 2017 fourth-round pick, in addition to taking Osweiler’s $16 million guaranteed salary off their books. The added salary cap space will also help Houston in its efforts to sign recently-released Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, sources said.

The Browns, who finished with a terrible 1-15 record in 2016, will also acquire a 2017 sixth-round pick.

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported the Browns plan to release Osweiler if they can’t trade him, and also that Cleveland is expected to release Robert Griffin III, which would leave the team with only Cody Kessler and Kevin Hogan at quarterback.

The Texans have only Tom Savage and Brandon Weeden on the quarterback depth chart, although this extra cap space and roster spot puts them squarely back in the market for one.

The Browns entered the NFL new league year/free agency signing period (which began Thursday at 4 pm ET) with more than $100 million in salary-cap space, and would struggle to spend it all. Now, they can dedicate some of it to Osweiler’s contract and acquiring extra draft picks from the Texans.

Browns VP Sashi Brown and chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta came to Cleveland promising a different way of doing things in the NFL, and this trade certainly proves it.

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – NOVEMBER 21: Brock Osweiler #17 of the Houston Texans warms up on the field prior to the game against the Oakland Raiders at Estadio Azteca on November 21, 2016 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)