Texans Restructure Tytus Howard’s Deal, Signal Long-Term Commitment at Left Tackle

Houston Texans

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The Houston Texans made a significant financial move this week by restructuring Tytus Howard’s contract, creating $11.464 million in cap space for 2025, per TexansCap on X. This was one of the biggest moves left on the table for Houston to free up money, and it became even more likely following the recent Laremy Tunsil trade.

Per the report, the Texans executed a maximum restructure by converting a large portion of Howard’s base salary into a signing bonus. This is a common strategy teams use to create immediate cap relief, spreading the converted bonus over the remaining years of the deal to lower the current cap hit. However, it comes with long-term implications—namely, it increases the dead cap charge in future seasons, making it more difficult to part ways with the player later.

For me, this move signals the Texans’ long-term commitment to Tytus Howard. With Tunsil now out of the picture, it solidifies Howard as the team’s left tackle going forward. It's a big step toward reassuring him that he is the organization’s choice to anchor the left side of the offensive line moving into the future.

Howard has been a loyal contributor to the Texans, having moved inside to left guard on two separate occasions—once due to injuries and again when the offensive line was struggling. This restructure could be viewed as a reward for his versatility and professionalism, while also giving him clarity on his long-term role as the franchise’s left tackle.

Now that the Texans have created this cap space, attention turns to what they might do with it. Several players are eligible for extensions, with pass rusher Danielle Hunter and safety Jalen Pitre being top candidates. Alternatively, Houston could look to add a veteran via free agency or trade, targeting positions such as guard, defensive tackle (particularly nose tackle), or wide receiver to bolster their roster ahead of the 2025 season.

This move leaves the door open for more roster-building flexibility as the Texans continue to mold their roster under GM Nick Caserio and head coach DeMeco Ryans.