Texans Trade QB Brock Osweiler & 2018 2nd-Rd Pick To Browns

Update:

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the NFL has officially approved the Texans and Browns trade that will send QB Brock Osweiler, Houston’s 2017 sixth-round pick (compensatory), and a 2018 second-round pick to Cleveland for their 2017 fourth-rounder (compensatory).

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The Texans and Browns have both confirmed the trade with the Browns for QB Brock Osweiler.

.@HoustonTexans have traded QB Brock Osweiler to the Cleveland Browns. Terms of trade were not disclosed. Quote from #Texans GM Rick Smith: pic.twitter.com/M8boKSkdDW

— Texans PR (@TexansPR) March 9, 2017

“We’re really excited to acquire a second round draft choice in this trade,” said Executive Vice President of Football Operations Sashi Brown. “Draft picks are extremely important to our approach in building a championship caliber football team. We are intent on adding competition to every position on our roster and look forward to having Brock come in and compete.”

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Ian Rapoport reports that the Browns are weighing the possibility of releasing QB Brock Osweiler outright after trading for him.

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Adam Schefter is reporting that the Texans have traded Brock Osweiler and a 2018 second-round pick to the Browns to take Osweiler’s contract.

The two teams also swapped compensatory picks as part of this trade with the Browns getting the Texans’ 2017 sixth-round pick and the Texans getting the Browns 2017 fourth-rounder.

• According to Mike Garafolo, this trade doesn’t mean Osweiler is the Browns’ future quarterback. Instead, it sounds like the Browns were more interested in picking up the second-round pick.
• Ian Rapoport reports that the Browns are expected to move on Robert Griffin III following this trade.

It’s amazing the Texans were able to trade Osweiler’s contract in the first place, but the Browns have plenty of cap space and they got a good pick to take on Osweiler’s salary.

This trade could open the door for the Texans to trade for Tony Romo, who is reportedly on the block right now.

Pro Football Talk mentions that by unloading Osweiler, the Texans saved $16 million but will take a $9 million cap charge for 2017.

Osweiler, 26, is a former second-round pick of the Broncos in 2012. He played out his rookie contract with the Broncos before signing a four-year, $72 million contract with the Texans that included $37 million guaranteed back in March of last year.

Osweiler stands to make base salaries of $16 million (2017), $18 million (2018), and $13 million (2019) over the remainder of the contract. Although, a team can move on from him next with limited repercussions.

In 2016, Osweiler appeared in 15 games and threw for 2,957 yards while completing 59 percent of his passes to go along with 15 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 32 quarterback out of 34 qualifying players.