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GLENDALE, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 25: Evan Brown #63 of the Arizona Cardinals runs on field prior to an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks at State Farm Stadium on September 25, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Houston Texans aren’t done filling in their 2026 roster quite yet: Ian Rapoport has reported that the Texans are signing LG Evan Brown to a 1-year deal worth up to $3.5 million. Brown had just been released by the Arizona Cardinals on March 12th.
Brown, 29, was an undrafted center out of SMU that spent time as a backup lineman on the Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, Cleveland Browns, and Detroit Lions from 2019 to 2021, where he became Detroit’s starting center after Frank Ragnow’s season-ending injury. Brown stepped in with low expectations and performed well above them, finishing that season as one of PFF’s highest graded centers in pass-blocking, but under the average mark in run-blocking. Since then, Brown has started at RG for the Lions, then C again for the Seattle Seahawks, and then moved to the LG spot for the Arizona Cardinals for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. In his 7 NFL seasons, Evan Brown has tallied:
- 85 Games (68 Starts)
- 4,400 total snaps – 1,911 at LG, 1,745 at C, 744 at RG
- 2025 Stats: 770 snaps, 1 sack, 5 hits, 34 total pressures given up, 4 penalties, 54.3 PFF Grade (60.2 PBLK, 49.0 RBLK)
Even though LG was not his traditional position coming out of college, Brown had one of his best seasons as a pro playing there for Arizona in 2024. Entering the ‘25 campaign as the entrenched starter with high expectations, Brown fell back down to earth and had a disappointing season overall, exhibiting diminishing results in both pass-blocking and run-blocking as the year wore on. On top of that, he missed the last five games of last season due to a personal matter, adding to his baggage as he arrives in Houston. But, Brown’s peak in 2024 as a starting-caliber and reliable LG certainly make him an attractive signing late in this free agency period, despite his recent struggles. Brown’s strong arms and active legs have made him a solid guard in the past, but his overall decline and failure to stick with blocks haunted his most recent season:
Similar to the DE Logan Hall signing, this strikes me as a signing very satisfying to Texans’ general manager Nick Caserio. Like Hall, this Evan Brown contract represents another quality player joining Houston’s roster that is on the right side of 30, has had plenty of starting experience in the past, and has seen their value decline recently due to a disappointing season. At worst, Brown will likely be a middling backup LG or C, but at best, he could be one of the most affordable starters for the Texans offense at either position. The interior line has been Houston’s lingering weakness in Nick Caserio’s tenure as GM, and this signing makes that position group a little more secure for 2026. Right now, the Texans starting 5 consists off
- LT – Aireontae Ersery (Backups: Blake Fisher, Jarrett Kingston)
- LG: Evan Brown/Braden Smith (Backup: Jarrett Patterson)
- C: Jake Andrews (Backups: Jarrett Patterson, Eli Cox, Evan Brown)
- RG: Ed Ingram (Backups: Evan Brown, Sidy Sow)
- RT: Braden Smith/Trent Brown (Backup: Jarrett Kingston)
It’s quite the interesting offensive line, filled with youth and unrealized potential, but it’s arguably in a better state now than it was during the 2025 season. I’ll still really miss longtime Texans RT/LG Tytus Howard, but the additions of RT/LG Braden Smith and now G/C Evan Brown will account for his absence in 2026. And the NFL Draft hasn’t even happened yet! Houston still has the opportunity to improve at any positions on the line this upcoming draft, which would further improve their outlook for next season. Maybe they’ll even draft another tackle, like Clemson’s Blake Miller! Regardless, Evan Brown adds another veteran interior lineman to Houston’s roster on a team-friendly deal, which is, at minimum, pretty good news.
What do you think of this signing, though? Do you think Evan Brown still has more good performances in front of him, or is he on the wrong side of his peak? Will he return to his great 2024 season, or should Houston have taken a flier with another player? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Go Texans!!!!
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