A week after trading Laremy Tunsil to the Commanders, the Texans are bringing in a hired gun at left tackle. Cam Robinson is heading to Houston, FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz tweets.
While rumored to be planning to shift Tytus Howard to left tackle, the Texans now appear more likely to keep Howard at either right tackle or move him back to guard once again. Robinson is signing a one-year deal, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini adds. It is believed the former Jaguars and Vikings LT will sign for at least $12MM. Unspecified escalators could vault the value to $14.5MM, per Russini.
PFR’s No. 5 overall free agent, Robinson may well have commanded a solid multiyear offer. But the experienced tackle will bet on raising his value ahead of 2026’s free agency. The Texans will first see how he fares in Tunsil’s place, adding the eight-year starter on a higher-end one-year agreement that will give them exclusive negotiating rights until next March.
Robinson had seen third contracts handed out to Dion Dawkins, Taylor Decker and Garett Bolles last year. Not quite on that level, Robinson still commanded two franchise tags in Jacksonville. Instead of paying Robinson once again, the Jaguars traded him to the Vikings, who needed a Christian Darrisaw replacement. With Darrisaw due back, Minnesota let Robinson walk. He will join a remodeled Houston O-line.
The Texans traded Tunsil and cut Shaq Mason. They have added Laken Tomlinson as a guard starter, and it is worth wondering if Howard will now be moving back inside. The team drafted Blake Fisher in last year’s second round. Unless Houston is keen on letting the Notre Dame alum being a swingman in his second season, a configuration in which Howard slides back to guard to accommodate Fisher makes sense. Robinson, however, now becomes the top blocking piece as the Texans attempt to move C.J. Stroud back on track. A Howard move back inside would pit Juice Scruggs against Jarrett Patterson for one spot — center.
More to come.