After going 10-7 in two straight regular seasons and flaming out in the divisional round of the playoffs, the Houston Texans decided to make sweeping changes this offseason. After parting ways with offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, the Texans proceeded to revamp the offensive line.
As part of that process, Houston traded longtime starter Laremy Tunsil to the Commanders and recent first-round pick Kenyon Green to the Eagles. They also released Shaq Mason and let Kendrick Green walk.
The Texans then replaced them by signing left tackle Cam Robinson, right tackle Trent Brown, right guard Ed Ingram, and left guard Laken Tomlinson. Barring any more additions through the draft, the Texans are projected to start Robinson, Tomlinson, and Brown, as well as holdovers Jarrett Patterson and Juice Scruggs in their offensive line.
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated had previously attributed these changes to the toxic Texans locker room. He had said, "[Tunsil] isn’t a tone-setter, and the offensive line room in Houston last year went the wrong way, becoming borderline toxic, which adds context to the trade of Kenyon Green and the release of Shaq Mason."
Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans finally addressed these reports. According to ESPN's DJ Bien-Aime, Houston's head coach called these rumors "incorrect" and said the offensive line was a "tight group."
Texans HC DeMeco Ryans said the reports about the OL room being toxic are “incorrect.”
— DJ Bien-Aime (@Djbienaime) March 31, 2025
Said “Those guys were a tight group. They went out to dinner throughout the week. So i don’t know where that report came from.”
He added trading LT Laremy Tunsil was “difficult.”
Texans News: HC Ryans Refutes Reports of Toxic Locker Room
Ryans added that he didn't know where those reports came from since that group went out to dinner throughout the week before stating that the decision to trade Tunsil was a difficult one.
Regardless of whether there were problems in the locker room last season, it was obvious that the offensive line wasn't performing up to their capabilities. They struggled immensely all season, allowing 54 sacks, the third-most of any team in the NFL. In their postseason loss to the Chiefs, they gave up eight sacks to Steve Spagnuolo's aggressive scheme.
Whether the vibes in the locker room will be better next season remains to be seen, but CJ Stroud's protection has to be better for the Texans to make any noise next season.