3 best moments of the Brock Osweiler era in Houston

Cleveland sent a fourth-round selection to Houston for Osweiler, a 2018 second-round pick and a sixth rounder, said the person who spoke Thursday to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the teams have not announced the deal. Getting Osweiler’s contract off the salary cap has made it much easier for the team to make a deal for Romo, who now carries a $24.7 million cap hit.

Now the Houston Chronicles John McClain is reporting that the Texans did NOT trade Osweiler to get Romo. The quarterback for the Houston Texans, just recently in this previous offseason inked a 4-year, $72 million deal, with half of it guaranteed, and a $12 million signing bonus. The NHL and National Basketball Association see these type of salary-dump deals quite frequently (especially the NBA), but they do not occur between NFL teams, and there’s a huge reason why: The NFL does not permit teams to trade cash for picks, hence the compensatory-pick additions in this deal.

Shortly after that surprising development came the shocker of the day when the Texans rid themselves of Brock Osweiler and his hefty contract, sending the disappointing signal-caller to the Browns.

For the Browns, this was about getting that second-round pick, their third, in the 2018 draft. It’s unlikely anyway – Houston doesn’t make its first-round choice until the 25th pick, and without a second-rounder to use as trade bait, has few avenues for moving up. The trade essentially is draft picks. That visual is forever burned in my brain of Brock Osweiler standing on a sidewalk waiting to get picked up by the Browns with a second round pick in his pocket.

If they plan on going after New England’s Jimmy Garoppolo, hopefully, they have a good idea what it will take to close the deal. Which means the Browns may be able to add another high draft pick to the pile.

Free agency had already been a frenzy.

Cleveland – The Browns found a franchise quarterback, just maybe not their own. Even if Cleveland can’t make a deal, they could still grant him his release as they have plenty of cap space to eat whatever they owe Osweiler by virtue of this trade.

As I mentioned, the Texans couldn’t release Osweiler because his salary was guaranteed, so this was the only way to get him off the books. With the team likely having no interest in starting him next season, the Browns could deal Brock to another team and collect more assets to continue building.

Do the Texans get Tony Romo now?

I’m still torn on if there’s a clear victor in this trade.

The Chicago Bears released quarterback Jay Cutler on Thursday.

They have not yet decided what they’ll do with Osweiler, and his arrival does not necessarily affect any decisions on Robert Griffin III, who is due a roster bonus this weekend.

With this trade, the Browns didn’t acquire a quarterback.