Andrew Berry may have read the Wyatt Teller situation perfectly.
That’s not the kind of thing Browns fans like hearing when a longtime starter lands elsewhere, but the early signs in Houston are hard to ignore. Teller, who spent seven seasons in Cleveland after arriving in a 2019 trade with the Buffalo Bills, has already run into turbulence with the Texans just months after signing a two-year deal worth $16 million with $8.5 million guaranteed.
For a player who once looked like one of the best guards in football, the slide has been real. Pro Football Focus had Teller at a 62.3 offensive grade last season, his lowest mark since his sophomore season in 2019, when he posted a 56.7.
That followed a 2024 campaign graded at 62.6. Houston still rolled the dice anyway, but the preseason has not been kind.
Teller opened the Texans’ preseason opener at left guard and came away with a 56.3 grade in 12 snaps. In Week 2, the picture got even uglier. Rookie Keylan Rutledge moved ahead of him, pushing Teller to the second unit at right guard, where he logged a 47.0 grade and a rough 17.6 pass block grade over 15 snaps.
It’s only the preseason, and Houston is hardly going to cut ties this quickly after making that kind of investment. Still, the early returns point to a player who may end up as one of the most expensive backup guards in the league - and one of the most experienced, too.
Back in Cleveland, the signs were already there. Teller was benched for four weeks from Week 14 through Week 17 last season, then a calf injury ended his year. Teven Jenkins filled in well enough to earn another shot, and he’s currently lined up as the Browns’ starter at right guard in 2026.
That makes the Browns’ decision easier to defend in hindsight. Joel Bitonio chose to walk away, which simplified one part of the line picture.
Teller’s case was different, but the combination of declining production and age made a return harder to justify. He will turn 32 this season, and the Browns opted not to make much of an effort to keep the partnership going.
Teller’s Cleveland run still carries plenty of weight. He became a three-time Pro Bowler and helped anchor the line during the Browns’ playoff seasons in 2020 and 2023. But football rarely gives out perfect endings, and this one looks more like a necessary split than a mistake.
In Other News...
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For Pittsburgh, the timing could hardly be worse. Joey Porter Jr. is now reportedly looking for a substantial raise in his own negotiations, and the Steelers are staring at a difficult decision if they cannot get the numbers where they need them. Trading a young corner of Porters caliber would be a major step, but the market for that kind of move may not bring back the kind of return Pittsburgh would want. [Read more 🡒]
Browns May Already Be Telling Fans How They View Shedeur Sanders
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Browns QB Decision Just Raised An Uncomfortable Question
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Todd Monken made clear the call was not his alone, which only adds to the usual scrutiny around this position. With Jimmy Haslam having already acknowledged responsibility for the trade that brought Watson to Cleveland and staying involved in related decisions, the choice puts the organization back under the same spotlight that has followed it for years, with the real question now less about who starts and more about who ultimately owns the outcome. [Read more 🡒]