Seahawks get a huge boost on offense by trading for Texans OT Duane Brown

The Seattle Seahawks have needed help on the offensive line for a while and made a big move to address that need Monday by trading for three-time Houston Texans Pro Bowl offensive tackle Duane Brown, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Brown confirmed the news on Instagram, where he said goodbye to the Texans:

The trade was supposed to send cornerback Jeremy Lane to Houston, but he failed his physical. Instead, the Texans will get a 2018 third-round pick and a 2019 second-round pick, while the Seahawks will receive a 2018 fifth-round pick:

It’s an aggressive trade for Seattle, who is already without a 2018 second-round pick that was traded to the Jets in exchange for Sheldon Richardson.

Brown, 32, has spent his entire career in Houston after he was taken in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He started at least 12 games in his first nine seasons with the team, making the Pro Bowl in 2012, 2013 and 2014.

But he didn’t play in the first six games of the year for the Texans after holding out due to a contract dispute. He made his 2017 debut Sunday against the Seahawks.

It’s an easy trade to justify for both teams.

Why this makes sense for the Seahawks: Russell Wilson has been running for his life for a while behind an evaporating Seahawks offensive line.

Not only was Wilson consistently under pressure, but the team has also struggled to run the ball, regardless of who’s at running back. Against the Texans on Sunday, Wilson accounted for almost all of the team’s rushing yards.

Brown will presumably make life much easier for the Seahawks offense and can immediately help a team that has big flaws up front, but is still 5-2 and very much in the NFC playoff picture.

How his contract situation plays out remains to be seen, but the Seahawks inherit a deal that will keep him on the team through the 2018 season.

Why this makes sense for the Texans: Without Brown in the lineup, the Texans’ offense was doing just fine. It leads the NFL in scoring and has consistently topped 30 points since placing Deshaun Watson under center.

Before Sunday, it did all this without Brown because he decided to hold out for nearly three months in pursuit of a new contract. He signed a seven-year, $56.2 million deal in 2012, with $22.08 million guaranteed. Brown decided to end his holdout earlier this month. And he is slated to make $9.4 million in 2017 and $9.75 million in 2018 — but none of that money is guaranteed.

It’s also worth noting that Brown was very publicly and loudly critical of Texans owner Bob McNair for recent comments made about protesting players.

By sending away Brown, the Texans lose a big contract assigned to a player who wasn’t happy and didn’t seem like an entirely necessary cog in the first place. Adding a couple draft picks and Lane to a pass defense that hasn’t been great in 2017 is a bonus.