TEXANS NEWS
Browns hire former Houston Texans defensive line coach
Jan 29, 2024, 12:07 pm
Jacques Cesaire is heading to Cleveland. Photo by Bob Levey/ Getty Images.
Myles Garrett has got another new coach.
The Cleveland Browns have hired Jacques Cesaire as their defensive line coach to work with Garrett, the favorite to win AP Defensive Player of the Year, a person familiar with the move told The Associated Press on Saturday.
Cesaire, who spent the past two seasons in Houston, will replace Ben Bloom. It's possible Bloom will stay with Cleveland in another role, according to the person who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the team is not announcing any changes until coach Kevin Stefanski completes interviews.
NFL Network was first to report the 43-year-old Cesaire's hiring.
Stefanski has filled several vacancies already and could be closing in on a new offensive coordinator.
The Browns have interviewed five candidates, including Chargers offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, former Eagles offensive coordinator Brian Johnson and Texans quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson.
Stefanski shook up his staff days after the Browns were routed 45-14 by the Texans in the wild-card round of the playoffs. He fired coordinator Alex Van Pelt along with running backs coach Stump Mitchell and chose not to bring back tight ends coach T.C. McCartney.
Cesaire had a hand in Houston's blowout of the Browns as the Texans' defensive front pressured Cleveland quarterback Joe Flacco throughout the game. Flacco threw a pair of pick-6s in the second half.
The Texans chose not to renew Cesaire's contract after the season. In Cleveland, he'll inherit Garrett, the All-Pro who had 14 sacks and his most dominant season since being drafted first overall in 2017. The Browns also will bring back ends Ogbo Okoronkwo and Alex Wright and tackle Dalvin Tomlinson on the league's top-rated defense.
Cesaire played in 125 games from 2003-11 with the San Diego Chargers. He was an assistant line coach with Buffalo in 2020-21.
According to multiple reports, the Houston Texans are signing offensive tackle Cam Robinson to a 1-year contract.
Free-agent OT Cam Robinson is signing with the Houston Texans, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 19, 2025
KPRC2's Aaron Wilson is reporting that the 1-year deal has a max value of $14.5 million.
With Laremy Tunsil now a member of the Commanders, clearly the Texans wanted to add some more talent at the tackle position.
Rookie right tackle Blake Fisher showed some promise last season, but he also had his share of struggles, as one would expect from a first-year player.
This move provides the Texans with flexibility if they choose to play Tytus Howard at guard again, while also giving GM Nick Caserio additional options in the draft.
Many believed the Texans would be locked in on drafting an offensive lineman with their first pick, which they may still do. But now, they can focus on taking the best player available, which could very well be a receiver at No. 25 overall.
Plus, this addition will make the Texans less predictable on draft day when rival teams are trying to predict who Caserio will draft based on Houston's needs.
Robinson started all 17 games last season, splitting time between the Jaguars and the Vikings. The Vikings traded for Robinson after their starting tackle Christian Darrisaw was lost for the season to injury. With Robinson in the last year of his deal and the Jags' season setting up to be another failure, Jacksonville decided to trade their left tackle away. Robinson (age 29) was drafted by the Jaguars in the 2nd round out of Alabama in 2017.
Make no mistake about it, this is a solid pickup by the Texans!