Houston just took care of one of its own.
The Texans have agreed to terms with cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. on a three-year, $90 million extension that includes $89 million guaranteed, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Monday.
Stingley's $30 million-per-year salary is the new high-water mark for defensive backs, easily toppling a record set by the Carolina Panthers' Jaycee Horn ($25 million per year) only a week ago. David Mulugheta of Athletes First, who did the deal on behalf of Stingley, now reps the three highest-paid CBs and two highest-paid safeties.
Rather than picking up the fifth-year option on Stingley's rookie deal by the May 1 deadline, which would have certainly been a no-brainer, the Texans instead rewarded one of their finest homegrown defenders long before free agency would ever come knocking.
A promising player his first two seasons after joining Houston as the No. 3 overall pick in the 2022 draft, the biggest gripe about Stingley entering the 2024 campaign was injuries. He missed eight games his rookie year and six in his next.
Stingley put that behind him last season, though, playing all 17 contests and elevating his play to another level to make his first Pro Bowl and first All-Pro team.
The 23-year-old logged five interceptions for the second straight year. His 18 passes defensed ranked second in the NFL, the same as his 84.4 PFF coverage grade among corners. Stingley earned such a mark in part by limiting opponents to 42 receptions on 90 targets as the nearest defender, good for a 46.7 completion percentage and 56.9 passer rating allowed.
Stingley importantly shined even brighter during the playoffs, as he added two INTs and another five passes defensed in the Texans' surprise 32-12 wild-card drubbing of the Los Angeles Chargers.
For as much talk as there was about quarterback C.J. Stroud and the offense at the start of last season, it was Houston's defense that powered the club through any lulls to reach the playoffs for a second straight time.
The Texans boasted the NFL's sixth-best total defense, which also ranked sixth against the pass and 11th versus the run.
And for as good as the team's secondary was, Houston's best players on the back end are still evolving. Stingley, who turns 24 in June, is one of the leaders of a group that consists of fellow corner Kamari Lassiter (22 years old), safety Jalen Pitre (25) and safety Calen Bullock (21). Versatile defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson, still just 27, is also set to join them by way of trade.
It's a unit on the rise, and one of its stars rising fastest is now set to stay an additional three years.
