3 Texans Players Not Named C.J. Stroud Next Up for an Extension
3 Texans Players Not Named C.J. Stroud Next Up for an Extension
The Houston Texans have a lot more work to do when it comes to dishing out new extensions.Jared Koch|
In this story:
Houston TexansThe Houston Texans stayed busy throughout this offseason in signing on several key pieces to new contract extensions, both short- and long-term.
They put together new one-year extensions for tight end Dalton Schultz and edge rusher Danielle Hunter, cemented linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair and kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn to new multi-year contracts, and most importantly, locked in their star edge rusher and defensive cornerstone, Will Anderson, to a $150 million mega-deal over three seasons.
That keeps most of this team intact for the next two seasons. But once getting to next offseason, the Texans will once again be tasked with similar extension decisions for another set of critical players on the roster–– with the elephant in the room being quarterback C.J. Stroud.
But the Texans have far more than just their quarterback to sign onto a new deal.
Three players in particular on both sides of the ball stick out as the biggest priorities for Houston to sign to a new contract this time next year. Yet, doing so for all three, plus their quarterback, could be much easier said than done.
Let's sort through the three players to circle as the next extension candidates to watch on the Texans' roster for 2027:
Nico Collins | WR
The Texans were able to rework Collins' deal this offseason to give him a much-deserved raise for the next two years, thus paying him $30 million a year for the next two seasons, which is great value for a wideout of his caliber.
But in a year's time, the Texans will have to approach the negotiation table again for their number one receiver, considering he's bound to hit free agency in 2028.
That deal won't be as team-friendly as the one he's currently signed to, though that doesn't mean he won't be a priority for Houston to bring back on another well-deserved pay raise.
He's a floor raiser for this offense when he's on the field and has been a consistent 1,000-yard guy, despite a few injury woes throughout. If Stroud does happen to find an extension next offseason, bringing back his top target in the receiver room will also be a must-have for the foreseeable future.
Kamari Lassiter | CB
Another pivotal piece who will be due for a contract next summer: Pro Bowl cornerback Kamari Lassiter, who's fresh off a stellar second year in Houston.
Lassiter cemented himself as a top 10 name at the position, is only 23 years old heading into next season, and could easily be considered the best one-two punch at cornerback next to an All-Pro talent in Derek Stingley Jr.
It's hard to believe that Lassiter wouldn't be a key priority for the Texans to ink onto a long-term deal like Collins. However, the math does tend to be a bit trickier when Lassiter will make for two highly paid cornerbacks on the same roster, on top of all of the other stars they're paying out as well.
That leaves the Texans to either open their checkbooks even further and continue to do some cap gymnastics as they have this summer, or perhaps even make a tough decision of who to keep between Stingley and Lassiter as their number one corner for the future
However, it's a situation the Houston brass won't have to ponder too heavily until next offseason.
Calen Bullock | S
Lassiter won't be the only Pro Bowler in the Texans' secondary that they'll have to address for a new deal next offseason; their top safety in the back-end, Calen Bullock, will also be up for a payday.
Bullock certainly won't be as expensive as the latter two of Collins or Lassiter. Safety contracts don't stretch as high as a wide receiver or a boundary corner would get, and he's not quite the same caliber as either are for their respective positions.
At the same time, bringing him back on a new deal looks to be a pretty important task on the agenda.
While not as pricey, bringing Bullock back on a new deal might not be that simple, though. With how expensive this Texans' roster will get in a couple of years’ time, there have to be a few sacrifices made to keep this core intact, while still rounding out the roster at other positions.
Paying premium money to a safety might be a decision that Houston wants to avoid to make that happen, especially considering how deep that unit currently looks for both now and in the future.
If the Texans truly value him as a core piece, he could be the easiest negotiation on this list. If he's further down the totem pole of priorities, he might just turn out to be one of the toughest cuts.
Published Jun 22, 2026
JARED KOCHJared Koch is the Publisher of Houston Texans On SI. He has covered the NFL & NBA with On SI since 2023, and is a graduate of Western Kentucky University.
Follow jjaredkochHome/News
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
