The Houston Texans have restructured the contract of nickel cornerback Jalen Pitre to ease their salary cap obligations for the 2026 season, according to a league source who spoke with Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Sports. The changes were made one year after Pitre signed a $42.6 million extension with Houston. The Texans converted most of Pitre’s $9 million guaranteed base salary into a signing bonus and added two void years to bring down his 2026 cap number from $11.911 million. At 26 years old, Pitre was a key component of one of the league’s strongest secondaries in the 2025 season. The second-round pick recorded 74 tackles (43 solo), four interceptions, and 12 pass breakups over 14 regular-season games, firmly establishing his role alongside teammates Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter. This defensive unit is expected to be a major force and a top consideration in fantasy football drafts this fall.
Contract Updates Among Houston Texans Players
Dalton Schultz Secures One-Year Extension with Texans
The Texans agreed to extend tight end Dalton Schultz’s contract by one year, worth $12.6 million, sources told Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. This extension raises Schultz’s guaranteed earnings to $17.6 million over the 2026 and 2027 seasons. Schultz, 29, completed his third year with Houston in 2025. The former fourth-round draft pick out of Stanford in 2018 produced a career-high 82 receptions on 106 targets, totaling 777 yards and three touchdowns across 17 games last season. He ranked as the TE11 in half-PPR scoring for 2025, averaging 8.0 fantasy points per game. Schultz is a dependable target for the Texans’ offense and is projected as a low-end TE1 or high-end TE2 option in fantasy drafts this fall. His tenure with Houston now includes 194 receptions, 1,944 yards, and 10 touchdowns.
Tank Dell’s Injury Casts Doubt on His Depth Chart Position
Wide receiver Tank Dell missed the entire 2025 season due to a serious knee injury involving torn ACL, MCL, LCL ligaments, and meniscus. Dell, who was the overall WR39 with seven touchdowns as a rookie in 2023, saw his momentum stall during 2024 with similar volume but fewer scoring chances. His rehabilitation and recovery present a significant challenge as he aims for a breakout third year in 2026. Meanwhile, other Texans receivers, such as Jayden Higgins and Nico Collins, have made strides, potentially pushing Dell to a lower depth chart position. Higgins had a notable rookie season in 2025, and Collins has continued solidifying himself as a top-10 fantasy receiver. If Higgins assumes the No. 2 receiver role, Dell may slip to third on the depth chart, which will likely limit his fantasy production, particularly in a C.J. Stroud-led offense. Fantasy managers are advised to hold Dell for now, weighing his high upside against the risks from his extended absence.
Danielle Hunter Signs Lucrative One-Year Extension with Texans
The Texans have locked in five-time Pro Bowl defensive end Danielle Hunter with a one-year, $40.1 million contract extension that includes a $30.7 million signing bonus, sources told Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. This agreement secures Hunter through the 2027 season. At 31 years old, Hunter, a former third-round pick from LSU in 2015, recorded impressive stats in 17 starts last year in Houston: 54 tackles (28 solo), 15 sacks, 15 tackles for loss, 22 quarterback hits, three forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. Hunter’s performance across the last four seasons features double-digit sacks each year, totaling 27 sacks in two years with the Texans. Paired with Will Anderson Jr. on the defensive line, Hunter has been instrumental in leading the NFL’s top-ranked defense in 2025. He is expected to be a top IDP fantasy target at defensive line in 2026.
Adjusting Derek Stingley Jr.’s Contract to Aid the Texans’ Salary Cap
Just a day before restructuring Jalen Pitre’s deal, the Texans also revamped cornerback Derek Stingley Jr.’s contract, turning roughly $20.38 million of his $21.59 million cap hit into a signing bonus, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Sports. This maneuver is anticipated to save the Texans about $16 million on their 2026 cap. Stingley signed a three-year, $90 million deal with Houston in March 2025. At 24 years old and the third overall pick in 2022 out of LSU, Stingley earned first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors for a second consecutive season. In 17 starts, he recorded 36 tackles (26 solo), four interceptions—including one returned for a touchdown—15 pass breakups, and a forced fumble. While Stingley isn’t currently a focal point in IDP fantasy leagues, his role was vital to Houston having the league’s top overall defense last year.
Trent Brown Returns on One-Year Contract Despite Injury History
The Texans re-signed offensive tackle Trent Brown to a one-year contract worth up to $7 million, according to agent Drew Rosenhaus and Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Brown struggled with an ankle injury in 2025, limiting him to just seven games. The 32-year-old veteran is expected to start at right tackle next season if he recovers fully. Brown was a seventh-round pick by the San Francisco 49ers in 2015 out of the University of Florida and has started 103 of 110 games over 11 NFL seasons with five teams. He earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2019 with the Raiders, despite only starting 11 games that year.
Jayden Higgins Making Case as Texans’ Second Receiving Option
Rookie wide receiver Jayden Higgins had a strong debut season and is vying to be Houston’s No. 2 receiver in 2026. Higgins caught 41 passes for 525 yards and six touchdowns last year, including two touchdowns and 111 yards over his final two games. He ranked as the third-leading Texan receiver behind Nico Collins and Dalton Schultz. The second-round draft pick has surpassed Christian Kirk, who enters free agency. Other wide receiver competition includes Jaylin Noel and injured Tank Dell. Higgins holds an edge over Noel and likely Dell, who remains sidelined with major knee injuries sustained in the 2024 playoffs. At 23, Higgins finished as the WR47 in PPR leagues during his rookie year, which likely represents his baseline. His potential to break into the top 30 in 2026 depends in part on quarterback C.J. Stroud’s improvement. Higgins is an attractive option in redraft leagues, and his value window in dynasty leagues may close quickly.
Woody Marks’ Role Diminishes Following Acquisition of David Montgomery
Houston Texans running back Woody Marks faces challenges to his playing time after the team acquired David Montgomery from the Detroit Lions. Although the exact division of snaps between Marks and Montgomery remains uncertain, Montgomery is considered the early favorite for the lead-back role. Montgomery produced 908 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns in 2025, ranking as the overall RB27 in PPR formats. His average of 4.53 yards per carry notably exceeds Marks’ 3.59 yards as a rookie. Marks amassed 911 scrimmage yards, two rushing touchdowns, and three receiving touchdowns in his first NFL season. While Marks continues to offer value on passing downs and in change-of-pace roles, Montgomery’s arrival will likely reduce his early-down and goal-line opportunities. As the 2026 season approaches, Montgomery is rated higher in redraft than dynasty leagues due to his age, yet remains a solid RB2 or RB3. Conversely, Marks falls to a low-end RB3 or flex option in redraft leagues but may become a compelling buy-low candidate in dynasty formats if the trade incites panic selling among managers.
Texans Trade for David Montgomery as Offense Adjusts
The Houston Texans recently acquired running back David Montgomery from the Detroit Lions, sending offensive lineman Juice Scruggs, a fourth-round pick, and a seventh-round pick in return, per Tom Pelissero of NFL.com. At 28, Montgomery remains productive, coming off a 2025 campaign with 716 rushing yards, 192 receiving yards, and eight total touchdowns. Despite finishing as RB27 in full-PPR leagues—a career low for him—Montgomery has ranked RB27 or better every year while sharing backfield duties with Jahmyr Gibbs in Detroit. In Houston, Montgomery is expected to compete for the lead-back role as Woody Marks continues to develop. General manager Nick Caserio may be looking for a resurgence similar to Joe Mixon’s trade arrival, who tallied 1,325 scrimmage yards and 12 touchdowns in 2024. Montgomery’s ranking in redraft leagues is slightly stronger than in dynasty due to age, but he remains a reliable RB2 or RB3. Marks’ fantasy outlook diminishes but could be a buy-low target.
David Montgomery Expresses Desire for Trade From Detroit
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, David Montgomery has expressed a desire to leave the Detroit Lions. Owing $6 million in 2026 and still under 30 years old, Montgomery is a likely attractive asset in trade discussions. The Lions reportedly seek a Day 3 draft pick—potentially a fifth-rounder—in return. Should Seattle fail to re-sign impending free-agent Kenneth Walker III, they may be a logical landing spot. Montgomery’s role in Detroit has diminished over the last two seasons due to Jahmyr Gibbs’ rising star. In 17 games in 2025, Montgomery’s touches declined to 158 carries with 716 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns, along with 24 receptions for 192 yards. If he remains in Detroit, Montgomery would probably continue as a secondary option behind Gibbs.
Will Anderson Jr. Contract Extension Remains Top Texans Priority
Extending defensive end Will Anderson Jr. remains a crucial objective for the Texans this offseason, and reports suggest the deal could arrive soon, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Anderson, the third overall pick from Alabama in 2023, is one of the NFL’s premier pass rushers early in his career, with two Pro Bowl selections and Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. Over the last two seasons, Anderson has recorded 23 sacks, including a career-high 12 in 17 games in 2025. His 2025 statistics also feature 54 total tackles (35 solo), 20 tackles for loss, 23 quarterback hits, three pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries, one returned for a touchdown. He played a significant role in the Texans leading the league in defense last season and is expected to be a highly sought-after defensive end in IDP fantasy leagues going forward.
