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Jalen Pitre

Texans, Jalen Pitre Agree To Extension

April 11th, 2025 at 8:09am CST by Adam La Rose

The Texans made a major commitment in the secondary when they worked out a record-breaking extension for cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. The team now has another multi-year deal in place with a different member of the secondary from the 2022 draft class.

Jalen Pitre has agreed to a three-year extension worth $39MM, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. The former second-rounder was set to play on the final season of his rookie deal, meaning he is now on the books through 2028. Rapoport’s colleague Tom Pelissero adds the contract includes $29.16MM in guarantees. This accord contains a $10MM signing bonus, $18MM in new compensation for 2025 and can top out at $42.6MM, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports.

Pitre was drafted as a safety, and for the most part he occupied that role during his first two seasons in Houston. The 25-year-old handled full-time starting duties during that span, which included a five-interception rookie campaign. Pitre’s ball production took a step back in 2023, but he remained a mainstay in the secondary. Last offseason, the Texans committed to playing him at slot corner, a role he primarily handled in 2024.

While he was limited to 12 games last year, Pitre found success at his new position. The Baylor product earned a PFF grade of 73.9, easily the highest of his career. He handled a defensive snap share of 87%, and a heavy workload can obviously be expected moving forward. Houston has Stingley on the books long term, and 2024 second-rounder Kamari Lassiter represents another young player set to be a key member of the team’s secondary for years to come.

Since $39MM represents the base value of the contract, Pitre’s AAV of $13MM represents a new high mark for slot corners. That position has not seen much in the way of upward movement relative to boundary CBs, but the Texans have once again made a notable commitment to an in-house defender. Veteran edge rusher Danielle Hunter is also among the players who have received a lucrative extension this offseason as Houston looks to capitalize on the window of opportunity brought about by C.J. Stroud‘s rookie contract.

The Texans ranked sixth against the pass last season, and expectations will be high for their secondary again in 2025. With Stingley and now Pitre attached to long-term pacts, it will be interesting to see which position group is targeted next with respect to internal commitments.

Texans To Prioritize Extension For Derek Stingley, Jr; Latest On Jalen Pitre

February 2nd, 2025 at 9:52am CST by Rory Parks

Texans cornerback Derek Stingley, Jr. is now extension-eligible, and while he can be kept under club control through 2026 via the fifth-year option on his rookie deal – and controlled via the franchise tag beyond that – he is eyeing a new contract this offseason. The interest in such a deal is mutual, with ESPN’s Dan Graziano reporting that a Stingley extension is one of Houston’s top offseason priorities (subscription required).

Of course, an extension will not come cheap. Graziano hears an agreement between player and team could reset the CB market, which is currently topped by Jalen Ramsey’s $24.1MM average annual value and Patrick Surtain II‘s $77.5MM in total guarantees. Indeed, Graziano predicts the two sides will come to terms on a four-year, $104MM extension ($26MM AAV) with $80MM guaranteed.

If no deal is struck between now and the May 1 deadline for exercising fifth-year options on 2022 first-rounders, it is a given that the Texans will pick up Stingley’s option (worth $17.2MM). Combined with his $5.43MM in 2025 pay ($1.1MM base salary, $4.33MM roster bonus), Houston could retain the 23-year-old’s services for just over $11MM per year across the next two seasons.

A record-setting contract, therefore, would be quite notable, especially in light of Stingley’s injury history. Hamstring ailments in both of his first two pro seasons limited him to 20 out of a possible 34 regular season games over that span, though he was terrific when he was on the field. He put it all together over 17 starts in 2024, with five interceptions and 18 passes defensed as part of a Houston passing defense that allowed the sixth-fewest yards in the NFL.

In 37 regular season games, Stingley has 11 interceptions and 36 passes defensed. Per NFL Next Gen Stats, he allowed 7.6 fewer receptions than expected in 2024, the second-best figure in the league among players with more than 400 coverage snaps (h/t Graziano). Pro Football Focus graded him as the fifth-best CB among 118 qualified players last season, and he yielded a miniscule 51.2 QB rating on passes thrown in his direction en route to a First Team All-Pro selection. 

By any measure, then, Stingley is one of the game’s best players at a premium position, and it stands to reason the Texans would want to lock him up for the long haul. As of the time of this writing, it sounds as if the club is willing to go to great lengths to achieve that goal.

Stingley’s secondary mate and fellow 2022 draftee, Jalen Pitre, is also extension-eligible for the first time. Because he was not a first-round selection, Pitre does not have a fifth-year option attached to his rookie deal and is therefore entering a platform campaign. His contract situation may not be as high on Houston’s offseason agenda as Stingley’s, but it would not be surprising to see Texans brass address it in some way.

Prior to a season-ending pectoral tear suffered in Week 12, Pitre was excelling as the club’s primary nickel, recording 65 tackles (six TFL), one forced fumble, one interception, and eight passes defensed while earning strong grades from PFF for both his coverage work and his run defense. His absence was noticeable down the stretch, which could help his bargaining position.

As Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 conveys, Pitre’s pectoral surgery was successful, and he is on track to participate in Houston’s offseason program. 

“I continue to learn and I continue to get better as a player,” Pitre said. “I’m just going to continue to strive to do that. I play for the Houston Texans and I play with so many great players. I’m so thankful to be here. I’m looking forward to the future.”

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/13/24

December 13th, 2024 at 6:46pm CST by Ely Allen

Friday’s minor NFL moves:

Houston Texans

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

Texans S Jalen Pitre To Undergo Season-Ending Surgery

December 11th, 2024 at 4:22pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Texans safety Jalen Pitre will undergo surgery to repair a partially-torn pectoral, according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, ending his 2024 season and depriving Houston of one of their key defensive playmakers as they attempt to win the AFC South.

Pitre started the Texans’ first 12 games this season, but exited the game in Week 12 and did not play the following week. Though he avoided a full pectoral tear, the injury still required corrective surgery with a recovery period that will extend beyond the end of the 2024 season.

Pitre’s injury is a massive loss for the Texans’ defense. Though the 2022 second-round pick hasn’t matched his impressive rookie production of five interceptions and 147 total tackles in either of the last two seasons, he’s still a versatile and valuable playmaker from the slot and the box.

Veteran safety Jimmie Ward took over Pitre’s role in Weeks 12 and 13 and will likely remain there for the rest of the season.

The Texans will also be without the services of starting offensive lineman Juice Scruggs for at least two games, per Wilson. Scruggs injured his foot in Week 13 against the Jaguars, but is not expected to undergo surgery or be placed on injured reserve.

Scruggs began the year as Houston’s center before sliding to left guard to replace Kenyon Green when he landed on IR. Green was designated to return on Monday, so he could move back into his old spot with Scruggs now sidelined. Zachary Thomas also took snaps at left guard in practice this week, so he could start there if Green isn’t healthy enough to play in Week 15.

Texans S Jalen Pitre Avoids Full Pectoral Tear, To Miss Time

November 25th, 2024 at 1:37pm CST by Sam Robinson

A chest injury drove Jalen Pitre out of the Texans’ Week 12 loss to the Titans, and the ascending defender will be set to miss more time. But Pitre looks to have dodged the worst-case scenario here.

Pitre suffered a pectoral injury, but KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes he avoided a full tear. No surgery is planned as of yet, though NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero indicates Pitre will miss multiple games with a partial tear.

A former second-round pick, Pitre has settled into a slot role with the Texans. The safety draftee has excelled in the run game and held his own in coverage this season, with Pro Football Focus slotting him 14th among corners. The Baylor product has 65 tackles (six for loss) and intercepted a pass during his third year.

Pitre piled up better tackling numbers as a rookie, making 147 stops as the Texans continued their rebuild. That number is far and away the most any rookie DB has compiled this century. Only 2010 Browns rookie safety T.J. Ward (123) came within 30 tackles of Pitre’s rookie-year showing since 2000.

Now playing a new role that naturally reduces his tackle opportunities, Pitre still has been a fixture on Houston’s defense. He entered Sunday’s game having played 93% of the team’s defensive snaps this season. The Texans, who also played without corner Jeff Okudah on Sunday, are thin at this position sans Pitre. They recently released veteran slot Desmond King from their practice squad; King has since signed with the Ravens.

The Texans did, however, receive worse news on one of their other DBs. Cornerback Ka’dar Hollman, who has worked as a special teams regular this season, suffered a torn ACL, Wilson adds. Houston signed Hollman, a sixth-year veteran who has primarily been a special-teamer during his career, off Baltimore’s practice squad last month.

Texans Not Interested In S Justin Simmons

August 6th, 2024 at 11:13am CST by Adam La Rose

Justin Simmons remains one of the top free agents still on the market. For the time being, at least, the veteran safety is not a target of the Texans.

Houston has not yet submitted a contract offer to Simmons, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports. That could change in the future, but a lack of interest this deep into the summer suggests the Texans are satisfied with their incumbent options on the backend. Simmons was released earlier this offseason by the Broncos, and he has not appeared close to an agreement with a new team.

A reunion with Denver is not expected, although the latest update on that front came before the team’s decision to move on from Caden Sterns yesterday. The Broncos currently sit near the bottom of the league in cap space with $7.8MM in available funds. Simmons, for his part, has not named finances as his top priority during his ongoing free agent spell, however.

The 30-year-old is aiming to join a contending team on his next pact, one which will likely check in at a lower price than the $15.25MM AAV he was previously attached to. Simmons’ 30 interceptions since entering the league in 2016 lead the NFL during that span, and his production would make him a valued contributor on any number of teams. He has earned two Pro Bowl invitations and four second-team All-Pro nods in the past five seasons, so in at least the short term he would be counted on to remain an impact starter with his next employer.

Simmons has drawn interest in recent weeks with many teams considering him the best veteran still on the market. No known visits have taken place, though, so it remains to be seen when he will make notable progress toward signing a deal. Houston has veterans Jimmie Ward and Eric Murray in place at safety. Third-round rookie Calen Bullock is another option at that position. Jalen Pitre has seen time at safety before, but as Wilson notes the Texans are trying him at slot corner for now.

If that alignment draws success during the remainder of training camp and the preseason, Houston could continue with the status quo in the secondary. Injuries or poor play could change the team’s thinking, and with over $20MM in cap space an investment in Simmons would certainly be feasible. As things currently stand, however, the Texans should not be listed as a contender to acquire him.

Texans CBs Derek Stingley Jr., Tavierre Thomas To Miss Time

September 22nd, 2023 at 9:40am CST by Sam Robinson

SEPTEMBER 22: After undergoing an MRI, Stingley’s injury is likely to sideline him for six to eight weeks, Wilson notes in an update to yesterday’s report. That news confirms the initial fears that an extended absence will be coming for the 22-year-old, and an IR placement will surely be coming his way soon.

In another injury-related update to the team’s secondary, Wilson adds that starting safety Jalen Pitre will miss Houston’s Week 3 contest. The latter suffered a bruised lung in the Texans’ Week 1 loss, and he has been recovering since then with the expectation he would not miss much game time. Pitre is likely to return to practice next week, per Wilson, which should give him a strong chance of suiting up in Week 4.

SEPTEMBER 21: The Texans played their Week 2 game against the Colts without most of their starting offensive line. One of those blockers — center Juice Scruggs — is poised to be an IR activation near the season’s midpoint. The Texans may soon need to use at least one more IR spot for a starter.

Derek Stingley Jr. suffered a hamstring injury in practice this week, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson reports, and an MRI points to a several-week absence for last year’s No. 3 overall pick. The LSU product is likely headed to IR, Wilson adds.

In addition to Stingley’s forthcoming absence, the Texans are set to see nickel corner Tavierre Thomas sidelined for a bit. Thomas suffered a broken hand in the Texans’ loss to the Colts and has since undergone surgery, according to Wilson. The Texans have not used an IR spot on Thomas yet, but he is expected to miss multiple games.

Stingley went down during Wednesday’s practice. Offseason addition Shaquill Griffin is expected to replace him in Houston’s lineup. Grayland Arnold will fill in for Thomas, per Wilson. These maladies hit a Texans secondary that has been without Jimmie Ward over the season’s first two games. The ex-DeMeco Ryans 49ers pupil is working his way back from a hip injury. Ward also began last season out of action, opening his final 49ers season on IR due to a hamstring injury. Ward managed a limited practice Wednesday, putting him in position to debut for his new team in Week 3.

For Stingley, this is familiar territory. He missed the Texans’ final seven games last year due to a hamstring injury — one that eventually led him to IR in December. Overall, Stingley missed nine games during his rookie season. Drafted to anchor Houston’s secondary in Lovie Smith‘s defense, Stingley remains a cornerstone piece for the Ryans-led team. Stingley and Jeff Okudah are the only corners to go off a draft board in the top three during the 21st century.

The Texans dropped their previous slot corner — Desmond King — before roster-cutdown day, releasing he and linebacker Christian Kirksey. While the latter made retirement plans Thursday morning, King caught on with the Steelers. King’s exit opened the door for Thomas, who is in his third season with the Texans. Thomas, 27, has made 15 starts with his current team; he played 69% of Houston’s defensive snaps over this season’s first two games.

Thomas re-signed with the Texans on a one-year, $2.25MM deal this offseason. Houston gave Griffin a one-year pact worth $3.5MM shortly after the draft. A former Eagles UDFA, Arnold joins Thomas in being on his third Texans team. He has worked almost exclusively as a special-teamer in Houston. Twenty of his 23 defensive snaps with the team came upon replacing Thomas in Week 2.

Texans Place WR Noah Brown, DT Hassan Ridgeway On IR

September 13th, 2023 at 10:16am CST by Sam Robinson

Noah Brown‘s Texans debut included three receptions, but the career-long Texas-based wideout will be shut down for a while. The Texans placed him on IR on Wednesday.

Hassan Ridgeway joins Brown on Houston’s IR list. The veteran defensive tackle, who followed DeMeco Ryans from San Francisco, suffered a calf injury in Week 1. A groin issue will send Brown to IR, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets.

This is familiar territory for Ridgeway, who finished last season on IR. The 49ers had used their eight injury activations, leaving Ridgeway on IR with a pectoral strain. Due to the NFL’s adjusted IR setup, neither Ridgeway nor Brown can return before Week 6.

After spending six seasons with the Cowboys, Brown signed a one-year deal worth $2.25MM to switch Texas teams in March. Houston gave Ridgeway a one-year, $3.25MM accord to join Jimmie Ward as a 49ers defender following Ryans. Both players worked as backups in the Texans’ season-opening loss to the Ravens. Ridgeway played 15 defensive snaps, while Brown saw extensive time on offense, logging 52 snaps. The latter caught three passes for 20 yards in C.J. Stroud‘s debut.

The Texans were without John Metchie to start their season as well. Returning after a leukemia diagnosis kept him off the field as a rookie, Metchie sustained a hamstring injury while preparing to debut. The Texans have Nico Collins, Robert Woods and rookies Tank Dell and Xavier Hutchinson as healthy options at receiver.

In addition to the IR moves, the Texans received a scare in their secondary Sunday. A collision with Lamar Jackson led to second-year safety Jalen Pitre being hospitalized with a bruised lung, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. While the 2022 second-round pick was coughing up blood at one point, he has since been released from the hospital, per Wilson and Pelissero.

Texans Finish Signing 2022 Draft Class

June 2nd, 2022 at 10:34pm CST by Ely Allen

The Texans wrapped up their nine-man draft class today when they were able to reach an agreement with third-round pick Christian Harris. The Power Five-heavy class includes a plethora of Day 1 and 2 picks and brings home three Houston-natives in guard Kenyon Green, safety Jalen Pitre, and offensive lineman Austin Deculus. 

The Texans started their haul with four selections in the 2022 NFL Draft’s first 44 picks. Their first addition was cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., who will immediately improve a group that currently includes Steven Nelson, Lonnie Johnson Jr., and Desmond King II. The Texans’ secondary struggled greatly at times last year, and defensive-coordinator-turned-head-coach Lovie Smith decided that addressing that weakness was a top priority. Their addition of Pitre in the second round further addresses that need. While listed as a safety, Pitre spent the majority of his career with the Bears in the slot. Whether at safety or slot cornerback, Pitre is a strong addition alongside Stingley to a struggling defense.

Green was the next selection, midway through the first round, and his ability to play on the inside of the line should allow Houston to establish Laremy Tunsil and Tytus Howard at the tackle positions. The later addition of the swing tackle, Deculus, continued the Texans’ efforts at improving the protection in front of second-year quarterback Davis Mills.

In terms of weapons for Mills, after extending leading receiver Brandin Cooks, Houston added another weapon in slot receiver John Metchie III. The Alabama alum tore his ACL in December, but is assumed to be ready to return to the field sometime this summer.

From there, Houston added linebacker Christian Harris, who is a menace in opposing teams’ backfields. They followed that by addressing a league-worst 3.4 yards per rush and 8 rushing touchdowns by bringing in Gator running back Dameon Pierce. Thomas Booker adds some depth to the defensive line. Teagan Quitoriano will compete to back up second-year tight end Brevin Jordan with Pharaoh Brown and Antony Auclair.

Here are the draft picks the Texans will take into camps this summer:

Round 1: No. 3 Derek Stingley Jr., CB (LSU) (signed)
Round 1: No. 15 Kenyon Green, G (Texas A&M) (signed)
Round 2: No. 37 Jalen Pitre, S (Baylor) (signed)
Round 2: No. 44 John Metchie III, WR (Alabama) (signed)
Round 3: No. 75 Christian Harris, LB (Alabama) (signed)
Round 4: No. 107 Dameon Pierce, RB (Florida) (signed)
Round 5: No. 150 Thomas Booker, DT (Stanford) (signed)
Round 5: No. 170 Teagan Quitoriano, TE (Oregon State) (signed)
Round 6: No. 205 Austin Deculus, OL (LSU) (signed)

Texans Sign Round 2 S Jalen Pitre

May 11th, 2022 at 2:49pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Texans signed the first of their two second-round picks — safety Jalen Pitre — to his four-year rookie contract Wednesday, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.

Pitre’s $8.95MM deal includes three years fully guaranteed, according to ESPN’s Dan Graziano (on Twitter). This marks a step forward under the current slot system, with the No. 34 overall pick being last year’s cutoff line for full guarantees. Pitre went off the board 37th overall.

Houston later traded up for Alabama wideout John Metchie in Round 2 but used its own pick to nab Pitre, who played both linebacker and safety at Baylor. The Bears moved Pitre to safety in 2020, when he became a regular on their defense. Pitre returned both of his interceptions that season for touchdowns. He forced three fumbles during his 2021 senior season, en route to first-team All-America acclaim. Despite the move from linebacker, Pitre weighed just 198 pounds at the Combine.

Longtime Texans safety starter Justin Reid departed early in free agency, signing with the Chiefs as a Tyrann Mathieu replacement. This clears a path for Pitre to be an instant starter in Houston, should the in-state product prove ready.