The Houston Texans finished 2025 with a 12-5 record, good enough for 2nd place in the AFC South, and a 5th seed in the postseason.
Houston enters 2026 with around $13M of cap space against a projected $304M league threshold. This includes 46 contracts, though 3 (Christian Kirk, Denico Autry, & Sheldon Rankins) are set to void in early March. The Texans’ cap table is headlined by Danielle Hunter ($31M), Tytus Howard ($28M) and Nico Collins ($27M).
The Texans have been active in the trade market each of the past few seasons, but they’re currently in line to make 8 draft picks this April. This includes two 2nd-round picks (Washington) and two 4th-round picks (Washington). Future Texans’ Draft Picks
Early Offseason Questions
C.J. Stroud has now faced two straight “sophomore slump” seasons for Houston. Will the front office continue on full steam ahead with Stroud as the face of the offense, or will there be some consideration to adding a little competition to the QB room this offseason?
Despite limited cap space, Houston will need to dedicate offseason resources toward the running back/wide receiver positions, as well as a continued effort to bolster the interior of the offensive line.
Notable Free Agents
(Spotrac Valuation APY)
G Ed Ingram ($13M)
DL Sheldon Rankins ($7.5M)
WR Christian Kirk ($5M)
OT Trenton Brown ($1.5M)
Option Decision
QB C.J. Stroud
Stroud enters Year 4 with a bit of uneasiness surrounding his immediate future in Houston. To make matters worse, the Texans now have to decide on an estimated $41M 5th-year option for 2027 by May 1st. While a rough postseason performance leaves a bad taste in our mouths, Stroud has still performed well enough overall to be secured at 2 years, $46M through 2027.
As easy a decision as they come, the Texans will run to exercise Anderson’s projected $27M option for 2027, locking him into a 2 year, $32M contract. The reality here though is that the two sides will almost certainly find common ground on a multi-year, blockbuster extension this offseason – likely to the tune of $40M+ per year.
Extension Candidates
OT Tytus Howard
Houston selected Howard #23 overall back in 2019, and he’s really settled into both his role on the right side of the O-Line, and a position of leadership for the organization in recent seasons. The 29-year-old enters a contract year in 2026, set to earn $18M against a $28M cap hit. Tacking on 2 years, $40M or so makes sense for both sides.
Fairbairn posted career numbers in 2025, heading into a contract year in 2026 (set to earn $4.5M against a $7M cap hit). Tacking on a few years at a near $6M APY makes sense for all parties here.
Age doesn’t appear to be a factor with Hunter, who just finished 2025 with 15 sacks, 54 tackles, and 3 forced fumbles in his age-31 campaign. He enters a contract year in 2026, set to earn $23M against a $31M cap figure. Tacking on a 2 year, $70M extension and moving some of this money around for cap purposes stands to serve everyone well here.
Schultz reeled in 82 catches in 2025, and was a clear goto option for C.J. Stroud on a weekly basis. He enters a contract year in 2026, set to earn $11.5M against a $16M cap hit. Tacking on 2 years, $30M or so to provide guarantees to Schultz and cap-flexibilty for Houston seems warranted.
Al-Shaair showed his true value to Houston in 2025, becoming one of the league’s best interior defenders (especially against the run), while solidifying the center of the NFL’s best overall defense. He enters a contract year in 2026, set to earn $11.5M against a $15M+ cap hit. He projects toward a 3 year, $39M extension in our system.
Bubble Candidates
RB Joe Mixon
Release Candidate
A foot injury forced Mixon to miss all of 2025, setting up his departure in the coming weeks. The Texans can free up $8.5M of cap space with an outright release.
DL Mario Edwards
Release Candidate
Edwards offers a strong depth presence for a very good Houston defense, but it stands to reason that the organization will opt for the $4.5M of cap space to be freed up early in March. A reunion could very well be possible.
WR Tank Dell
Release Candidate
Injuries have been the unfortunate story throughout Dell’s young career, and he heads into a contract year in 2026. Houston can free up over $1.5M of space by moving on.
Potential Cap Conversions
WR Nico Collins’ has 2 years, $43M remaining on his deal. Converting his 2026 salary into signing bonus (plus void years) frees up $16M of cap.
CB Derek Stingley Jr.’s 2026 salary is fully secured. Converting it to bonus opens up $16.8M of room.
Converting CB Jalen Pitre’s 2026 salary into signing bonus (plus void years) can free up $6.7M of cap space.
RELATED LINKS
2026 Texans Salary Cap
Texans 2026 Free Agents
Spotrac’s Offseason Guides