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Cornerback cash just went through the roof this offseason. The Carolina Panthers kicked things off by handing Jaycee Horn a whopping four-year, $100 million extension that temporarily made him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history at $25 million annually.
That record didn’t last long.
The ripple effect hit immediately as teams with elite corners scrambled to lock down their stars before the market climbed even higher. The Houston Texans wasted no time securing their shutdown corner Derek Stingley Jr.
On Monday, Houston blew past Horn’s deal, inking Stingley to a three-year, $90 million contract that pays him a staggering $30 million per year — instantly resetting the cornerback market again. The deal includes $89 million in guarantees, according to multiple reports.
The top has been blown off the DB market. Sources say #Texans CB Derek Stingley Jr. is the NFL’s new highest paid DB.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 17, 2025
Stingley has agreed to terms on a 3-year, $90M deal — $30M per year. The deal done by David Mulugheta of @AthletesFirst includes a whopping $89M guaranteed. pic.twitter.com/sG0tQU3j0U
Smart business by the Texans to lock down one of their defensive cornerstones. But while they’re solidifying their secondary, they’ve got a glaring issue up front that could derail their playoff hopes — the offensive line is a mess. And if C.J. Stroud spends 2025 running for his life, none of these defensive upgrades will matter.
Texans’ O-Line Gamble Could Cost Them Everything
Let’s be real — Houston’s protection was shaky at best last season. Remember that playoff beatdown against Kansas City? Stroud got planted into the turf eight times for 58 yards of losses. The Chief’s pass rush treated Houston’s O-line like turnstiles, and it cost them their season.
Instead of fixing this obvious weakness, the Texans have made a series of head-scratching moves that might leave Stroud in even worse shape this fall.
They shipped former first-rounder Kenyon Green to Philadelphia for safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson. They cut Shaq Mason — who admittedly struggled by allowing 34 pressures and 8 sacks last year (per PFF). Their replacement? Ed Ingram via trade with Minnesota, who’s a marginal upgrade at best.
But the biggest shocker? Trading away Laremy Tunsil — their best lineman by far — to Washington for a bunch of future draft picks (2025 third and seventh-rounders plus 2026 second and fourth-rounders). This is the move that has fans scratching their heads.
Tunsil was a brick wall last season, surrendering just 19 pressures and 2 sacks in over 1,000 snaps. That’s elite protection that you don’t just replace overnight.
With quality left tackles nearly extinct in free agency, the Texans seem to be banking on the draft to find Tunsil’s replacement. That’s one hell of a gamble. Even if they hit on a tackle with the 25th overall pick, asking a rookie to step in and protect your franchise QB’s blindside is like throwing a kid into the deep end and hoping he can swim with sharks.
Look, locking up Stingley was smart business — especially with cornerback prices skyrocketing. The former LSU star has developed into exactly the shutdown corner they hoped for when they drafted him third overall in 2022.
But defense only gets you so far. If Stroud is running for his life or worse — getting injured — because of subpar protection, this team isn’t going anywhere. The AFC is too competitive, and the Chiefs, Ravens, and Bills will make you pay for protection issues.
The Texans still have time to address the offensive line before training camp, but the clock is ticking. For a team that seems ready to contend now, they’re playing a dangerous game with their most valuable asset’s safety.
Without significant upgrades up front, Stingley might be the league’s highest-paid cornerback on a team watching the playoffs from home.
