For all of the frustration over the Houston Texans inability to break through the glass ceiling of the NFL’s divisional round of the playoffs — they are 0-7 in attempts to make the AFC title game — the fact of the matter right now is that they’ve never been better positioned to finally shatter hat ceiling than they are right now.
Nick Caserio and DeMeco Ryans have assembled one of the best rosters in the league, and Ryans and his staff have done an excellent job in player development. The Texans have hit on way more draft picks than your average NFL team, and as a result, they are now in the phase of having to pay those players on second contracts.
Somewhat miraculously, the vast majority of the Texans’ core is under contract for mutltiple seasons, until at least 2027 and beyond. Somehow, Caserio is making it work with the salary cap. Of course, C.J. Stroud remaining on his rookie deal for now helps make managing the cap easier. In a perfect world, oddly enough, managing the cap gets more difficult a year from now, should Stroud earn a big money extension.
Stroud isn’t the only contract cloud looming on the horizon, though. Caserio and Ryans may have some incredibly difficult decisions coming up. They likely can’t keep everyone that they want to keep. In my mind, here are the four biggest contract stories coming jump in the next twelve months for the Houston Texans:
TOMMY TOGIAI, contract expires after 2026
Who knew that this would even be a conversation, when the Texans signed Togiai off the street during the 2024 season, but here we are. Caserio shrewdly signed Togiai to a one-year extension early in 2025, so he is under contract for $3.3 million in 2026. Togiai went on to massively outplay that salary figure in 2025 over the course of the season. He was one of the best defensive tackles in football. Togiai might be the first guy the Texans may have to watch leave due to cap constraints. If he has another season in 2026 like he did in 2025, some team will pay him eight figures per season.
CALEN BULLOCK, contract expires after 2027, extension eligible after 2026
Bullock will be another tough decision for the Texans, if everyone on this list plays to a level deserving of an extension. Bullock, in two seasons, has ascended to one of the bets playmaking safeties in the NFL. In a perfect world, with no salary cap, the Texans would pay him top of market money. However, they’re already paying several players top of market, and safety is nto a premium position. Bottom line, if the Texans are in a position where they are having to have serious internal discussions about Bullock, it means he’s played really well, which is not a bad thing.
KAMARI LASSITER, contract expires after 2027, extension eligible after 2026
Lassiter is the biggest non-quarterback contract issue coming up for the Texans in the next 12 months. He and Bullock are both extension eligible after the upcoming season. Lassiter has ascended to where is easily considered a top 10 cornerback in the league, with no reason to believe he can’t be All Pro. He is about as risk-free a player as exists in the “under 25 years old” category, and it’s quite possible that he is Caserio’s and Ryans’ favorite player on the team. He will get an extension, and the teams will make accommodations to ensure that happens.
C.J. STROUD, contract expires after 2027, currently extension eligible
Now comes the REALLY complicated part. What do the Texans do with C.J. Stroud? Two years ago, a contract extension after Year 3 felt like a given. Stroud was going to reset the market. Now, he is coming off two very inconsistent seasons and an all time stinker in the playoffs against New England (4 picks). All of the reports this offseason have been glowing, but none of that will matter if 2026 looks like 2025. This contract matters the most, because it’s the one that, if the Texans decide to pull the trigger, will prevent them from making deals with the three aforementioned players.
