Houston Texans’ 2024 offseason acquisition, Denico Autry, had a rough inaugural season. Autry missed the first six games due to a PED suspension and, upon returning, had the lowest snap share since 2014, with 314 (47%) snaps, and didn’t put up the best numbers. He recorded 13 tackles, three TFLs, six QB hits, and three sacks in ten games and two stats. Finally, he tied 2014 for the lowest number of tackles, TFLs, and games played and had the lowest number of QB hits and sacks since 2016.
The Houston Texans D lineman faced an uncertain future
Given his age—he turns 35 in July—his limited production in 2024, their EDGE rusher depth, and his contract, Denico Autry faces an uncertain future with Houston. He enters the final year of his contract, and he is scheduled to earn an $8.5 million base salary and a $10.294 million cap hit in 2025. The Texans free $5.794 million in cap space and incur a $4.5 million dead cap hit with a pre-June 1st cut.
Houston Texans revised contract of 34-year-old defender
According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, the Texans revised Denico Autry’s contract by converting $3 million of his base salary into a signing bonus, increasing his per-game roster bonus by $500,000, reducing his total pay by $1.5 million, adding two void years, freeing $3.706 million in cap space. As a result, his $8.5 million base salary drops to $3.5 million, his $500,000 per-game roster bonus increases to $1 million, and his $10.294 million cap hit drops to $6.588 million. Finally, Autry’s $3 million roster bonus will be evenly spread at a rate of $1 million for the next three years.
For the Texans, these adjustments represent a strategic attempt to manage their salary cap more effectively while still keeping a veteran presence like Autry on the roster. However, for the player, it signifies a critical juncture in his career. As Autry prepares to enter what could be his final season in Houston—and possibly in the NFL—he faces immense pressure to prove that he can still be a valuable contributor on the field. How he performs in 2025 may ultimately determine whether he remains a part of the Texans’ plans beyond this season or transitions to a new chapter in his professional journey.
