The Houston Texans have a big offseason ahead of them following a disappointing loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Round.
The Texans believe they are just a few moves away from representing the AFC in a future Super Bowl and are already making some key moves to improve the team.
Houston has started the search for the team's next offensive coordinator after moving on from Bobby Slowik and the next order of business would be building up the offensive line some more to protect quarterback C.J. Stroud.
However, the team's biggest offseason priority actually should be on the defensive side of the ball with a player that's already on the roster.
Star cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. will be up for a new extension this offseason despite having one year remaining on his rookie contract, plus a fifth-year option. Getting a deal done in the coming months will be beneficial for both parties and Stingley has more than deserved a massive new extension.
For context, Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II signed his new contract back in September going into his fourth NFL season. Surtain's 4-year, $96 million deal made him the highest paid defensive back once the ink dried, and Stingley has a high chance to jump Surtain's deal to be on top of the position.
On Friday, ESPN predicted some of the big extensions and signings that could occur in the coming months and listed a Stingley extension as one of the predictions. Here's what the projection looked like for the Texans' young star.
Prediction: Four years, $104 million, $80 million guaranteed.
That projection would make Stingley the highest paid cornerback in average annual value and would force the Texans to break the bank to lock him up long-term. But again, he's deserved it and expressed his desire to remain in Houston a long time.
"Yeah, I want to here forever," Stingley said. "I'm gonna let whoever handle[s] that, handle that. I'm just gonna be here, working out and taking care of me."
In 2024, Stingley was named to his first career Pro Bowl and was named as a First-Team All-Pro selection for the first time. Stingley set career-highs with 54 total tackles while having five interceptions for the second consecutive season.
After a season like that, it's looking likely that the Texans rework his remaining contract and offer him one that is more fitting to the value he provides to his team.
