Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 reports the Texans are reworking WR Christian Kirk‘s deal to create over $12 million in cap space.
Kirk was originally due a base salary of $15.5 million but that was converted into a $14 million signing bonus to lower his base salary to the $1.17 million league minimum. He can make up to $500k in per-game roster bonuses along with another $500k in a workout bonus and up to $3 million in incentives.
Houston also restructured WR Nico Collins and LB Azeez Al-Shaair‘s contracts to make more than $15 million in cap space. Wilson says they are also expected to adjust DE Denico Autry‘s deal for even more space and could look to get a long-term extension done for DE Danielle Hunter.
Houston recently acquired Kirk for a seventh-round pick with WR Stefon Diggs hitting free agency and WR Tank Dell likely to miss significant time in 2025.
Kirk, 28, is a former second-round pick of the Cardinals back in 2018. He played out the final year of his four-year, $5,894,874 contract that included a $2,367,180 signing bonus.
He was scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent when he signed a four-year, $84 million deal with the Jaguars in 2022.
Kirk was entering the final year of that deal and scheduled to make a base salary of $15.5 million in 2025.
In 2024, Kirk appeared in eight games for the Jaguars and caught 25 passes for 320 yards receiving and one touchdown.
Insider Drops Hint About Texans' Plans for Star Defender
The Houston Texans have had to get very creative with their finances this offseason, as they entered free agency with very limited cap room.
They have already restructured quite a few contracts, amending the deals for wide receivers Nico Collins and Christian Kirk as well as linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair.
And apparently, the Texans have more plans to try and adjust their monetary situation.
Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 has reported that Houston may be planning to provide edge rusher Danielle Hunter with a contract extension.
"Plus, Pro Bowl defensive end Danielle Hunter is a prime candidate for a contract extension and a raise in average compensation annually with the rapid rise in the elite edge rusher market with recent top-of-the-market deals for Myles Garrett and Maxx Crosby," Wilson wrote.
Hunter signed a two-year, $49 million contract with the Texans last March. He carries a $23.7 million cap hit in 2025.
The 30-year-old certainly lived up to his billing during his debut campaign in Houston, racking up 46 tackles and 12 sacks en route to his fifth Pro Bowl appearance. He also tallied a career-high 23 quarterback hits and registered an 82.7 overall grade at Pro Football Focus.
Hunter, who played his collegiate football at LSU, was originally selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft and spent the first nine years of his career with the Vikings, rattling off five double-digit sack seasons.
The Jamaican native has also played in every game each of the last three years.
One caveat is that Hunter is now 30 years old, so that is something the Texans must be mindful of if and when they enter long-term negotiations with the star pass rusher.
