According to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero, Jalen Pitre, the Houston Texans’ all-star nickel cornerback, has signed a three-year extension for $39 million. This agreement ensures at a minimum $30 million. It demonstrates the organization’s commitment to rewarding young players who prove themselves on the field. The extension comes at a particularly fortuitous time. After rupturing his left shoulder’s supraspinatus tendon in Week 12 versus the Tennessee Titans, Pitre’s goal will be to return to form this season.
In the process, the Texans–behind a game-winning two-point conversion by quarterback C.J. Pitre ended up taking his injury while tackling Titans wideout Tyler Boyd in the second quarter. This sad moment ended his breakout season on a sour note. Prior to the injury, Pitre had really established himself as maybe the most important defensive player on this Texans’ roster. He ranked third on the team with 65 tackles and tied for fifth in tackles for loss.
Pitre’s 2024 campaign marked his second notable season after an impressive rookie year where he recorded 147 tackles and five interceptions. What he did on the defensive end was the part that really jumped out this past season. He finished third among the position in pass deflections and forced a fumble on Cowboys right tackle Tyler Guyton in the Texans’ shocking 34-10 upset over Dallas in Week 11. This highlight play underscored Pitre’s knack for making game-changing plays that helped change the course of pivotal contests.
Coach DeMeco Ryans explained what the organization was trying to accomplish with the contract extension, “We want to send a message.” He emphasized the value placed on young talent by adding, “To all of our young guys, when you do it the right way, guys like Stingley, Nico, young guys who came in and played really well for us, they became top players in the league at their positions. You want to reward those guys.”
Fortunately for everyone involved, the Texans came to the same conclusion and decided to extend Pitre’s contract. This step demonstrates their plan to develop and retain developing talent on their roster. Now, Pitre is looking forward to getting back on the field with his teammates following his recovery. His new contract underscores how far he’s come and the faith the Texans have in him going forward. The plan is to continue the momentum they’ve established in recent years, as they look towards taking another step forward in upcoming offseasons.
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