Mar 1, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Iowa State wideout Jayden Higgins (WO18) during the 2025 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Texans 2nd-rounder Jayden Higgins makes history with guaranteed deal

The Houston Texans agreed to a fully guaranteed four-year, $11.7 million deal with rookie receiver Jayden Higgins, according to multiple reports on Thursday.

That would make Higgins the first second-round pick ever to receive a fully guaranteed contact. He’ll receive a signing bonus of just more than $5.1 million.

Higgins, from Iowa State, was selected 34th overall in last month’s NFL draft and was the second pick of the second round. He was the fourth receiver taken.

The 6-foot-4, 214-pound Higgins has a solid chance to make an impact as a rookie after the offseason departure of Stefon Diggs and the serious knee injury sustained last season by Tank Dell. Nico Collins will he Houston’s top receiver.

Higgins caught 87 passes for 1,183 yards and nine touchdowns last season and received multiple All-American honors for Iowa State. As a junior, he caught 53 passes for 983 yards and six scores.

Higgins also played two seasons for FCS program Eastern Kentucky. He caught 13 touchdown passes for the Colonels, 10 coming as a sophomore before his transfer to Iowa State.

In the third round, Houston selected Jaylin Noel, the Cyclones’ co-star wideout along with Higgins.

–Field Level Media

Mar 1, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Iowa State wideout Jayden Higgins (WO18) during the 2025 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Grading the Texans’ Draft

Grade: B+

Best Pick: Jayden Higgins, No. 24 Overall

What We Liked: The Texans kicked off the draft incredibly well, getting the dynamic wide receiver from Iowa State and Aireontae Ersery, two players who could immediately earn starting time on the Texans and will help return Stroud to rookie form. Jaylen Reed is also a sneaky good safety pick on Day 3 who picked up a lot of responsibilities after Kevin Winston Jr. got injured. Also, from a comic standpoint, I like that the Texans picked three Jaylin variations and a Jayden.

Not Sure About: The two USC players, Jaylin Smith and Woody Marks, were a bit overdrafted, with Marks being traded up for with crazy levels of capital. I don’t see either of them getting many early reps, even Woody, who I’m not sure is ready for primetime yet. It feels like the offensive line needed to be fortified a bit more since Stroud was running for his life a lot of the year. The Texans’ shift toward more weapons feels like they misunderstood the issue.

–Dean Bruce, special to Field Level Media

Jan 13, 2025; Glendale, AZ, USA; Minnesota Vikings tackle Cam Robinson (74) against the Los Angeles Rams during an NFC wild card game at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Reports: Texans reach deals with OTs Cam Robinson, Trent Brown

The Houston Texans reportedly agreed to deals with free-agent offensive tackles Cam Robinson and Trent Brown on Friday.

Robinson’s one-year deal could be worth as much as $14.5 million with bonuses, according to multiple reports. Brown reportedly will receive $3 million.

Houston is looking for tackles after recently trading five-time Pro Bowler Laremy Tunsil to the Washington Commanders.

Robinson, 29, has started all 101 regular-season games he’s played over eight NFL seasons. He was a second-round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2017 and played 91 games with the team until being traded to the Minnesota Vikings last October.

Brown, who turns 32 next month, has started 96 of 103 games over 10 NFL seasons with the San Francisco 49ers (2015-17), New England Patriots (2018, 2021-23), Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders (2019-20) and Cincinnati Bengals (2024).

The 2019 Pro Bowl pick played just three games for the Bengals last season before sustaining a season-ending knee injury.

–Field Level Media

NFL Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Ronald Darby

Texans sign veteran CB Ronald Darby

Ronald Darby is staying in the AFC South, as the Houston Texans signed the former Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback on Thursday.

ESPN and NFL Network reported earlier in the week that the Texans’ agreement with Darby, 31, was for one year and $2.5 million.

Darby played in 13 games (12 starts) for the Jaguars and recorded 46 tackles, three for loss, and nine pass breakups.

This will be Darby’s seventh NFL team after stays with the Buffalo Bills (2015-16), Philadelphia Eagles (2017-19), then-Washington Football Team (2020), Denver Broncos (2021-22), Baltimore Ravens (2023) and Jacksonville.

Darby was a second-round draft pick by Buffalo in 2015 and was runner-up for Defensive Rookie of the Year after recording 68 tackles and two interceptions. Darby has eight career interceptions, but none since 2019.

–Field Level Media

Jan 18, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Houston Texans defensive end Danielle Hunter (55) tackles Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) during the third quarter of a 2025 AFC divisional round game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Reports: Texans, DE Danielle Hunter agree to extension through ’26

The Houston Texans liked what they saw with Danielle Hunter in 2024, and they are giving the defensive end a contract extension through the 2026 season, according to multiple media reports on Wednesday.

The 30-year-old veteran, who signed with the Texans as a free agent last March after eight seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, was a Pro Bowl performer for the fifth time in 2024. Hunter racked up 12 sacks, tied for fifth in the league, and the team finished tied fourth in that category.

The extension boosts Hunter’s salary for 2025 to $32 million, an increase of $12.5 million, and offers $36.5 million for the added 2026 season. He becomes the second-highest-paid defensive end in the league that year, trailing only Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns.

In 136 NFL games, 107 as a starter, Hunter has 99.5 sacks and 508 tackles, including 125 for losses. He has 12 forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries.

Hunter missed the 2020 season after sustaining a neck injury during camp. Injuries also limited him to seven games in 2021.

–Field Level Media

Oct 4, 2024; Watford, United Kingdom; Minnesota Vikings guard Ed Ingram (67) during practice at The Grove. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Report: Vikings trading G Ed Ingram to Texans

The Minnesota Vikings are trading guard Ed Ingram to the Houston Texans, NFL Network reported Thursday.

The Vikings will receive a 2026 sixth-round draft pick from Houston in exchange for the three-year veteran.

Ingram, 26, has started 41 of his 48 games since Minnesota made him the 59th overall pick in 2022.

The Vikings signed former Indianapolis Colts guard Will Fries to a reported five-year, $88 million deal earlier this week.

–Field Level Media

Feb 9, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson celebrates after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX at Ceasars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Reports: Eagles trade S CJ Gardner-Johnson to Texans for G Kenyon Green

Houston’s offensive line overhaul shifted gears as the Texans added to their stellar secondary in a deal with the Eagles on Tuesday, sending guard Kenyon Green to Philadelphia for safety CJ Gardner-Johnson, according to multiple reports.

Green was traded to the NFC East one day after Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil was dealt to the Washington Commanders. Green is likely to play right guard and replace Mekhi Becton, who is an unrestricted free agent.

The Eagles also will receive Houston’s fifth-round pick in 2026, and Philadelphia’s sixth-round selection will go to the Texans.

Gardner-Johnson, 27, will relocate for the fourth consecutive season. A 2019 draft pick of the New Orleans Saints, he joined the Eagles in 2022, played for the Lions in 2023 and rejoined Philadelphia to help deliver a Super Bowl LIX victory last season. Gardner-Johnson had six interceptions in each of his two seasons with the Eagles and has a total of 18 in 74 career regular-season games (61 starts).

He posted his latest farewell to Philadelphia via social media on Tuesday morning, saying “I love you Philly, we forever champions.”

Green, 23, was the 15th overall pick in the 2022 draft and has 23 career starts in 27 games. He started the first nine games in 2024 before being placed on injured reserve with a dislocated left shoulder.

After 14 starts at right guard as a rookie, Green missed his second season in 2023 to have surgery to repair a torn labrum.

–Field Level Media

Dec 24, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil (78) walks off the field before the game against the Cleveland Browns at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Reports: Commanders trade picks for Texans LT Laremy Tunsil

The Washington Commanders brought in a new anchor at left tackle, acquiring five-time Pro Bowler Laremy Tunsil from the Houston Texans on Monday, multiple reports said.

According to NFL Network, the Commanders are sending a 2025 third-round draft pick and second- and fourth-rounders in 2026 to Houston to acquire Tunsil and a fourth-round pick.

Tunsil, 30, was a first-round choice by the Miami Dolphins in 2016 but fully blossomed after being traded to the Texans ahead of the 2019 season. In six seasons with the Texans, the only year Tunsil wasn’t named to the Pro Bowl was 2021, when thumb surgery cut his season short after five games.

Tunsil has made 125 starts in his nine-year NFL career and did not miss a game in 2024. He also has seven playoff starts to his name.

The Commanders, coming off their first NFC Championship Game appearance since 1991, have added wide receiver Deebo Samuel from the San Francisco 49ers as well as Tunsil via trades.

–Field Level Media

Jan 18, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Houston Texans running back Dare Ogunbowale (33) runs the ball after catching a pass against the Kansas City Chiefs during the fourth quarter of a 2025 AFC divisional round game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Reports: Texans re-sign RB Dare Ogunbowale

The Houston Texans have re-signed running back Dare Ogunbowale to a one-year, $2 million contract, per multiple reports.

Ogunbowale is an eight-year NFL veteran, also playing for the Washington Commanders, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Jacksonville Jaguars. He has spent the last three seasons with the Texans.

Last season, he recorded 30 carries for 112 yards, while hauling in 19 receptions for 198 yards and a touchdown.

Throughout his career, Ogunbowale has established himself as a big special teams contributor. Last season, he logged 269 special teams snaps.

The veteran should continue to provide depth at running back behind Joe Mixon and Dameon Pierce and be a valuable special teams asset.

Also, receiver Tank Dell said on Instagram that he had a second surgery on his injured left knee on Wednesday. Dell underwent surgery to repair the ACL. He also underwent surgery on the knee in mid-January.

Dell sustained a dislocated kneecap and multiple torn ligaments and also sustained meniscus damage in a Week 16 loss against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Dell, 25, has 98 catches for 1,376 yards and 10 touchdowns in 25 games over two seasons with Houston.

–Field Level Media

Jan 18, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon (28) runs the ball as Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Drue Tranquill (23) defends during the second half of a 2025 AFC divisional round game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images

NFL rescinds fine for Texans RB Joe Mixon after misattributed quote

Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon is in the clear after the NFL on Tuesday retracted a $25,000 fine for something Mixon didn’t say.

Mixon was dinged for public criticism of the officials after his team’s AFC divisional round loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, yet hearing officer Chris Palmer explained in a letter that he concluded “that (Mixon) did not necessarily publicly criticize the officials.”

The referees were under the microscope during the Chiefs’ 23-14 win over the Texans, particularly for a play in which two Houston defenders collided into each other while trying to tackle a sliding Patrick Mahomes, leading to an errant call for a late hit.

“You can never leave it into the refs’ hands,” Mixon told reporters after the game. “The whole world sees, man, what it is. When it comes down to it, you can never leave it into the refs’ hands. It’s all good, though.”

Mixon appeared to mean that the Texans should have done more so that the result of the game didn’t come down to a few calls by officials. However, that’s not what got Mixon in trouble in the first place.

Former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh wrote on X, “Why play the game if every 50/50 call goes with the Chiefs,” going on to call the referees trash and biased.

A Sports Illustrated article incorrectly attributed the quote to Mixon, which was the basis of the NFL’s fine, according to Mixon and his agent.

The NFL then re-issued the fine while centering Mixon’s actual, tamer comments.

“So let me get this straight NFL fines me 25k for something I didn’t even say. Call them out for it, and they response was fine me AGAIN for something that’s not even a violation without even rescinding the first one,” Mixon wrote on X on Jan. 22. “Where’s the accountability? Just respect the players.”

Mixon got that “respect” from Palmer at the end of his ordeal.

“During the appeal hearing, you stated what you meant by your statements referring to the officials,” Palmer wrote in his letter. “As you know, statements can be interpreted differently by every individual and it seems like you clearly understand the weight and detriment of public criticism towards officials can be, given how impactful your platform is as a player, which I appreciate.”

The state of NFL officiating was under intense scrutiny in the weeks leading up to Super Bowl LIX, where the two-time defending champion Chiefs fell 40-22 to the Philadelphia Eagles.

The NFL Referees Association released a statement calling it “insulting” that some fans believed officials were helping Mahomes and the Chiefs with their calls, scolding fans for what they termed conspiracy theories.

–Field Level Media