HOUSTON – The Texans are re-signing veteran defensive tackle Mario Edwards Jr. to a two-year, $9.5 million contract, per a league source.
Edwards started a dozen games last season despite serving a four-game suspension for a violation of the NFL substance-abuse policy.
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The Texans previously signed veteran defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins to a one-year, $7 million deal that includes $4.5 million total guaranteed, a $3 million signing bonus, $44,118 per game active in roster bonuses up to $750,000, a $1.75 million playtime incentive with voidable years in 2026 and 2027 if he’s on the roster the 23rd prior to the first day of the 2026 league year.
He recorded 31 tackles and three sacks, eight quarterback hits and three tackles for losses and two passes defensed.
Texans defensive lineman Denico Autry suspended for six games for PED violation (click2houston.com)
Losing Edwards, 30, represented a blow to the Texans’ defense as he started every game before the NFL discipline.
Edwards played extremely well before and after the suspension. For his career, he has 187 tackles, 31 tackles for losses, 24 1/2 sacks and 60 quarterback hits.
Edwards had eight tackles against the New England Patriots.
The Texans liked the way Edwards was playing.
“Mario has been disruptive all camp, and I wouldn’t have expected anything different from him,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said last season. “He showed up, playing on their side of the line of scrimmage and being disruptive. That’s what we need from all our guys up front. I’m very pleased what Mario did.”
With a reputation for his ability to line up on the edge of the defense or as an interior rusher, Edwards has been drawing strong reviews from the coaching staff.
When Edwards signed with the Texans, he had ambitions to start. Signed to a one-year, $2 million deal that includes a $200,000 signing bonus with $500,000 total guaranteed with a $1.21 million salary with $300,000 of it guaranteed for skill, injury and salary cap, plus another $350,000 available in playtime incentives.
Edwards, 30, played for the Seattle Seahawks last season. The Gautier, Mississippi native has also played for the New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans.
With the Titans in 2022, he had three sacks and 11 quarterback hits. He had a career-high four sacks in 2020 with the Bears.
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com