HOUSTON – The Texans restructured nickel Jalen Pitre’s $42.6 million contract for salary-cap purposes, per a league source.
The Texans converted $7.75 million of his $9 million fully guaranteed base salary into a signing bonus and added two void years for proration of his altered deal, per a source.
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When the Texans finalized a three-year, $42.6 million contract extension for Pitre, they felt extremely comfortable making that kind of hefty investment.
The deal, which included a $10 million signing bonus, $29.156 million total guaranteed, a base value of $39 million and an $18 million payout over the next 12 months, acknowledged his market value and his hard-hitting, gritty style of play.
Pitre is due a $9.5 million salary in 2027 with $8.5 million guaranteed and $9.5 million in 2028. He has up to $500,000 in per-game active roster bonuses the next two seasons and up to $1 million in per-game active roster bonuses, a rate of $58,823 per game in 2027 and 2028.
Pitre’s $13 million annual average, negotiated by veteran agents Trey Robinson and Marlon Moore of Athelite, briefly made him the highest paid nickel in the NFL before Chicago Bears slot corner Kyler Gordon eclipsed his deal with a $13. 3 million average compensation two days later.
Pitre intercepted four passes last season and has 10 career interceptions with 370 tackles, 20 for losses.
“Jalen represents everything you wanted in a player, and in a person,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “He is consistent, hard working, very dedicated to putting the team first and doing whatever it takes for the team to be successful. He’s been an outstanding young man to work with. So, I am fired up for Jalen.
“Jalen was truly a impact player for us. When he was on the field he was all over the place, causing havoc, and we expect to see the same for a long time. So, I’m excited for Jalen, happy for him. It is a cool example of a guy who puts his head down, works hard, and does things the right way and he is rewarded for it. That is the beauty in this game and the NFL, what is provides for you and your family. Jalen is a representative of everything you can ask for.”
When the Texans drafted Pitre in the second round out of Baylor, the former Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year was signed to a four-year, $8.954 million contract that included $6.323 million total guaranteed with a $3.692 million signing bonus.
After completing three NFL seasons, Pitre was playing under his original rookie deal. Pitre, one of the most active players in the community through his work with Kids Meals Inc., and the Stafford Cobras youth football and cheerleading program, became eligible to sign a contract extension,
Pitre uncoiled his body with incredible power, bringing a ton of force and torque into his aiming point as he delivered a crushing, clean tackle with his right shoulder and forearm on a huge hit last season.
The Texans’ nickel struck Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice so hard Sunday night that the collision sent him flailing to the ground and flipping through the air with a devastating hit that separated him from the football.
The hit stick tackle didn’t draw a flag, or a fine. It was another textbook punishing tackle from Pitre, a Stafford graduate who’s one of the hardest hitters in the game regardless of position. Pitre is a key chess piece in the Texans’ top-ranked defense. This has arguably been his best all-around season for tackling, and pass coverage.
Where did it all start for Pitre? The former second-round draft pick and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year from Baylor was taught in the backyard with his family as his father, Rick Pitre, instilled toughness in his son.
“My pops, since I was a young-in, I was always tackling my older brother,” Pitre told KPRC 2. “That definitely prepared me for these times. Obviously, along the way, there’s been a lot of other moments as well.”
Last season, Pitre delivered such a powerful shot on Baltimore Ravens imposing running back Derrick Henry that the 6-foot-3, 245-pounder was lifted off his feet at the line of scrimmage. Henry called Pitre one of the hardest hitters in the NFL.
“He’s just an explosive player, explosive athlete,” Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke said. “Obviously, sort of the mindset that he plays with contributes to some of that as well, an all-out, not afraid of contact, not afraid of some noise and of the smoke. So, combine all that, he turns into making some of those plays.”
“I think the biggest thing is want to,” Pitre said. “I look forward to those hits in those moments. Obviously, just being taught the right things throughout my life and just trying to use my leverage to hit as hard as I can. ..
“I think it’s definitely just want-to, just a determination to want to hit somebody and just bringing everything you got and not slowing down. I think that’s the biggest thing. And then, obviously, our coaches do a good job at teaching the proper ways to tackle, the proper angles to hit from, and the legal way to do it.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com