HOUSTON – The Texans acquired their new punter, a replacement for Tommy Townsend, via the trade route.
The Texans acquired punter Kai Kroeger and a seventh-round pick in 2028 from the New Orleans Saints in exchange for a 2028 sixth-round draft pick, per a league source.
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A former undrafted free agent from South Carolina where he was an All-American selection and All-Southeastern Conference selection, Kroeger is not getting a new deal immediately, per a league source.
Kroeger is under contract with salaries of $1.005 million and $1.112 million through the 2027 season.
Previously with the New York Jets, Kroeger averaged 44.8 yards for the Saints. He had 18 land inside opponents’ 20-yard lines. He had two blocked punts, impacting his average.
The Saints recently signed former Minnesota Vikings punter Ryan Wright, making Kroeger available for this move.
In other special teams news, the Texans are signing former Baltimore Ravens linebacker and special teams standout Jake Hummel.
Hummel agreed to a two-year, $5.25 million deal that includes a $900,000 signing bonus, a $1.25 million salary (guaranteed in 2026), annual $100,000 workout bonuses, annual $250,000 in per game active roster bonuses, annual $250,000 Pro Bowl incentives and a $1.9 million salary in 2027 nonguaranteed, per a league source.
A former Iowa State player, Hummel played 82 percent of the Ravens’ special teams snaps last season and has 49 career tackles. He has run the 40-yard dash in 4.51 seconds.
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com