Although the draft has concluded, the 2026 off-season continues to be dynamic for the Houston Texans! According to reports from NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo, the Texans are finalizing a 3-year contract extension for linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, ensuring his presence in Houston until the 2029 season:
This new agreement follows Al-Shaair’s second and most impactful year playing for the Houston Texans, during which he achieved his initial NFL Pro-Bowl selection and recorded:
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103 Tackles; 1 TFL: 2 QB Hits
Having entered the league in 2019 as an undrafted free agent with the San Francisco 49ers, Al-Shaair’s formidable strength, comprehensive field vision, and assertive play at the line of scrimmage swiftly secured him a starting position with the 49ers for the 2021 and 2022 seasons. This timeframe coincided with DeMeco Ryans, now the Texans’ head coach, serving as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator. Following a single season with the Tennessee Titans in 2023, Ryans reunited with his middle linebacker when Houston acquired Al-Shaair through a three-year, $34 million agreement in March 2024. Upon the announcement of that transaction in 2024, my commentary on Al-Shaair was:
A three-year, $34 million agreement indicates significant trust from Houston’s management in Al-Shaair’s capabilities, a notable improvement compared to the $2.59 million total compensation [former Texans LB Blake] Cashman accumulated during his two years here. – FizzyJoe
With yet another three-year contract now offered to Al-Shaair, it appears clear that both the Houston organization and DeMeco Ryans are exceptionally pleased with their commitment to his talents. While players like Danielle Hunter, Will Anderson, and Derek Stingley often capture significant media attention, Al-Shaair has consistently served as the anchor in the heart of Houston’s formidable defense, enabling the other standout players to excel. A defensive unit cannot consistently achieve sacks if the opposing quarterback can release the ball swiftly after the snap, nor can it frequently force turnovers if the quarterback can easily complete short, secure passes. Over the past two seasons, Al-Shaair has proven highly effective at disrupting the central area of the field for opposing offenses, establishing himself as such a dominant tackler that no running back can reliably gain first-down yardage with him covering the turf.
During his tenure in Houston over the past two seasons, Azeez Al-Shaair, who reaches 29 years of age on August 4th, has established himself as among the elite linebackers in the NFL. As a strong proponent of Al-Shaair, I firmly believe he warrants the financial commitment this agreement entails for the Texans’ salary cap. For Houston to sustain its defensive prowess, retaining Al-Shaair within the team represented a crucial progression.
However, what are your thoughts? Does Azeez Al-Shaair’s performance justify receiving consecutive three-year contracts? Alternatively, should Houston have explored the 2026 NFL Draft for a prospective middle linebacker? Considerable discussion among myself and fellow Texans supporters centered on the possibility of Georgia linebacker C.J. Allen or Texans linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. joining Houston as a potential replacement, though neither of those forecasts came to fruition. Would Houston have benefited more from selecting one of these players, or are they content with Al-Shaair continuing in the role of the green-dot linebacker? Share your perspectives on this extension in the comments section below!
MOVE FORWARD TEXANS!
