Texans CB Derek Stingley setting the new standard for record-setting extensions

There always has to be a first to make history in the NFL.

At cornerback, that appears to be Houston Texans star Derek Stingley Jr.

Stingley, fresh off an All-Pro season and top-five finish in defensive metrics, officially signed his three-year, $90 million extension that will make him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history. Locked in through 2029, the third-year cornerback will be the first defensive back to earn $30 million per season.

While Carolina Panthers corner Jaycee Horn recently inked a $100 million extension, his annual salary is only $25 million. For cornerbacks who regularly prove their value in coverage as shutdown defenders, expect $25 million to be the starting price.

For elite defenders? Stingley believes he's the first of several future $30 million cornerbacks.

"Receivers are starting to touch $40 million [annually]," Stingley told ESPN's D.J. Bien-Amie. "[We're] the people that are going out there and competing against them. I think it's good that the cornerback position and other defensive positions are starting to get up there, too. But I think it's just good for the sport. Obviously with time it's gonna keep on going up, so I'm excited to see who is gonna make [the next] deal like that."

Last season, Stingley set the standard in a top-10 secondary en route to helping Houston clinch a second AFC South division title. He finished second in pass breakups (18), sixth in interceptions (5) and allowed the second-lowest completion percentage among cornerbacks with at least 200 coverage snaps (46.7%), according to NFL Next Gen Stats.

The new highest-paid DB in NFL history 💰

$90 million for Derek Stingley Jr. 🐝 pic.twitter.com/m4y0uLlcGk
— NFL (@NFL) March 17, 2025

Overall, Houston ranked sixth in pass defense, allowing 201 yards per game. They also notched 19 interceptions, including at least three from each key starter.

Stingley sees the Texans' secondary only improving with the arrival of do-it-all defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson from Philadelphia. Last season, he totaled six interceptions and 12 pass breakups while helping the Eagles clinch their first Super Bowl title since 2017.

"He is going to bring a whole other- like Kamari [Lassiter], the craziness. He is going to bring that too," Stingley said of Garnder-Johnson. "I think he will gel well with the rest of us, and we are just going to go out there and have fun.”

Much like receivers, cornerbacks will soon command top dollar. Earlier this week, the Cincinnati Bengals agreed to extensions for both Ja'Marr Chase (four-year, $161 million) and Tee Higgins (four-year, $115 million) after serving as staples for Joe Burrow in the passing game.

Stingley has shut both pass-catchers down. He also limited successful outings for Miami's Tyreek Hill, Minnesota's Justin Jefferson, Dallas' CeeDee Lamb and others en route to his first All-Pro season. Each player is making over $30 million annually to catch touchdowns.

Derek Stingley Jr. on C.J. Gardner-Johnson being added to the Texans secondary:

“He gone bring a whole nother, like.. just… like Kamari.. like craziness” 🤣

🎥 @KHOU / @HoustonTexans pic.twitter.com/k22oXQu52r
— Houston Stressans (@TexansCommenter) March 19, 2025

For Stingley, his new contract should at least be in the same ballpark if he's preventing the scoring, though that was never his focus when negotiating terms.

“I kind of went into this situation just basically just thinking, like, ‘Just playing football,' " Stingley said. "I wasn’t really focused on how all of that was going to get done. It got done and it's cool. The market is different now, but that doesn't really have anything to do with me really. I am just here to play football.”

This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans CB Derek Stingley Jr. ready to see DBs receive mega extensions

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