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DJ Bien-Aime
HOUSTON — Derek Stingley Jr., and the Houston Texans have agreed to a three-year, $90 million extension that makes him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday.
The deal includes $89 million guaranteed, sources told ESPN, and the average annual value surpasses the previous record for cornerbacks, which was set last week by Jaycee Horn, whose four-year, $100 million extension with the Carolina Panthers averages $25 million per season.
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Stingley is coming off an All-Pro season in which he had five interceptions (tied for sixth most), 18 pass breakups (second most) and allowed the second-lowest completion percentage among cornerbacks with at least 200 coverage snaps (46.7%), according to NFL Next Gen Stats.
The No. 3 pick in the 2022 draft led a pass defense that ranked sixth in passing yards allowed (201) as he took on the challenge of guarding premiere wide receivers, including
NFL free agency kicked off with the legal negotiation window on Monday, March 10, and players can now officially sign with new teams as of Wednesday, which was the start of the new league year. There has already been plenty of action.
Over the past week, wideout DK Metcalf (Steelers), quarterback Geno Smith (Raiders) and offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil (Commanders) have all been traded. Sam Darnold cracked $100 million and took Smith’s spot in Seattle, while Justin Fields landed a contract with the Jets and Daniel Jones signed with the Colts.
Edge rusher Khalil Mack, offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley and receiver Chris Godwin all re-signed with their respective teams. Pass rusher Joey Bosa slid into the Bills’ defense, receiver Davante Adams joined the Rams, cornerback D.J. Reed will play with the Lions, defensive end Josh Sweat headed to the Cardinals and defensive tackle Milton Williams will shore up the Patriots’ defense.
We’re tracking all of the action, including signings, notable trades, cap-saving releases and more. Where will quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson land? For more on NFL free agency, follow our coverage all week.
coverage:
Grades for more than 60 signings, trades
Best available free agents | Top 100 rankings
Early free agency awards: Best and worst moves
Biggest winners and losers from signings, trades
Mini mock draft of the top 10 picks
Free agency and trade market updates
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Marc Raimondi
Kirk Cousins isn’t going anywhere, at least for now.
The Atlanta Falcons kept the veteran quarterback on their roster past 4 p.m. ET Saturday, triggering the guarantee on a $10 million roster bonus due in 2026.
Cousins was benched in Week 16 by the Falcons after a stretch with nine interceptions and just one touchdown pass in five games. Atlanta announced at the time that rookie Michael Penix Jr., the No. 8 pick in the 2024 draft, would be the team’s quarterback “moving forward.”
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It seemed then like the Falcons and Cousins would part ways after the season. However, Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot said in his end-of-season news conference that they were “comfortable” going ahead with Cousins, 36, as their backup quarterback.
Many thought it was posturing, that the Falcons were looking to keep Cousins’ trade value. But a league source told ESPN that the most likely scenario at this moment is Cousins wearing an Atlanta uniform in 2025. Of course, that could change if an attractive trade offer pops up.
The Falcons owe Cousins $27.5 million for 2025 whether they keep him or release him, so from a business sense, holding onto him as Penix’s backup, albeit a very highly priced one, makes sense. The $10 million roster bonus that becomes guaranteed Saturday is for 2026, and if Cousins is no longer on the team, the Falcons are subject to offsets. Atlanta holding onto him now bides the organization time to work on a trade.
For Cousins’ part, he wants to be a starting quarterback in the NFL next season, and he has been frustrated by the current situation, a league source said.
According to a Sports Illustrated report, Cousins asked for and was granted a meeting with Falcons owner Arthur Blank last week. Atlanta would not confirm the report.
Cousins was also caught by surprise last year when the Falcons drafted Penix in the first round as his heir apparent.
If the Falcons were to trade him, Cousins would have to clear any deal. He has a no-trade clause.
The Detroit Lions have re-signed veteran wide receiver Tim Patrick, the team announced Friday.
Patrick, 31, was able to find a role within the Lions’ high-powered offense last season, finishing with 33 receptions for 394 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
After missing the 2022 and 2023 seasons with knee and Achilles injuries while with the Denver Broncos, Patrick was signed to Detroit’s practice squad in August before being signed to the active roster Sept. 24 ahead of Week 4.
He caught his first receiving touchdown with the Lions off a 3-yard pass from quarterback Jared Goff in the third quarter Dec. 5 against the Green Bay Packers then caught his second touchdown off a 1-yard toss from Goff in the fourth quarter during the same game.
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They were Patrick’s first NFL touchdowns since 2021, when he played for the Broncos. His production was a pleasant surprise for a Lions team that finished with 15 wins for the first time in franchise history.
Patrick has 176 catches for 2,403 yards and 15 touchdowns in his NFL career.
ESPN’s Eric Woodyard contributed to this report.