Texans Hoping To Lock Up WR DeAndre Hopkins & CB A.J. Bouye To Long-Term Extensions

Texans owner Bob McNair told reporters on Wednesday that they’re hoping to lock up WR DeAndre Hopkins and free agent CB A.J. Bouye to long-term extensions this offseason.

“Those are good young players,” McNair said, via the Houston Chronicle. “Those are the kind of players that we want to keep around here. So, yeah, certainly we’re going to work on that and see if we can get both of them taken care of. It’s certainly our intention.”

Hopkins mentioned that he’s interested in signing an extension with the Texans, but plans to leave the situation up to his agency CAA.

“I love this organization and what this team is doing,” Hopkins said. “It seems like we’re getting better and better every year so why not?”

Bouye has said previously that he would like to re-sign with the team and return to Houston next season, per Sarah Barshop.

Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reported a few months ago that there was “growing buzz” in NFL circles that Bouye will be among the most coveted players next year’s free agent market, and could command as much as $8 million per year in his next contract.

Bouye, 25, wound up signing on with the Texans as an undrafted free agent out of UCF back in 2013. He returned to the Texans on a one-year, $1.671 million restricted contract this past March and is now in position to be one of the most sought after cornerbacks in next year’s market.

In 2016, Bouye has appeared 15 games and recorded 63 tackles, one sack, an interception and 16 pass defenses. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 5 cornerback out of 115 qualifying players.

We have him featured in our Top 100 – 2017 Free Agents list.

Hopkins, 24, was taken with the No. 27 overall pick back in 2013. He was in the final year of his four-year, $7.64 million rookie contract when the Texans picked up his fifth-year option last April.

The fifth-year option will run them over $7.9 million for the 2017 season, but is guaranteed only for injury and won’t prevent them from working on a long-term extension over the next year.

In 2016, In 2016, Hopkins appeared in all 16 games for the Texans and caught 78 passes for 954 yards receiving and four touchdowns. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 25 receiver out of 115 qualifying players.