Texans Signing LB Zach Cunningham To Four-Year, $58M Extension

Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that the Texans and LB Zach Cunningham have agreed to a contract extension worth $14.5 million per year in new money. 

According to Aaron Wilson, Cunningham’s contract is a four-year, $58 million extension that includes $23.5 million fully guaranteed. The deal has a total of $32.5 million guaranteed for injury. 

This contract would leave Cunningham as the third highest-paid inside linebacker behind only Bobby Wagner and C.J. Mosley.

Prior reports had said that Houston was hoping to get a long-term extension in place with Cunningham and QB Deshaun Watson before the start of the 2020 season. 

Cunningham, 25, is a former second-round pick of the Texans back in 2017. He is in the final year of his four-year, $4.471 million contract and stands to make a base salary of $1.07 million for the 2020 season.

Cunningham was in line to be an unrestricted free agent next year.

In 2019, Cunningham appeared in all 16 games for the Texans and recorded 141 tackles, two sacks, two recoveries and two passes defended. Pro Football Focus had him rated as the No. 21 receiver out of 90 qualifying players.