Jerry Hughes signs new deal with Texans to return for 15th season

Former TCU first-rounder Jerry Hughes signed a new deal with the Houston Texans on Monday to return to the league for a 15th season. Hughes became a free agent in March when his previous deal with the Texans expired, however, the team is bringing him back ahead of training camp later this month.

The details of the veteran defensive end’s new deal are still private, but his previous deal was for two years and $10 million. Drafted by the Indianapolis Colts with the No. 31 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, Hughes has spent the majority of his career with the Buffalo Bills. He played three seasons with the Colts before the team traded him to the Bills for defender Kelvin Sheppard.

The former Horned Frog played nine seasons with Buffalo. They signed him to multiple extensions, including a five-year deal for $45 million.

Hughes, 35, will play his 15th season in 2024 after playing all 17 games over the past two seasons with Houston. He made 18 starts with 16 coming in 2022. During the 2022 season, he posted nine sacks and followed up that performance with three in 2023. Over his first 14 seasons, Hughes has tallied 70 sacks, 479 tackles and 19 forced fumbles with two interceptions. He also has 59.5 tackles for loss. He is among the league’s top-10 oldest active defensive ends as he nears his 36th birthday this summer.

Hughes is rejoining an impressive front four for the Texans, which includes second-year star Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter. Houston signed Hunter to a two-year, $49 million deal in free agency.

More on the 2024 NFL offseason, free agency

The NFL 2024 calendar year began at 4 p.m. ET on March 13. At that time, contracts running through 2023 officially ran out, making those players free agents. Prior to the beginning of free agency, teams had a chance to designate one franchise or transition tag player, starting on Feb. 20 at 4 p.m. ET and ending on March 5. Beginning March 11 through March 13 teams could enter into a legal negotiation with players who will become unrestricted free agents.

In addition to NFL free agency, the new year also marked the beginning of all trades being made official by the league office. April 19 marked the deadline to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets. On April 24, the deadline for teams to match restricted free agent offers sheets hit.