Hopkins receives $81M contract upgrade
Four players get extensions as team secures long-term deals
In a landmark day of negotiations Thursday, the Texans finalized a blockbuster, five-year $81 million contract extension for star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. The deal for the one-time Pro Bowl selection includes $49 million guaranteed, more than any other NFL wide receiver, according to league sources not authorized to speak publicly.
Hopkins’ contract capped a heavy day of business for the defending AFC South champions.
They signed four of their top young players to contract extensions, according to sources. That included a three-year, $21.5 million deal for tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz and a three-year, $15 million deal for free safety Andre Hal. The Texans also signed fullback Jay Prosch to a three-year, $3.75 million deal.
The total for the four contracts is $121.25 million, including $68.7 million guaranteed.
The most significant deal was inked by Hopkins, though, as the team followed through on public assurances from owner Bob McNair and general man-
ager Rick Smith that they would secure their most accomplished offensive skill player for the future.
Hopkins, 25, was due a $7.915 million fifth-year club option this year, which was slated to be the final one of an original rookie deal for the 2013 first-round draft pick from Clemson. Instead, Hopkins is now under contract through the 2022 season after a deal negotiated between his representatives at Creative Artists Agency and the Texans’ front office of Smith and vice president of football administration Chris Olsen.
Top of the money chart
Hopkins now ranks atop the financial stratosphere for NFL wide receivers in guaranteed money.
That includes recent deals for Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (four years, $68 million, $17 million per year), the Atlanta Falcons’ Julio Jones (five years, $71.256 million, $12 million signing bonus, $47 million guaranteed), the Dallas Cowboys’ Dez Bryant (five years, $70 million, $20 million signing bonus, $45 million guaranteed) and the Denver Broncos’ Demaryius Thomas (five years, $70 million, $11 million signing bonus, $43.5 million guaranteed).
Hopkins’ contract averages $16.2 million per year.
The deal between the Texans and Hopkins had been anticipated throughout the offseason, culminating Thursday.
“This city has embraced me just like my hometown in South Carolina has,” Hopkins told The Chronicle earlier this summer “I love being here. I love playing for this team, great organization. Bob McNair and Cal McNair, they do a great job at having an organization that speaks for itself. I thank those guys all the time for picking me 27th when nobody knew who DeAndre Hopkins was.”
Named to the Pro Bowl for the first time in 2015 when he caught a careerhigh 111 passes for 1,521 yards and 11 touchdowns, Hopkins’ production dipped last season to 78 catches for 954 yards and four scores while dealing with erratic passing from former starting quarterback Brock Osweiler. Eleven of Osweiler’s 19 interceptions, including the playoffs, occurred on pass- es in Hopkins’ direction.
Hopkins has 317 catches, 4,487 yards and 23 touchdowns for his career, the most by any Texan in franchise history through their first four seasons. He has the sixth-most catches and fifth-most receiving yards by a player at age 25 in NFL history.
Deals for top starters
Hopkins’ deal was a major accomplishment for the Texans, but they were happy to hammer out three other deals for some of their top young starters.
Fiedorowicz’s deal included $10 million guaranteed.
Hal got $7 million fully guaranteed.
And $2.7 million of Prosch’s deal is guaranteed.
Fiedorowicz was entering the final year of a fouryear, $4.172 million rookie contract.
He was due a $1.797 million base salary this year after triggering an escalator clause in his current deal.
The Texans previously rewarded tight end Ryan Griffin with a three-year, $9 million contract in March that included $3.225 million guaranteed.
“If it comes, it comes,” Fiedorowicz said during training camp. “Hopefully based on my play, I get something good.”
The 6-5, 265-pound former third-round draft pick from Iowa became recognized as a dual-threat tight end last season after previously being known primarily for his blocking skills. He caught a career-high 54 passes for 559 yards and four touchdowns. Fiedorowicz has caught 75 career passes for 754 yards and six TDs.
Hal is a converted cornerback. A former seventhround draft pick from Vanderbilt, Hal briefly lost his starting job last season and regained it by the playoffs.
Hal enters this season as a starter for the NFL’s top ranked defense and secondranked pass defense from a year ago.
Hal was entering the
final year of a four-year, $2.289 million contract that included a scheduled $1.797 million base salary for this year.
Hal, 25, recorded 48 tackles, one sack and two interceptions last season.
For his career, the 5-10, 195-pound Louisiana native has 105 tackles, 21 passes defended and six interceptions.
Prosch is a former sixthround draft pick from Auburn.
Prosch is known for his lead blocking skills and work on special teams. Prosch has been praised regularly by coach Bill O’Brien for his toughness and versatility.
The Alabama native is
one of the strongest players on the roster and has bench pressed over 500 pounds.
Prosch has played in all but one game in his three seasons with the Texans, starting eight of them.
The 6-1, 255-pounder has rushed for 42 career yards on 10 carries and caught two passes for 30 yards.
Hopkins didn’t react immediately on social media to his contract, but that didn’t stop teammates from saluting him.
“Can’t hide it,” Texans running back Lamar Miller wrote to Hopkins on Twitter. “Congrats bro.”
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