The Houston Texans made a semi-splashy move at the end of the first day of free agency after agreeing to sign linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair to a three-year deal.
Details of Al-Shaair’s new three-year, $34 million emerged hours after the deal was reported. Houston gave Al-Shaair $21.5 million guaranteed, according to KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson which includes an $11 million signing bonus.
Al-Shaair’s base salaries are $1.5 million in 2024, $9 million in 2025 and $11 million in 2026. Only his first two years are guaranteed. Al-Shaair also will earn $29,412 for each game he’s on the active roster, up to $500,000 per season.
#Texans three-year, $34M deal for Azeez Al-Shaair: $21.5M gtd, $11 million signing bonus, salaries $1.5M (gtd), $9M (gtd), $11M; $29,412 per game active roster bonus annual up to $500K
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 12, 2024
For all intents and purposes, it’s a two-year, $21.5 million deal. Not bad to a linebacker who finished the 2023 season with 163 combined tackles, six quarterback hits, two sacks and nine tackles for a loss.
Al-Shaair will also reunite with head coach DeMeco Ryans, who coached him with the San Francisco 49ers for the first four years of his career. Both left the team in 2022 – Ryans to become the head coach of the Texans and Al-Shaair for the Tennessee Titans.
The Texans found their replacement for Blake Cashman in the middle of their defense as well as the inside linebacker signed with the Minnesota Vikings along with defensive end Jonathan Greenard. Al-Shaair started in all 17 games this past season and led the Titans with 1,102 defensive snaps.
