Houston Texans reward defensive cornerstone with record-setting extension
HISTORIC DEAL!
11 April
Jalen Pitre just got paid! Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images.
The Texans flurry of offseason extensions continues as Houston has secured one of the top defenders in its secondary. According to multiple reports, Jalen Pitre is now the highest-paid nickel in the NFL.
$29.156M in guarantees for Jalen Pitre, who is now the NFL’s highest-paid nickel. https://t.co/VBv6kuQbjr
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 11, 2025
Pitre has agreed to a 3-year, $39 million extension with over $29 million in guarantees. Pitre joins pass rusher Danielle Hunter and star corner Derek Stingley, who have also received massive extensions this offseason with Houston.
Pitre has been a key piece of DeMeco Ryans' defense and is now being recognized for it. It was a massive blow for Houston when Pitre went down for the year in Week 12 last season with a torn pectoral muscle.
During Pitre's three seasons with the Texans he's recorded a sack, two forced fumbles, six interceptions, 21 passes defended, and 296 tackles.
The Texans secondary is absolutely loaded for the foreseeable future with Stingley Jr., breakout rookie corner Kamari Lassiter, Super Bowl winning safety CJ Gardner-Johnson, Jimmie Ward, and standout rookie safety Calen Bullock.
Good luck, AFC South quarterbacks!
Angel Martínez hit a grand slam off closer Josh Hader with two outs in the 10th inning to lift the Cleveland Guardians to a 10-6 win over the Houston Astros on Tuesday night.
José Ramírez and Brayan Rocchio also homered to help the Guardians beat the Astros for a second straight night after entering the series on a 10-game skid.
Out for a second inning after throwing a scoreless ninth and with a runner on starting on second, Hader (5-2) intentionally walked Ramírez before walking Carlos Santana to load the bases. Hader struck out pinch-hitter Johnathan Rodríguez before Martínez sent a sinker 344 feet, into the first row of the seats in left field to put the Guardians on top.
Cleveland closer Emmanuel Clase struck out one in a scoreless 10th to end it after Jakob Junis (2-1) struck out two in the ninth to earn the win.
Houston scored two runs in the eighth inning, with an RBI single from Jose Altuve, to tie it.
Altuve had two hits and drove in four runs, and rookie Cam Smith added three hits.
Houston starter Hunter Brown, who entered with an MLB-leading 1.82 ERA, yielded six hits and a season-high six runs in six innings.
There was one on with one out in the first when Ramírez homered for a second consecutive game, giving the Guardians a 2-0 lead.
The Astros cut the lead to 2-1 when Isaac Paredes scored on a sacrifice fly by Altuve in the bottom of the inning.
Rocchio doubled to start the third before scoring on a one-out double by Nolan Jones, making it 3-1. A two-out single by Daniel Schneemann scored two more, extending the lead to 5-1.
Altuve’s two-run double cut the lead to 6-3 with no outs in the fifth. Houston got within 6-4 when he scored on a sacrifice fly by Victor Caratini.
Cleveland starter Joey Cantillo allowed five hits and three runs with seven strikeouts in four-plus innings.
Key moment
The grand slam by Martínez into the Crawford Boxes.
Key stat
It’s the first time Cleveland has won back-to-back games since beating the Athletics June 21-22.
Up next
Houston LHP Brandon Walter (1-1, 4.15 ERA) opposes RHP Slade Cecconi (3-4, 3.56) when the series concludes Wednesday.
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