The Houston Texans reset the secondary market when they agreed to a three-year, $90 million contract extension with cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. on Monday morning, two sources with knowledge of the deal told the Chronicle. The deal negotiated by agent David Mulugheta of agency Athletes First makes the 23-year-old corner the highest paid defensive back by average annual value ($30 million) in NFL history.
Stingley’s payday, which also comes with a cornerback record $89 million in guarantees, comes as monetary praise for establishing himself as one of the league’s best at his position after being voted first-team All-Pro last season. In the deal’s aftermath, he received more acclaim from his peers.
The NFL world reacted together when they saw Stingley blow by the previous top corner contract, the four-year, $100 million deal that Carolina Panthers’ Jaycee Horn signed last week, by $5 million in AAV.
First came love from his teammates. Wide receiver Tank Dell was simple in his response via his Instagram story, simply saying “Deserve it” while reposting the news.
Article continues below this ad
Tank Dell congratulates Texans teammate Derek Stingley Jr. on his Instagram story after news broke of the cornerback’s contract extension.
Tank Dell / Instagram
Running back Joe Mixon also took to Instagram to voice his congratulations, commenting “Omg Sting” on the NFL’s announcement of the news.
Texans running back Joe Mixon took to the comments section on Instagram to congratulate teammate Derek Stingley Jr.
Next came more recognition from the Texans. Houston’s X account posted an image of Stingley with superimposed earbuds and sunglasses on after the news. The additions came from a photo of basketball superstar Lebron James locked in before Game 5 of the 2016 NBA Finals, when he began the Cleveland Cavaliers’ unprecedented comeback from a 3-1 deficit to beat the Golden State Warriors in seven games.
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) March 17, 2025
Stingley previously posted the same image after receiving just a single fourth-place vote for Defensive Player of the Year in February despite coming second in the league in passes defended (18) and t-sixth in interceptions (5). While Stingley’s post was in spite, the Texans used the image in celebration Monday.
Article continues below this ad
Then came reaction from Stingley’s position mates. Los Angeles Chargers defensive back Derwin James was on NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” when the news broke and found out about the deal live on air. As host Jamie Erdahl read out the report, James let out an enthused reaction before congratulating both the cornerback and his agent.
“Both of them my guys,” James said. “David Mulugheta, shoutout those guys. And Derek Stingley. Athletes First. Shoutout the guys, man.”
James is also represented by the agency and Mulugheta. The agent negotiated his four-year, $76.5 million extension before the 2022 season that made him the highest paid safety in NFL history at the time. James is due to be a free agent in 2027.
After taking in the initial news, the figures of Stingley’s deal began to sit with James.
Article continues below this ad
“Wow, 30 a year?” James said. “Oooh. DBs getting paid like that? Wow. Woah. I think the last DB was getting 25 or something like that. That’s crazy. Congrats Sting.”
Erdahl then asked James what makes Stingley good. The safety went in on his first-hand experience to answer the question, having lost to Stingley and the Texans in the 2024 wild-card round.
“We played them in the playoffs,” James said. “I think he had a pick or two against us. He’s able to guard your number ones. He can do it all. Cover, play zone. Got good ball skills, some of the best ball skills at corner. All-around player.”
Stingley had two interceptions, five passes defensed and a forced fumble in the 32-12 win. The performance was so dominant that he wasn’t even targeted in the next round, Houston’s 23-14 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Another Mulugheta client took to X when he heard the news. Miami Dolphins defensive back Jalen Ramsey, who Mulugheta made the highest paid corner in NFL history right before the 2024 season with a three-year, $72.3 million extension, congratulated Stingley and his agent from his personal account.
Article continues below this ad
Between Ramsey, Horn and Stingley, Mulugheta has now reset the defensive back market three times in the last seven months. The agent also represents Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, who could cash in with Houston next offseason when he becomes eligible for his first contract extension.
