Houston Texans announced on Monday that they have inked linebacker Zach Cunningham to a four-year extension that will keep the 25-year-old player with the organization through the 2024 season. Reportedly, the deal is worth $58 million and comes with $23.5 million guaranteed.
Cunningham’s $14.5 million yearly salary makes him the league’s third highest-paid linebacker. Only Seattle Seahawks’ Bobby Wagner and New York Jets’ C.J. Mosley receive more on an annual basis.
“It definitely meant a lot to me,” said Cunningham after inking the deal. “Just when I got word back that we finally got the deal done just very excited. A lot of – to take it all in that was crazy enough for me and then I was able to call my family and give them the news. That was definitely a big moment for me.”
Texans made Cunningham’s extension as one of their priorities this summer after he delivered a career season in 2019. He finished the year with AFC-leading 142 tackles while also adding 2.0 sacks, two passes defended, and two fumble recoveries.
With Zach Cunningham putting the pen on paper, Houston now has one of the most reliable LB cores in NFL under contract for the foreseeable future. Starters Whitney Mercilus and Benardrick McKinney also committed long-term in the past two years.
