Ajani Carter

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The Houston Texans secured solid value with Ajani Carter's two-year, $1.8M deal, earning a C+ CVI that represents a fair market transaction for depth cornerback help. At just $900K annually, this contract falls squarely in the range where teams can afford to take calculated risks on players who may not be household names but can contribute meaningful snaps in today's pass-heavy league. Carter's deal structure offers Houston excellent flexibility with minimal guaranteed money exposure, allowing them to part ways after one season if the fit doesn't work while maintaining cost-controlled depth if he develops into a reliable rotation piece. The relatively short term length also positions both sides well — Carter gets an opportunity to prove himself and potentially earn a larger deal, while the Texans avoid long-term commitment to an unproven commodity. This represents exactly the type of low-risk, moderate-reward roster building that savvy front offices execute during the middle tiers of free agency, giving Houston affordable insurance in a secondary that needed reinforcement without breaking the bank.

Performance Analysis

Ajani Carter profiles as a replacement-level cornerback at this stage of his career, with a D+ performance grade that reflects the limited sample size and modest impact of his first NFL season. Appearing in just two games, Carter has had virtually no opportunity to establish himself as a factor in Houston's secondary, and the data simply does not support any claim of statistical strength to hang a positive narrative on. The most telling detail is his ruling out for the Wild Card playoff game — on a team that finished 12-5 and earned the fifth seed in the AFC, Carter was not a piece the organization leaned on when the stakes were highest. His path to the 53-man roster tells the full story: signed off waivers, elevated without fanfare, and carrying a $0.9M contract that signals Houston views him as depth insurance rather than a developmental investment. At 25 years old in what qualifies as his rookie season, Carter is not a lost cause, but the mediaFraming is clear — this is a journeyman trajectory, a player fighting for NFL viability rather than competing for a starting role. Houston's offseason activity has focused on adding legitimate roster pieces at other positions, which does nothing to improve Carter's standing heading into 2026. He enters the upcoming season needing to prove he belongs on a 53-man roster, full stop.