Azeez Al-shaair

Career StatsB+

Year	Team	GP	Tkl	Sacks	INT
Career		101	535	6.0	4
2025		16	103	0.0	2
2024		11	70	2.0	0
2023		17

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Performance versus salary tier earns Azeez Al-Shaair a C+ Contract Value Index, with cap structure shaping the verdict. Al-Shaair produced a solid 2025 season—103 tackles, 2 interceptions across 16 games—that aligns with his B+ performance grade and confirms him as a dependable, above-average starter at linebacker rather than an elite pass-rusher or coverage specialist. At $18M AAV over three years, he's positioned in the upper-middle tier of the inside linebacker market, a valuation that reflects his dual value as both a capable two-down defender and a respected locker room leader whose character extends beyond statistics. At 28 with seven seasons of NFL experience, Al-Shaair is squarely in his prime earning window, and the Texans' three-year commitment signals organizational confidence in his durability and role stability rather than a bet on additional developmental upside. The C+ verdict acknowledges the gap between his legitimate on-field contributions and the premium attached to his leadership profile and activism platform—he's a franchise cornerstone in terms of organizational identity and locker room presence, but his tackle production and modest interception rate place him among solid starters, not impact players commanding top-10 linebacker money. With the Texans holding the #5 AFC seed and executing roster continuity moves this offseason, Al-Shaair anchors the defense as a stable, character-driven presence, though the contract structure requires sustained production to justify the multiyear commitment at this price point.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the C band — a quick read on where Azeez's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Azeez Al-Shaair has carved out a legitimate starting role over seven NFL seasons, earning a B+ overall grade as one of Houston's most reliable defensive contributors. Undrafted out of Florida Atlantic, he has consistently outperformed his draft pedigree and now profiles as a high-floor, mid-tier starter at the position. Among off-ball linebackers, he sits comfortably above replacement level but just below the elite tier defined by names like Demario Davis or Zaire Franklin. His tackle production is his calling card — posting 6.44 tackles per game against an NFL average of just 2.19, placing him near the elite threshold of 7.32. Even more impressive is his pass-defense presence, where his 0.56 pass deflections per game exceeds the elite benchmark of 0.50, a rare trait for a traditional off-ball linebacker. The one area demanding attention is his tackles-for-loss rate of 0.16 per game, well below the NFL average of 0.27, suggesting limitations as a disruptive force in the backfield. His season trend tells a nuanced story — grading B+ in 2023, slipping to a B in 2024, and currently trending toward a B- in 2025. The slight downward arc warrants monitoring, though it reflects modest regression rather than decline. If he can sharpen his backfield penetration and recapture his 2023 form, Al-Shaair remains a viable long-term starter capable of anchoring Houston's linebacker corps through the prime years of their defensive rebuild.

How Azeez Compares at the Position

Azeez Al-shaair ranks 30th of 338 graded linebackers by performance. That slots Azeez between Nate Landman (B+) just ahead and Carson Schwesinger (B+) just behind.

Current Sentiment

How the public sees Azeez Al-Shaair shakes out to an A- sentiment grade in the rolling 14-day window. The narrative around him has crystallized as that of a franchise cornerstone and defensive leader—a perception anchored by the Texans' commitment to a three-year, $54 million extension that signals organizational confidence in his role, combined with his selection as the club's nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. His on-field contribution as a solid, dependable starter (Performance grade B+, 2025 season: 103 tackles, 2 INT, 16 games) aligns cleanly with the media framing of him as a capable linebacker whose value extends beyond statistics alone; leadership and character have become defining elements of his reputation. The recent NFL fine for his activism message on eye black only reinforced his image as a principled athlete willing to use his platform for causes larger than football, rather than dimming his standing—a rare dynamic in modern sports coverage. With the Texans holding the #5 AFC seed and having made targeted moves to refresh their roster depth on both sides of the ball this offseason, Al-Shaair enters the 2026 season positioned as a locker room anchor in an organization trending toward continuity and stability. The A- reflects universally positive coverage with no material criticism or performance concerns in the current narrative window—he sits as a player whose integrity and leadership have elevated his standing well beyond what film or statistics alone would dictate.