Cade Stover

Career StatsD-

Year	Team	GP	Rec	Yards	TD
Career		24	27	209	1
2025		9	12	76	0
2024		15	15	133	1

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The Texans locked up solid depth at a bargain price, securing Cade Stover on a four-year, $4.8M deal that earns a B CVI and represents excellent value for a developing tight end. At just $1.2M annually with minimal guaranteed money, Houston is paying backup-tier wages for a player who profiles as a reliable depth piece with legitimate upside in their offensive system. Stover's rookie contract structure is particularly team-friendly, offering the Texans flexibility to evaluate his development without significant financial risk over the next four seasons. The $0.7M in guaranteed money essentially covers his first year, meaning Houston can pivot without major dead cap implications if he doesn't progress as expected. This is the type of shrewd roster building that championship teams execute — identifying young talent at premium positions and securing them at below-market rates before they potentially breakout.

Performance Analysis

Cade Stover earns a D- for the Texans at tight end, a rookie who has not yet made the transition from college standout to productive NFL player. Stover was a versatile athlete at Ohio State, but the NFL tight end position demands a more refined skill set than he has shown so far. His blocking has been inconsistent, and his receiving production has been limited behind more established targets. Houston has a loaded offense, and Stover is at the bottom of the pecking order for targets. The athleticism is there, but the football-specific development at tight end needs to accelerate dramatically.