Denico Autry

Career StatsB

Year	Team	GP	Sacks	Tkl	TFL
Career		164	65.5	331	43.5
2025		12	3.5	8	0
2024		10	3.0	13	1
2023		17

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Denico Autry's Contract Value Index lands at A-, putting the deal in a defined slice of comparable signings. At $0.795 million annually, this is a textbook bargain contract for a 35-year-old established veteran entering what media consensus views as a final-chapter or walk-away situation. The Texans are paying basement-level salary for a depth pass rusher whose 2025 season yielded 8 tackles and 3.5 sacks across 12 games—modest production that, at minimum-salary rates, represents genuine value math: the team gets a 12-season, 65.5-sack career contributor for the cost of roster filler. The downside is obvious and baked into the grade: at this age and price point, durability concerns and mid-season absences limit the ceiling on output, and the team's recent defensive line signings signal they are building forward without Autry as a building block. However, the microscopic cap hit and the absence of long-term commitment insulate the organization from downside—if Autry produces even modest depth snaps, the Texans extract value; if he falls off the edge entirely, the salary-cap damage is negligible. The A- CVI reflects a perfectly calibrated low-risk, low-cost veteran deal: not a steal of historic proportions, but a fair-to-slight bargain arrangement for a club treating this as a short-term depth rotation rather than a cornerstone investment.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

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

Performance Analysis

Denico Autry remains a reliable depth pass rusher for the Houston Texans after 12 seasons and 164 career games, though his 36-year-old frame is showing measurable decline in 2025. The veteran end carries a B- grade this season, reflecting his role as a rotational contributor rather than a featured pass-rush threat. Once a consistent mid-tier defender across his prime years, Autry now occupies the backend of Houston's defensive end rotation. Autry's sack production stands at 0.29 per game, modestly above the NFL average of 0.19 and solidly respectable for a reserve edge defender. However, his quarterback hit rate of 0.33 per game has dipped notably below the league average of 0.43, suggesting diminished ability to impact plays beyond clean sacks. This gap between acceptable sack volume and subpar QB pressure indicates Autry is finishing plays cleanly but missing opportunities in the initial rush that younger, more explosive teammates are capitalizing on. The concerning trajectory spans consecutive C- grades in 2024 and 2025, a notable step down from a B+ performance in 2023 when he contributed more consistently. Moving forward, Autry's path likely involves further role compression as the Texans develop younger edge options, with his future contingent on maintaining depth-chart value through veteran leadership and situational pass-rush snaps. Monitor whether Houston reduces his snap share next offseason, signaling an end to his run as a regular contributor.

How Denico Compares at the Position

Denico Autry ranks 30th of 147 graded defensive ends by performance. That slots Denico between Dante Fowler Jr. (B) just ahead and Grady Jarrett (B) just behind.

Current Sentiment

Denico Autry enters 2026 as a veteran depth defensive end with a solid 12-year NFL resume anchored by 65.5 career sacks, but he remains a role player without Pro Bowl or All-Pro recognition. Recent headlines indicate the Texans are evaluating his role relative to newly signed defensive linemen, positioning him in a competitive depth chart rather than as a cornerstone pass rusher. Media coverage is largely neutral and transactional, reflecting typical offseason roster management rather than either endorsement or concern about his performance. At $0.8M annually, Autry represents affordable veteran depth, and his continued presence on the roster suggests the organization values his experience and locker room presence. Fan and media perception appears cautiously stable—neither celebrating his contributions nor questioning his viability, consistent with a journeyman edge rusher in the twilight of his career.