E.j. Speed

Career StatsC+

Year	Team	GP	Tkl	Sacks	INT
Career		108	416	2.0	1
2025		16	62	0.0	0
2024		15	142	0.0	1
2023		16

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Houston struck gold with E.J. Speed's extension, locking up a solid starter at linebacker for what amounts to a significant steal in today's inflated market. At just $5M per year, the Texans are paying well below market rate for a player who has consistently delivered solid starter production — a bargain when you consider that middling linebackers routinely command $8-10M annually in free agency. Speed is hitting his prime years, making this a smart investment in a player whose best football should still be ahead of him rather than behind. The $7.5M guaranteed out of $10M total gives Houston reasonable protection while ensuring Speed gets paid upfront, creating a win-win structure with minimal dead money risk after year one. This B CVI reflects exactly the type of savvy roster building that championship contenders execute — identifying and retaining quality contributors before they price themselves out of your budget, giving the Texans excellent value at a crucial defensive position.

Performance Analysis

E.J. Speed is a seven-year NFL veteran linebacker who has carved out a respected role in the league through steady availability and reliable play, appearing in 108 career games and establishing himself as a dependable middle-of-the-roster contributor. Now with the Houston Texans at age 30, Speed earned a C+ overall grade this season — a notable step back from what has otherwise been a quietly productive career arc. His 2024 campaign graded out at an A, and his 2023 season earned a B, which means this current D-grade season reads more as an outlier than a true reflection of his capabilities. Context matters here: Speed is a veteran who has demonstrated real value at this level, and this snapshot should not overshadow a legitimate body of work. On a per-game basis, Speed's tackle production sits right at the NFL average — logging 3.88 tackles per game against a league average of 3.80 — which reflects his ability to stay engaged in run defense and hold his assignment responsibilities. His tackles-for-loss rate of 0.38 per game nearly mirrors the NFL average of 0.40, suggesting he remains a functional presence near the line of scrimmage without being a genuine disruptor. The most concerning number this season is his pass breakup rate of just 0.06 per game, well below the NFL average of 0.20 and far removed from elite marks around 0.50, indicating that his coverage impact has diminished significantly and represents the core weakness dragging his grade down. For a linebacker operating in today's pass-heavy league, that drop in coverage playmaking is a legitimate red flag that defensive coordinators will need to scheme around. Looking ahead, the Texans will need to determine whether Speed's 2025 regression reflects physical decline at age 30 or a schematic fit issue that can be corrected. If he can recapture even a fraction of his 2024 A-grade form, he remains a viable starting-caliber linebacker — but another down season could accelerate a transition toward a rotational or veteran depth role. Watch his coverage assignments and tackle efficiency in the early weeks of next season as the clearest indicators of which direction his career is trending.

Current Sentiment

E.J. Speed enters the 2026 season with a quietly positive narrative after the Houston Texans elected to re-sign him, signaling organizational confidence in his contributions as a linebacker. His seven years of NFL experience and a career-high six forced fumbles underscore a reputation as a disruptive, physical presence on special teams and in run defense, even if his statistical profile has not elevated him to a featured role. A viral hit-stick tackle at NRG Stadium generated genuine fan enthusiasm and reminded the broader football audience of the physicality he brings to the field. A brief social media moment involving a post referencing rapper YNW Melly drew some negative attention, but the story did not gain significant traction and has not materially damaged his public standing. Overall, Speed is perceived as a reliable, high-effort role player whose re-signing was welcomed by the Texans fanbase, with his ceiling heading into 2026 largely tied to whether he can carve out expanded defensive snaps alongside his special-teams identity.